Good News for DFG Comics at Easter!

By Bob Barnes
DFG ONLINE Staff Reporter

DFG head offices received good news this Easter morning when Dan Graves was notified that Sir Milton Goldfarbstein, DFG legal counsel, who had been on death's door in a coma, had woken up and was in good form. "He seems to be recovering well, almost miraculously," commented Dr. Alphonsus Mortibus of Carnage City Hospital. What had begun as chest pains a couple of weeks back quickly developed into pneumonia, a series of angina attacks, as well as decreased brain functioning. On Friday, this week (Good Friday), all hope was thought lost. Funeral arrangements had been made, a priest had been called to his bedside and last rites read. "I'm just relieved for him and his family," added DFG President and Co-Publisher, Dan Graves, "It just goes to show that miracles do happen... A Happy Easter, one and all."

Watch for updates on Sir Milton's condition as they develop.

The Fantastic Adventures of Joe Decker

A 'Spectacular' Heist

By Bob Barnes
DFG ONLINE Staff Reporter

A trio of armed and masked men stormed into the gated Darryl Andrews villa Sunday and forced DFG Co-publisher and Vice President to the ground during the twilight theft, Chief Augustus Smith said on Monday.

The three men behind what police called "a spectacular art robbery" escaped in a white minivan and remain at large. One of the robbers was identified as The Captain Nepto villian, the Man-Hunter.

The theives focused on Mr. Andrews' private collection of impressionist and post-impressionist artwork, in addition to some DFG rarities.

Sunday's heist comes just days after another major art theft in Switzerland. Last week, the Pablo Picasso paintings Tête de cheval and Verre et pichet were stolen from an exhibit featuring the cubist master's works on display in a cultural centre not far from Zurich. The two paintings had been on loan from Germany's Sprengel Museum in Hanover.

Switzerland Police said Monday they are still investigating the Picasso theft and have started a joint task force with Carnage City Police. Both Departments declined to say whether they consider the two art heists to be connected.

Mr. Andrews was released from hospital Sunday with minor injuries.

DFG Fan Club is Now ONLINE!

By Bob Barnes
DFG ONLINE Staff Reporter

I'm on the spot at DFG "tech central" with DFG webmaster, Oscar Foodlecollins, who has just shown me the newest DFG webpage, a site for DFG fans! Yes, DFG fans now have their own webpage. "DFG Senior Art Director Todd Abbot came to me and said, 'Oscar, baby, our fans need a place to call their own; a place where they can send me their fan mail; a place where they can really say what's on their mind about DFG,'" said Mr. Foodlecollins. He ran the idea past DFG co-publisher and president, Dan Graves, who reluctantly gave the go-ahead. "This is an exciting time for DFG," added Mr. Foodlecollins, "I'm glad to be able to help fans with their obsession with DFG Comics."

The site can be found by clicking here, or by following the link in the right-hand column of this page.

ONLINE Publications Page Updated

DFG Comics has updated its ONLINE Publications page. This page now includes several of our current publications, brief synopses of each issue, and solicitations for upcoming issues. You can visit us by clicking here or by clicking on the link in the right-hand column of this page. A meet the staff page is also under construction. It will eventually include brief biographies and pictures of the DFG. Watch for further details.

Breaking News -- DFG Legal Counsel Hospitalized!

By Cynthia Martin

Freelance Journalist

"Good Lord! No!" These were the words of Chief Augustus Smith last night, upon learning that DFG legal counsel, Sir Milton Goldfarbstein, had been hospitalized due to chest pains earlier that day. The condition of Sir Milton, an icon of the legal community, is currently unknown. Chief Smith made the following comment: "Obviously any health scare for Sir Milton is of great concern given his advanced age."

Sir Milton was born in 1873 in the small Kenyan village of Mbingo. His father was a British medical missionary and his mother, who died last year, was a gypsy fortune-teller. The family returned to England in the late in 1882, where Milton became the youngest person ever to earn a law degree. He was "called to the bar" in 1884, quickly becoming partner in a prominent London law firm. He is the last remaining Victorian QC. He was elected to the British Parliament in 1905 and after serving as an officer in the First World War, was knighted by King George V (grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II) in 1919 for exemplary service to the British Empire. He has the distinction of being the last living "Knight of the Garter" from the reign of King George V. He retired from his firm in 1939, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, but was pressed into service as an undercover agent for His Majesty's Secret Service for the duration of the War. As a retirement hobby, Sir Milton earned a PhD in Molecular Biology and has lectured widely on the subject. In the 1970's he authored the seminal work, Fun with Molecules: What the Microscope Can Teach Us About the Funny Bone. He lived as a recluse for many years until he was invited by DFG President, Dan Graves, to join the company as its legal counsel.

"The hospitalization for Sir Milton is a crushing blow for DFG, at the moment," added Chief Smith. Sir Milton & Chief Smith have been actively engaged in dealing with several legal problems faced by DFG in the recent days.

Please keep Sir Milton, his seventh wife Minnie, and their, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and their dog Rufus in your prayers.

Advance Look at the Cover of Spy Comics #4

By Bob Barnes

DFG ONLINE Staff Reporter

With Spy Comics #2 nearly ready to hit the stands, DFG has just released this image of the cover of issue #4! The cover features the entire Invincibles team -- but wait, who is that woman wearing the Spymaster's costume?!?! I looks like we'll have to wait until the May release date to find out!

Cover art by Dan Graves

Advance Look at Randy Anderson Funeral from Spy Comics #2, Page 2

DFG Comics has posted the above "teaser" image for Spy Comics #2, due out later this month. The page features the funeral of Prime Minister Randy Anderson (the former supervillain known as the Sea Serpent, and half-brother of Captain Nepto). Story by Dan Graves & Darryl Andrews; art by Dan Graves. Authorized scan courtesy of webmaster Arthur Foodlecollins.

More News from DFG Head Office

By Bob Barnes
DFG ONLINE Staff Reporter

In what can only be described as a busy news day, Vice President & Co-Publisher Darryl Andrews announced, following Dan Graves press conference, that the 'Official' Release of the "Captain Nepto Prime" cover will be released to the public on Monday. Darryl added that all drawing and colouring for the cover has been completed and the cover is presently with the DFG graphics designer. Darryl also introduced DFG's newest Researcher, Antiquda Recordafile and announced that the DFG office cleaner Ernest Wontellalie was re-instated after serving a suspension.

He's Back -- BIG JON Makes Leap from Silver Screen to Comics Page!

By Bob Barnes

DFG ONLINE Staff Reporter

He's back, he's mean, he's mad-as-hell, and he doesn't like anybody... noooobody. That's right, Big Jon, the feature character of several DFG short films of the 1980's is back! The character was imortalized by veteran actor Timothy David. Mr. David, now in retirement, was present at a press conference this afternoon outside DFG corporate head office. President and Co-publisher Dan Graves made the following statement: "Big Jon was always one of our most popular characters from our film ventures. We've been pressed by fans to bring him back for many years. We've just been waiting for the right moment, and well, we've found it." When asked in which DFG title Big Jon would be appearing, Mr. Graves was circumspect, "Let's just say that just like in the films, Jon can pop up just about anywhere." Longtime fans of Big Jon will recall that Jon, filled with rage, would just show up anywhere, anytime, and take out his anger on anyone who passed him by.

In an interview with Jon actor, Timothy David, Mr. David explained Jon's personality in this way,"I've always understood Jon to be a troubled soul. It's just that we don't know what really drives him. His past is shrouded in mystery. I always played him as if he never really had any motive for his actions -- a sort of post-modern kind of portrayal. Perhaps nothing really drives him. Maybe he's just hurts people for no reason other than he can. That's the way I kind-of played him, anyway." DFG Vice President and Co-publisher Darryl Andrews concurred,"If you think of Redman as DFG's altruistic optimist, and Nepto as our existentialist, then Big Jon really is the post-modern man. To him, none of the rules of society make sense any longer. For Jon, there is no meta-narrative, there is no meaning, there is no quest for truth, there is no angst. He just hurts people, and that's what makes him a mystery to those who cross his path. That's also what makes him so dangerous and unpredictable." When asked about how he felt about the enduring popularity of the character he created, Mr. David added, "I'm so pleased that his popularity continues. To me, Jon stands for what happens when we lose sight of our shared human narrative; when we lose sight of our common story. The story of Big Jon is a cautionary story, to which we must constantly return, lest we become as he." With these words the press conference came to a close. Watch for Big Jon in an upcoming DFG Comic.

Publicity sketch provided by Frank Daniels. Thanks to webmaster Oscar Foodlecollins for the scan.

Captain Nepto Artwork surfaces with early Colour draft

...still in production folks, but I wanted to give you an early peak - Darryl

Pre-Press Conference News

By Bob Barnes
DFG ONLINE Staff Reporter

I'm on the scene at DFG Corporate Head office, just hours before DFG President and Co-Publisher Dan Graves is scheduled for a 2PM press conference. While waiting outside the DFG Press Room I met up with DFG Vice President and Co-Pulisher Darryl Andrews who cheerfully commented on the new Captain Nepto series in production. I was able to learn that the new series is titled, "Captain Nepto Prime", which according to Darryl will be set in Captain Nepto's most active period of his career. Darryl commented that this period 'was lost' in all the DFG shutdowns and relaunches and he plans to have the series revolve around Captain Nepto in single missions prior to the collected team-ups and discovery of his parents' murderers that has for the most part been examined in the past series. Darryl also commented on a short story in the works that is titled, "Captain Nepto Legacy". While the format for this story is at present undecided, Darryl commented that the story will focus on Captain Nepto in later years reflecting on his life and career and discovering that he never 'really lived' as David Anderson. "Nepto is a little suicidal in this one, but the catch is, will the World let him die?" said Darryl, setting the tone for what might be the greatest Captain Nepto story yet.

DFG Movie Character from the 1980's Makes Jump From Silver Screen to Comics Page!

By Bob Barnes
DFG ONLINE Staff Reporter

Breaking News! A press conference with DFG President and Co-Publisher Dan Graves is scheduled for 2 PM tomorrow, at which it is expected that DFG Comics plans to announce that one of its 1980's film characters will be appearing in an upcoming DFG Comic. Rumours abound as to which character it will be, but this reporter has not be able to confirm any of the rumours. Given recent security upgrades at DFG Corporate Head office -- in light of several recent media leaks -- it is unlikely that we will know the identity of the character until the press conference.

This is not the first time that a DFG character has made the jump from the silver screen. William Holden and Frank Bates, the popular "comic relief" members of The Invincibles began as a the stars of a popular film serial. Stars Dan Graves and Peter Repas won several awards for their portrayals of the bumbling detectives.

DFG Film Studios ceased production in the late eighties but can still be viewed at review cinemas and film festivals across North America.

Wrong Place; Wrong Time

The DFG staff person who thrilled millions of Internet users by obtaining an image of the new Captain Nepto series launch was fired today. DFG President said in a release, "while I'm thrilled by the measure of anticipation this posting brought, we cannot exercise anything but zero tolerance to such actions; especially in light of recent events". Co-Publisher Dan Graves was of course referring to the recent discovery of lost artwork stolen from DFG offices over two decades ago which resurfaced in an Internet auction. The lost original artwork for the cover of Spy Comics Vol. 1, No. 1 (Nov/Dec 1981), fetched an amazing $50K in auction vaulting over Todd Abbot's Spymaster "sketch on a napkin" into firstplace for high-sum-paid for a piece of DFG original art.

1st Look

The office was abuzz yesterday when a DFG staffer passed Darryl Andrews' drafting table and spotted what appears to be a preliminary drawing for the new Captain Nepto series launch. Co-Publisher Darryl Andrews could not be reached for comment, but a snapshot was taken of the pencil drawing and delivered to DFG webmaster Oscar Foodlecollins.

Original Dan Graves Art for First DFG Comic Sells for $50,000 on Internet!

By Bob Barnes
DFG ONLINE Staff Reporter

Word has just arrived at the DFG Corporate Head Office that the long-lost original artwork for the cover of Spy Comics Vol. 1, No. 1 (Nov/Dec 1981), the first DFG Comic, has surfaced. Not only has the artwork, which was once thought destroyed, been found but it has sold in an internet auction for a record-setting sum for DFG original art! "Never has a Dan Graves original fetched such a sum," commented DFG Vice-President and Co-Publisher Darryl Andrews, "This is absolutely remarkable, if not somewhat surprising!" According to official DFG historian, Prof. Montague R. Schoedel, the artwork went missing sometime around 1984/85 when DFG was preparing to relaunch its entire line. "Dan Graves believed that it had been shredded by a careless office worker, but it is now clear that it was stolen," commented Prof. Schoedel. The seller, who remains anonymous made the following public statement: "I had no idea the work was stolen. I bought it in good faith from a reputable antiquities dealer in a Cairo street market in the early nineties and have been waiting for the right moment to sell it. I can, in no way, be held responsible for its disappearance." DFG legal counsel, Sir Milton Goldfarbstein, LLB, PhD, QC, KG, is currently investigating DFG's legal options. Chief Augustus Smith is reported to have reopened the "missing cover" file. DFG President and Co-Publisher Dan Graves has been fairly philosophical about the whole thing, though, making the following statement, "I'm just happy that it's been found. I could have used the 50 grand, though."

The Many Faces of Chief Smith -- Panoramic Poster!

DFG Comics has released a retrospective of the career of Chief Augustus Smith in the form of a panoramic poster entitled The Many Faces of Chief Smith. Since his first appearance in the very first DFG comic, Spy Comics Vol. 1, #1, in 1981, Chief Smith has been one of the most important supporting characters in the DFG universe. As DFG executive Darryl Andrews noted, "In the DFG universe everyone ages naturally, there's none of this 'slowed time' crap that you encounter in our competitors' publications. That's why we've seen Chief Smith go through the aging process over the years and his appearance has changed. We all get older and we all look different as the years go by."

Chief Smith has gone through many changes in his life since his first appearance. Perhaps the most traumatic event in his life was the death of his daughter Sarah at the hands of Capt. Nepto's foe, the Unknown Strangler, back in Spy Comics Vol. 2, #3 (Jan/Feb 1985). Her death left Smith a grimmer and more driven figure, as he was now all alone in the world with the exception of his younger brother, Sgt. John Smith, also of the Carnage City Police Force.

Smith retired from the force in 1996 (as seen in Spy '96 #3, Mar. 1996) handing over the reigns to his former Chief Inspector, Shamus McMullen. However, after Julius Smithers became Governor General, Smith was pressed back into active service as the director of the national Security and Intelligence Service (and also serves presently as tactical advisor to the Invincibles). He remains, even at his advanced age, a crucial character in the DFG universe.

The character of Chief Augustus Smith is based on his real-life namesake who now serves as a security advisor to the management of DFG Publications.

The poster features art from throughout the publishing history of DFG Comics by DFG artists Darryl Andrews, Dan Graves, Frank Daniels, and comic book legend Todd Abbot.

For a closer view of the poster, click on the image, above.