The series premiered in 1955. Stopped in 1962 after 17 issues in the USA (two years later in Europe).

Classics Illustrated Special Issues is a comic book series featuring graphic adaptations of various popular subjects such as religion, inventions, and exploring. The series was drawn by many artists: Alex Blum, Peter Constanza, George Evans, Gerald McCann, Norman Nodel, and Angelo Torres are examples.

The numbering of the series was rather puzzling; the first issue was #129 (incidentally titled Classics Illustrated Special Edition), the next was #132A and so the numbering went on with gaps inbetween.