Spooky! Cover art for "Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror Spine-Tingling Spooktacular" available at Amazon.com (sponsored link).

The 144-page paperback, with a cover price of $15.95, features Issues 4-6 of the "Treehouse of Horror" comics published over the past three years. In October 1999, Harper Collins published "Bart Simpson's Heebie Jeebie Hullabaloo," which featured reprints of Issues 1-3.

Three Simpsons comic books aren't enough for the Bongo Comics staff members, who disclose in Issue 58 of Simpsons Comics some of the other work they do with merchandise.

According to a three-quarter-page essay in the "Bongo Beat" section, they joke that they spend more time working on projects that have nothing to do with comics -- even though they do lots of that, including bookstore collections and a syndicated comic strip.

"The Bongo staff has been involved in some way, shape or form this past year with home video commercials and packaging, the Playmates' Springfield environment art, the Simpsons versions of Clue and Monopoly, greeting cards, a new set of trading cards, a Simpsons songboook, the 24 TV Guide covers, poster art ... the list goes on," Bongo writes.

The "oddest and more interesting project," the essay adds, is involvement in writing commercials for Japanese soda C.C. Lemon, which is that country's third most popular drink. But few people in Japan are aware of "The Simpsons," it adds, because the show is seen by just 1 percent of the country who see it by TV subscription. "Trying to introduce the Simpsons and create a reason for them to be connected with the soda (other than both being yellow) and sell the soda for under 15 seconds has been a real challenge, but also a real kick in the pants."

Issue 58 also includes a short "shameless plug" for the Playmates Toys' figures and playsets, with special attention given the Android's Dungeon set with the Comic Book Guy figure. "We predict it will fast become the most sought after collectible piece in the entire like by comic readers and professionals alike," Bongo writes.

Bart Simpson Comics: For kid in all of us
Adult fans of "The Simpsons" often forget just how popular Bart Simpson remains with the younger set. His wise-guy antics might seem a little old hat to the rest of us, but to children he's still a favorite bad boy.

It's that reality that inspired Bongo Comics in late August 2000 to release issue No. 1 of Bart Simpson Comics, its first new Simpsons title in about five years. The fifth issue of the series was recently published.

Art D'Bart Cover art for issue No. 1 of Bart Simpson Comics, released in late August.

And guess what? This comic is a fun read for fans of any age. It's Bart, Bart and more Bart as Homer and other Springfield characters basically take a back seat, although Lisa is prominently featured in Issue No. 1 as the good-child counterpoint to Bart's mischief. (She seethes and demands parental action when Bart tricks an overweight lad into splitting his pants to divert bullies chasing him.)

Subtitled "Son of Homer," the 32-page Bart Simpson No. 1 is priced at $2.50 U.S. ($3.50 Canadian). It features three stories as well as letters to the editor and a few ads for other Bongo titles, including "Futurama" No. 1 that's due in November.

Because the Bart Simpson comic book is aimed at children, the type is slightly larger and there's less of it. The gags are also a bit juvenile. When Bart has a nightmare he's a fat boy, he sends Ralph flying off the teeter totter just by sitting on one end.

But there's enough slightly naughty antics to make this a few giant steps above the Richie Rich and Mickey Mouse comic fare typically aimed at this age group. Bart belches. Nelson tells Bart, "Your butt is mine, Simpson!" and there's talk of stuff like wedgies and "scum-bags."

Simpsons creator Matt Groening, in a note on the inside cover of the issue, recalls his disdain as a youngster for the "mostly sickly sweet" comic books featuring "earnest little angels." For real kid naughtiness, Groening writes, he had to go back to books like "Tom Sawyer" and Thomas Bailey Aldrich's "The Story of a Bad Boy."

"I once said Bart was an anagram for Brat (and need I point out that he's the son of a simp?), but the truth is a little crankier: I just wanted to share with you out there in TV and Comic-Book Land a kid who was as entertainingly bad as I wanted to be," Groening says.

Value Guide: Comic books, reprints
Welcome to the portion of our Value Guide devoted to comic books. Listed in the column directly below are brief descriptions of available Simpsons comic books and reprints, as well as typical prices in U.S. dollars that a buyer will pay for them at the moment.

The first dollar amount listed with each item is an approximate value in mint condition without packaging. The second figure is the value of the item in mint condition with near-mint original packaging, if such packaging exists. Our Site Explained page offers more details on how we determine values.

Please note that items in the Value Guide are NOT for sale from this Web site. If you're interested in buying Simpsons merchandise, click on links to titles for sale from Amazon.com, or visit our Q&A page for other possible sources.

Comic books
Keeping track of all of the Simpsons comic books isn't for the faint of heart, now that close to 100 have been published. First, there was "Simpsons Comics and Stories," an edition of the now-defunct Simpsons Illustrated magazine. Then Matt Groening launched Bongo Comics, which since 1993 has offered the following lines of Simpsons books: The Simpsons, Bart Simpson, Bartman, Krusty the Clown, Lisa, Itchy & Scratchy, Treehouse of Horror and the confusingly numbered Radioactive Man series. (Some collectors have also kept the Simpsons Comics that have appeared in Sunday newspapers across the country, although none are listed here.)

Of course, there are also Simpsons comic books in several overseas countries, including France, Australia, England and Germany.

In all cases, one bonus of keeping up with the comic books is that they often offer the first advance information on release dates for Simpsons merchandise.

The following Bongo comics were all issued in the U.S.

• "Bart Simpson's Joke Book," June 1995. This is a mini-comic promotional issue from Bongo that was published in Hero Illustrated magazine. The cover features Bart in Groucho glasses saying, "I've got a million of 'em, man!" The comic originally came sealed with the magazine inside a polybag that read on the top: "Simpsons Exclusive Comic Inside!" Sealed. $7-$15.
• "Bartman and Radioactive Man," 1994. This is a mini-comic promotional issue from Bongo that was published in Hero Illustrated magazine. The cover features Bartman with Radioactive Man. Loose. $7.
• "Bartman" No. 1, 1993. The attractive cover features is extra-thick and features silver ink. The comic also comes with a "Giant Bartman pull-out poster inside. Part 3 of ultra-giant 4-part Bongo universe poster!" $7.
• "Bartman" Nos. 2-6, 1994-1995. Issue No. 3 contains a Skybox promo "spinner card" with Radioactive Man on one side and Bartman on the other. No. 3 is valued at $4, all others $4 each.
• "Bart Simpson Comics" No. 1-6, 2000-2001. $3.
• "Itchy & Scratchy" Holiday Hi-Jinx Special No. 1," 1994. This was a special holiday issue. $5.
• "Itchy & Scratchy" No. 1, 1993. Includes "Giant Itchy & Scratchy Pull-out poster." $7.
• "Itchy & Scratchy" Nos. 2-3, 1994. No. 3 contains part one of "When Bongos Collide Crossover!," as well as a decoder card for Simpsons Skybox trading cards Series II. $5 each.
• "Krusty" No. 1, 1995. First of three parts, "The Rise and Fall of Krustyland." $7.
• "Krusty" Nos. 2-3, 1995. Final two parts of "The Rise and Fall of Krustyland." $5 each.
• "Lisa" No. 1,, 1995. Alas, Lisa is the forgotten child, with just one comic to her name. $5.
• "Radioactive Man" No. 1, 1993. Has extra-thick cover with raised image of Radioactive Man's bones superimposed over his body. Features "Giant Radioactive Man Pull-Out Poster Inside!" Dated "November 1952." $7.
• "Radioactive Man" 80-page Colossal No. 1, 1995. Features five stores and three special features. $5.
• "Radioactive Man" No. 88, 1994. Dated "May 1962." $5.
• Radioactive Man" No. 100, 2000. Dated "May 1963." $3.
• "Radioactive Man" No. 216, 1994. Dated "August 1972." $5.
• "Radioactive Man" No. 222, 2001. Dated "November." $3.
• "Radioactive Man" No. 412, 1994. Features Radioactive Man on Skybox Series II promo card B2 inside. Dated "October 1980." $5.
• "Radioactive Man" No. 679, 1994. Features Radioactive Man on Skybox Series II promo card B6 inside. Dated "January 1986." $5.
• "Radioactive Man" No. 1000, 1994. Of particular note inside is Matt Groening's farewell note to Steve and Cindy Vance, who helped create Simpsons comics as well as Simpsons Illustrated magazine and other Simpsons publications. Dated "January 1995." $5.
• "Simpsons" No. 1, 1993. "Giant Simpsons Pull-Out Poster Inside!" $10.
• "Simpsons" Nos. 2-5, 1993. No. 4 features Willy "The Dupe" Dipkin baseball player on a Skybox Series II promo card B1. No. 5 features a Black Belch Skybox Series II Smell-O-Rama promo card B4. $5 for No. 4 or No. 5, $4 for each of the others.
• "Simpsons" Nos. 6-9 and 11-20, 1994-1996. $4 each.
• "Simpsons" Nos. 10, 1995. This is the only Simpsons comic not reprinted yet in book form. $10.
• "Simpsons" Nos. 21-49 and 51-65, 1996-2001. $3 each.
• "Simpsons" No. 50, 2000. Deluxe 80-page issue. $6.
• "Simpsons Comics and Stories," 1993. This is the first Simpsons comic book, part of the defunct Simpsons Illustrated magazine series. Sealed in clear bag with a Bartman poster. $5-$10.
• "Treehouse of Horror" No. 1, October 1995. $7. Matt Groening and others from Bongo held an autograph-signing session at Golden Apple comics in Los Angeles Oct. 25, 1995. One of these signed comics with Groening's signature and others typically sells for $35.
• "Treehouse of Horror" No. 2, October 1996. "Spooktacular Second Issue." $5.
• "Treehouse of Horror" No. 3, October 1997. "Third Throat-Throttling Issue." $5.
• "Treehouse of Horror" No. 4, October 1998. "Fourth Fright-Filled Issue." In addition to the usual Simpsons-inspired tales of horror, this special edition includes brief essays featuring "tragic treehouse memories" from masters of horror Batton Lash, Geof Darrow and Chuck Dixon. $2.50.
• "Treehouse of Horror" No. 5, October 1999. "Fearsome Fifth Issue." Printed on thicker, high quality paper stock, this is a beautiful-looking special edition that stands out for Simpsons horror stories told in the style of guest writers/artists Jill Thompson ("The Scary Grandmother"), Doug TenNapel ("Earthworm Jim") and Sergio Aragones (Mad Magazine). $3.50.
• "Treehouse of Horror" No. 6, October 2000. Printed on thicker, high quality paper stock. Stories told by Jim Mahfood ("Grrl Scouts"), Peter Kuper ("Eye of the Beholder"), Dan DeCarlo (Archie Comics); C. Scott Morse ("Soulwind") and Stan Sakai "Usagi Yojimbo.") $4.50.
• "Treehouse of Horror" No. 7, October 2001. Printed on thicker, high quality paper stock. Back cover "bonus pinup" by Dan Brererton ("The Nocturnals"). Stories told by Garth Ennis ("Preacher"), Mark Hamill ("The Black Pearl"), John McCrea ("Judge Dredd for 2000 AD"); Troy Nixey ("Jenny Finn") and Stan Sakai "Usagi Yojimbo.") $4.50.

Copyright 1996-2002, William LaRue.

Updated: 1/13/02