Tales of the Unexpected (comics)

Tales of the Unexpected
Cover of Tales of the Unexpected #1 (February–March 1956). Art by Bill Ely.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Standard
Genre	Horror Fantasy Science fiction
Publication date(s)	List (vol. 1) February-March 1956 – December 1967-January 1968 (vol. 2) December 2006–July 2007
No. of issues	List (vol. 1): 104 (continued as The Unexpected) (vol. 2): 8
Creative team
Written by	List (vol. 1) Jack Miller Gardner Fox Arnold Drake Otto Binder Dave Wood Bob Haney Carl Wessler (vol. 2) David Lapham Brian Azzarello
Penciller(s)	List (vol. 1) John Prentice Leonard Starr Howard Purcell Ruben Moreira Bill Draut Jim Mooney Sheldon Moldoff Bernard Baily Nick Cardy Bob Brown Mort Drucker Murphy Anderson George Roussos John Giunta Jack Sparling Lee Elias (vol. 2) Eric Battle Cliff Chiang
Inker(s)	List (vol. 2) Prentis Rollins
Colorist(s)	List (vol. 2) Guy Major Patricia Mulvihill

Tales of the Unexpected was a science fiction, fantasy and horror comic book series published by DC Comics from 1956 to 1968 for 104 issues. It was later renamed The Unexpected although the numbering continued and it ended at issue #222, in 1982. The title was revived as a limited series in 2006.

In response to the restrictions imposed by the Comics Code Authority, DC began a new science-fiction series in 1956. The series featured artwork by Murphy Anderson, Gil Kane, and many others, with stories by John Broome, Gardner Fox, and others. It was an anthology comic for many years, publishing a variety of science fiction stories. The series featured Space Ranger as of issue #40 and running through #82 (April–May 1964). Other features included the "Green Glob" (issues #85-98, 100, 102, 103) and "Automan" (issues #91, 94, 97). The series' last issue as Tales of the Unexpected was #104 (December 1967–January 1968). As of issue #105 (February–March 1968), the title was shortened to The Unexpected.

DC revived the title for an eight-issue miniseries in 2006, focusing on the Crispus Allen incarnation of the Spectre, along with a back-up series featuring Doctor Thirteen.

The back-up starred a team made up of Thirteen and his daughter Traci, I...Vampire, Genius Jones, Captain Fear, Infectious Lass, Anthro, the Primate Patrol, and the Haunted Tank. It was written by Brian Azzarello, with art by Cliff Chiang.