1939 in comics
Encyclopedia
Year overall
- A boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Archie ComicsArchie ComicsArchie Comics is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones. The characters were created by...
, Fawcett ComicsFawcett ComicsFawcett Comics, a division of Fawcett Publications, was one of several successful comic book publishers during the Golden Age of Comic Books in the 1940s...
, Fox Feature SyndicateFox Feature SyndicateFox Feature Syndicate was a comic book publisher from early in the period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books. Founded by entrepreneur Victor S...
, Lev Gleason PublicationsLev Gleason PublicationsLev Gleason Publications, founded by Leverett Gleason, was the publisher of a number of popular comic books during the 1940s and early 1950s, including Daredevil, Crime Does Not Pay, and Boy Comics....
, Marvel ComicsMarvel ComicsMarvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, Nedor ComicsNedor ComicsNedor Publishing was a comic book imprint of publisher Ned Pines, who also published pulp magazines under a variety of company names that he also used for the comics...
, Quality ComicsQuality ComicsQuality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
, and Timely ComicsTimely ComicsTimely Comics, an imprint of Timely Publications, was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics....
all begin publishing.
January
- Ace ComicsAce ComicsAce Comics was a comic book series published by David McKay Publications between 1937 and 1949 — starting just before the Golden Age era of comics...
(19371937 in comics-January:* Detective Picture Stories #2 - Centaur Publications* Famous Funnies #30 - Eastern Color* The Funnies #4 - Dell Comics* Funny Picture Stories #3 - Centaur Publications* King Comics #10 - David McKay Publications...
series) #22 - David McKay PublicationsDavid McKay PublicationsDavid McKay Publications was an American book publisher which also published some of the first comic books, including the long-running titles Ace Comics, King Comics, and Magic Comics; as well as collections of such popular comic strips as Blondie, Dick Tracy, and Mandrake the Magician... - Action ComicsAction ComicsAction Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
(19381938 in comics-European publications:* April 21: first issue of Le Journal de Spirou, featuring debuts of the series Spirou by Rob-Vel and Les Aventures de Tif by Fernand Dineur....
series) #8 - National Allied Publications - Adventure ComicsAdventure ComicsAdventure Comics was a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1935 to 1983 and then revamped from 2009 to 2011. In its first era, the series ran for 503 issues , making it the fifth-longest-running DC series, behind Detective Comics, Action Comics, Superman, and Batman...
(19381938 in comics-European publications:* April 21: first issue of Le Journal de Spirou, featuring debuts of the series Spirou by Rob-Vel and Les Aventures de Tif by Fernand Dineur....
series) #34 - National Allied Publications - Amazing Mystery Funnies (19381938 in comics-European publications:* April 21: first issue of Le Journal de Spirou, featuring debuts of the series Spirou by Rob-Vel and Les Aventures de Tif by Fernand Dineur....
series) #5 - Centaur PublicationsCentaur PublicationsCentaur Publications was one of the earliest American comic book publishers. During their short existence, they created several colorful characters, including Bill Everett's Amazing Man.... - Detective ComicsDetective ComicsDetective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
(19371937 in comics-January:* Detective Picture Stories #2 - Centaur Publications* Famous Funnies #30 - Eastern Color* The Funnies #4 - Dell Comics* Funny Picture Stories #3 - Centaur Publications* King Comics #10 - David McKay Publications...
series) #23 - National Allied Publications - Feature FunniesFeature FunniesFeature Funnies was a comic book anthology title published by Comic Favorites, Inc. in the United States for 20 issues from 1937 until 1939. Feature Funnies cannily mixed color reprints of popular newspaper comic strips like Joe Palooka, Mickey Finn and Dixie Dugan with a smattering of new...
(19371937 in comics-January:* Detective Picture Stories #2 - Centaur Publications* Famous Funnies #30 - Eastern Color* The Funnies #4 - Dell Comics* Funny Picture Stories #3 - Centaur Publications* King Comics #10 - David McKay Publications...
series) #16 - Comic Favorites, Inc.Quality ComicsQuality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books.... - More Fun ComicsMore Fun ComicsMore Fun Comics, originally titled New Fun: The Big Comic Magazine a.k.a. New Fun Comics, was a 1935-1947 American comic book anthology that introduced several major superhero characters and was the first American comic-book series to feature solely original material rather than reprints of...
(19361936 in comics-January:* Famous Funnies #18 - Eastern Color* More Fun the Big Comic Magazine #7 - National Periodical Publications* New Comics #2 - National Periodical Publications-February:...
series) #39 - National Periodical Publications
February
- Ace Comics #23 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #9 - National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #35 - National Allied Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #6 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #24 - National Allied Publications
- Feature Funnies #17 - Comic Favorites, Inc.Quality ComicsQuality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
- More Fun Comics #40 - National Periodical Publications
March
- Ace Comics #24 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #10 - National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #36 - National Allied Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #7 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #25 - National Allied Publications
- Feature Funnies #18 - Comic Favorites, Inc.Quality ComicsQuality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
- More Fun Comics #41 - National Periodical Publications
April
- Ace Comics #25 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #11 - National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #37 - National Allied Publications
- All-American ComicsAll-American ComicsAll-American Comics was the flagship title of comic book publisher All-American Publications, one of the forerunners of DC Comics. It ran for 102 issues from April 1939 to October 1948, at which time it was renamed All-American Western. In 1952, the title was changed again to All-American Men of...
#1 - All-American PublicationsAll-American PublicationsAll-American Publications is one of three American comic book companies that combined to form the modern-day DC Comics, one of the world's two largest comics publishers... - Amazing Mystery Funnies #8 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #26 - National Allied Publications
- Feature Funnies #19 - Comic Favorites, Inc.Quality ComicsQuality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
- More Fun Comics #42 - National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics (1939 series) #1 - National Periodical Publications
May
- Ace Comics #26 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #12 - National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #38 - National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #2 - All-American Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #9 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #27 - National Allied Publications
- Feature Funnies #20 - Comic Favorites, Inc.Quality ComicsQuality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
- More Fun Comics #43 - National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics #2 - National Periodical Publications
June
- Ace Comics #27 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #13 - National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #39 - National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #3 - National Allied Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #10 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #28 - National Allied Publications
- Feature Comics (previously Feature Funnies) #21 - Quality Comics
- More Fun Comics #44 - National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics #3 - National Periodical Publications
- SupermanSupermanSuperman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
(1939 series) #1, cover dated Summer - National Periodical Publications
July
- Ace Comics #28 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #14 - National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #40 - National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #4 - All-American Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #11 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #29 - National Allied Publications
- Feature Comics #22 - Quality Comics
- More Fun Comics #45 - National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics #4 - National Periodical Publications
- The Magic ComicThe Magic ComicThe Magic Comic was the ill fated third comic to The Beano and The Dandy. It was aimed at a younger audience, with more emphasis on picture stories. The first issue was published on 22 July 1939. The comic ran for only 80 issues until 25 January 1941...
#1 - D. C. Thomson & Co.
August
- Ace Comics #29 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #15 - National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #41 - National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #5 - All-American Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #12 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #30 - National Allied Publications
- Feature Comics #23 - Quality Comics
- More Fun Comics #46 - National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics #5 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash ComicsSmash ComicsSmash Comics is the title of an American Golden Age comic book anthology series, published by Quality Comics for 85 issues between 1939 and 1949...
(1939 series) #1 - Quality ComicsQuality ComicsQuality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
September
- Ace Comics #30 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #16 - National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #42 - National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #6 - All-American Publications
- Amazing Man Comics (1939 series) #5 - Centaur PublicationsCentaur PublicationsCentaur Publications was one of the earliest American comic book publishers. During their short existence, they created several colorful characters, including Bill Everett's Amazing Man....
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #13 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #31 - National Allied Publications
- Feature Comics #24 - Quality Comics
- Four ColorFour ColorFour Color, also known as Four Color Comics and One Shots, was a long-running American comic book anthology series published by Dell Comics between 1939 and 1962...
Series 1 (1939 series) #1 - Dell PublishingDell PublishingDell Publishing, an American publisher of books, magazines and comic books, was founded in 1921 by George T. Delacorte, Jr.During the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, Dell was one of the largest publishers of magazines, including pulp magazines. Their line of humor magazines included 1000 Jokes, launched in...
- First comic-book appearance of Dick TracyDick TracyDick Tracy is a comic strip featuring Dick Tracy, a hard-hitting, fast-shooting and intelligent police detective. Created by Chester Gould, the strip made its debut on October 4, 1931, in the Detroit Mirror. It was distributed by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate...
, previously seen in comic strips beginning 1931
- First comic-book appearance of Dick Tracy
- More Fun Comics #47 - National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics #6, last issue - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics #2 - Quality Comics
- Superman #2, cover dated Fall - National Periodical Publications
October
- Ace Comics #31 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #17 - National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #43 - National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #7 - All-American Publications
- Amazing Man Comics #6 - Centaur Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #14 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #32 - National Allied Publications
- Feature Comics #25 - Quality Comics
- Four Color Series 1 #2 - Dell Publishing
- Marvel ComicsMarvel Mystery ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics is an American comic book series published during the 1930s-1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
(becomes Marvel Mystery ComicsMarvel Mystery ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics is an American comic book series published during the 1930s-1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
) (1939 series) #1 - Timely ComicsTimely ComicsTimely Comics, an imprint of Timely Publications, was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics.... - More Fun Comics #48 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics #3 - Quality Comics
November
- Ace Comics #32 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #18 - National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #44 - National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #8 - All-American Publications
- Amazing Man Comics #7 - Centaur Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #15 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #33 - National Allied Publications
- Double Action Comics #1 — National Allied Publications. Released only in New York City newsstands, Double Action Comics was most likely an “ashcanAshcan copyAn ashcan copy is a term that originated in the Golden Age of Comic Books, meant to describe a publication produced solely for legal purposes , and not normally intended for distribution.-Origins:...
”, a limited-run publication produced simply to register the title. It had a black-and-white cover, with the contents pulled from Action ComicsAction ComicsAction Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
#2. A copy of Double Action Comics #1 turned up years ago, was finally was placed on the market for sale, and brought in $1,500. The current whereabouts of this ashcan comic are unknown. - Feature Comics #26 - Quality Comics
- More Fun Comics #49 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics #4 - Quality Comics
December
- Ace Comics #33 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #19 - National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #45 - National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #9 - All-American Publications
- Amazing Man Comics #8 - Centaur Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #16 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #34 - National Allied Publications
- Double Action Comics (1939 series) #1 - National Periodical Publications (ashcan copyAshcan copyAn ashcan copy is a term that originated in the Golden Age of Comic Books, meant to describe a publication produced solely for legal purposes , and not normally intended for distribution.-Origins:...
, distributed only in New York City newsstands) - Feature Comics #27 - Quality Comics
- Marvel Mystery Comics (previously Marvel Comics) #2 - Timely Comics
- More Fun Comics #50- National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics #5 - Quality Comics
- Superman #3, cover dated Winter - National Periodical Publications
Specials
- New York World's Fair1939 New York World's FairThe 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
(1939 series) #1 - National Periodical Publications - Mutt & Jeff (1939 series) #1 - All-American Comics
First issues by title
- All-American ComicsAll-American ComicsAll-American Comics was the flagship title of comic book publisher All-American Publications, one of the forerunners of DC Comics. It ran for 102 issues from April 1939 to October 1948, at which time it was renamed All-American Western. In 1952, the title was changed again to All-American Men of...
cover dated April, published by All-American PublicationsAll-American PublicationsAll-American Publications is one of three American comic book companies that combined to form the modern-day DC Comics, one of the world's two largest comics publishers... - Amazing Man Comics cover dated September, published by Centaur PublicationsCentaur PublicationsCentaur Publications was one of the earliest American comic book publishers. During their short existence, they created several colorful characters, including Bill Everett's Amazing Man....
. Issues #1 through 4 were not published. - Double Action Comics cover dated December, published by National Periodical Publications. The first issue was an ashcan copyAshcan copyAn ashcan copy is a term that originated in the Golden Age of Comic Books, meant to describe a publication produced solely for legal purposes , and not normally intended for distribution.-Origins:...
, published but not distributed or sold. - Fantastic ComicsFantastic ComicsFantastic Comics was a comic book superhero anthology title published by Fox Feature Syndicate during the Golden Age of Comic Books. The title is notable for having introduced the characters Banshee, Black Fury , Nagana, Queen of Evil, Samson, and Stardust the Super Wizard.-Publication history:The...
, cover-dated Dec., published by Fox Feature SyndicateFox Feature SyndicateFox Feature Syndicate was a comic book publisher from early in the period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books. Founded by entrepreneur Victor S... - Four ColorFour ColorFour Color, also known as Four Color Comics and One Shots, was a long-running American comic book anthology series published by Dell Comics between 1939 and 1962...
Series 1 published by Dell PublishingDell PublishingDell Publishing, an American publisher of books, magazines and comic books, was founded in 1921 by George T. Delacorte, Jr.During the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, Dell was one of the largest publishers of magazines, including pulp magazines. Their line of humor magazines included 1000 Jokes, launched in... - Marvel ComicsMarvel Mystery ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics is an American comic book series published during the 1930s-1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
cover dated October, published by Timely ComicsTimely ComicsTimely Comics, an imprint of Timely Publications, was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics.... - Movie Comics cover dated April, published by National Periodical Publications
- Mutt & Jeff cover dated Summer, published by All-American Comics
- New York World's Fair1939 New York World's FairThe 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
published by National Periodical Publications - Silver Streak Comics cover dated December, published by Rhoda Publications
- Smash ComicsSmash ComicsSmash Comics is the title of an American Golden Age comic book anthology series, published by Quality Comics for 85 issues between 1939 and 1949...
cover dated August, published by Quality ComicsQuality ComicsQuality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books.... - SupermanSupermanSuperman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
cover dated Summer, published by National Periodical Publications - The Magic ComicThe Magic ComicThe Magic Comic was the ill fated third comic to The Beano and The Dandy. It was aimed at a younger audience, with more emphasis on picture stories. The first issue was published on 22 July 1939. The comic ran for only 80 issues until 25 January 1941...
cover dated July, published by D. C. Thomson & Co.
Renamed titles
- Feature ComicsFeature ComicsFeature Comics was a comic book anthology title published in the United States by Quality Comics from 1939 until 1950, that featured short stories in the superhero and humor genres. The series was a continuation of Feature Funnies, a reprint collection of newspaper comic strips that was published...
renamed Feature Funnies as of the June cover date. - Marvel ComicsMarvel Mystery ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics is an American comic book series published during the 1930s-1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
renamed Marvel Mystery ComicsMarvel Mystery ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics is an American comic book series published during the 1930s-1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
as of the December cover date.
Initial appearances by character name
- BatmanBatmanBatman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
in Detective ComicsDetective ComicsDetective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
#27 (May) created by Bill FingerBill FingerWilliam "Bill" Finger was an American comic strip and comic book writer best known as the uncredited co-creator, with Bob Kane, of the DC Comics character Batman, as well as the co-architect of the series' development...
and Bob KaneBob KaneBob Kane was an American comic book artist and writer, credited as the creator of the DC Comics superhero Batman...
, published by National Allied Publications - Human Torch in Marvel ComicsMarvel Mystery ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics is an American comic book series published during the 1930s-1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
#1 (October) created by Carl BurgosCarl BurgosCarl Burgos was an American comic book and advertising artist best known for creating the original Human Torch in Marvel Comics #1 Carl Burgos (né Max Finkelstein, April 18, 1916, New York City, New York; died March 1984) was an American comic book and advertising artist best known for creating...
, published by Timely ComicsTimely ComicsTimely Comics, an imprint of Timely Publications, was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics.... - The Sub-Mariner in Marvel Comics #1 (October) created by Bill EverettBill EverettWilliam Blake "Bill" Everett, also known as William Blake and Everett Blake was a comic book writer-artist best known for creating Namor the Sub-Mariner and co-creating Daredevil for Marvel Comics...
, published by Timely ComicsTimely ComicsTimely Comics, an imprint of Timely Publications, was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics.... - The Sandman (Wesley Dodds)Sandman (Wesley Dodds)Sandman , is a fictional superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first of several DC characters to bear the name, he was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Bert Christman....
in New York World's Fair1939 New York World's FairThe 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
#1 created by Gardner FoxGardner FoxGardner Francis Cooper Fox was an American writer best known for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. Comic-book historians estimate that he wrote over 4,000 comics stories....
and Bert Christman, published by National Periodical Publications