1940 in comics
Encyclopedia
Year overall
- Another boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Ace ComicsAce Comics (publishers)Ace Comics was the banner under which pulp magazine publisher Aaron A. Wyn and his wife Rose Wyn produced comic books between 1940 and the end of 1956. The Wyns had been publishing pulp fiction under the Periodical House and Magazine Publishers names since 1928...
, Columbia ComicsColumbia ComicsThe Columbia Comics Corporation was formed in 1940 as a partnership between Vin Sullivan and the McNaught Newspaper Syndicate. The idea was to publish comics featuring a mix of McNaught-owned comic strip reprints like Joe Palooka and Charlie Chan as well as original features.The first title...
, Farrell PublicationsFarrell PublicationsFarrell Publications is the name of a series of American comic book publishing companies founded and operated by Robert W. Farrell in the 1940s and 1950s, including Elliot Publishing Company, Farrell Comic Group, and Excellent Publications. Farrell is particularly known for its pre-Comics Code...
, Holyoke Publishing, Novelty PressNovelty PressNovelty Press was an American Golden Age comic-book publisher that operated from 1940–1949. It was the comic book imprint of Curtis Publishing Company, publisher of The Saturday Evening Post...
, and Street & Smith 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) #34 - 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) #20 - DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner... - 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) #46 - DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner... - 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...
(19391939 in comics-Year overall:* A boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Archie Comics, Fawcett Comics, Fox Feature Syndicate, Lev Gleason Publications, Marvel Comics, Nedor Comics, Quality Comics, and Timely Comics all begin publishing.-January:...
series) #10 - DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner... - 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) #17 - 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.... - Daring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery Comics is an American comic-book series published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics, during the 1930-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
(1940 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.... - 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) #35 - DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner... - Double Action Comics (19391939 in comics-Year overall:* A boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Archie Comics, Fawcett Comics, Fox Feature Syndicate, Lev Gleason Publications, Marvel Comics, Nedor Comics, Quality Comics, and Timely Comics all begin publishing.-January:...
series) #2 - National Periodical Publications, consisting entirely of black and white reprints from early issues of 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...
. How many were printed is unknown, but with only seven copies known to exist, it’s the rarest DC comic book of all time. - 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...
(19391939 in comics-Year overall:* A boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Archie Comics, Fawcett Comics, Fox Feature Syndicate, Lev Gleason Publications, Marvel Comics, Nedor Comics, Quality Comics, and Timely Comics all begin publishing.-January:...
series) #28 - 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.... - Flash ComicsFlash ComicsFlash Comics was an anthology comic book published by All-American Publications and later National Periodicals . The title ran for 104 issues between January 1940 to February 1949. Although the name of the comic book was Flash Comics, the Flash was only one of many different series featured in the...
(1940 series) #1 - National Periodical Publications - 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) #3 - 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 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) #51 - 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...
(19391939 in comics-Year overall:* A boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Archie Comics, Fawcett Comics, Fox Feature Syndicate, Lev Gleason Publications, Marvel Comics, Nedor Comics, Quality Comics, and Timely Comics all begin publishing.-January:...
series) #6 - 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....
February
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #35 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #21 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #47 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #11 - DC Comics
- Daring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery Comics is an American comic-book series published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics, during the 1930-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
(1940 series) #2 - 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.... - Detective Comics (1937 series) #36 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #29 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #2 - National Periodical Publications
- 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) #4 - 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 (1936 series) #52 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #7 - Quality Comics
March
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #36 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #22 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #48 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #12 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #18 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #37 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #30 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #3 - National Periodical Publications
- 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) #5 - 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.... - Master ComicsMaster ComicsMaster Comics was a monthly ongoing comic book anthology series that began its 133-issue run during the 1930s and 1940s period known as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
(1940 series) #1 - Fawcett PublicationsFawcett PublicationsFawcett Publications was an American publishing company founded in 1919 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota by Wilford Hamilton "Captain Billy" Fawcett . At the age of 16, Fawcett ran away from home to join the Army, and the Spanish-American War took him to the Philippines. Back in Minnesota, he became a... - Mystic ComicsMystic ComicsMystic Comics is the name of four comic book series published by the company that would eventually become Marvel Comics. The first two series were superhero anthologies published by Marvel's 1930-1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, during what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books...
(1940 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 (1936 series) #53 - National Periodical Publications
- Silver Streak Comics (1939 series) #3 — title acquired by 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....
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #8 - Quality Comics
- 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...
(19391939 in comics-Year overall:* A boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Archie Comics, Fawcett Comics, Fox Feature Syndicate, Lev Gleason Publications, Marvel Comics, Nedor Comics, Quality Comics, and Timely Comics all begin publishing.-January:...
series) #4 cover dated Spring - National Periodical Publications
April
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #37 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #23 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #49 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #13 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #19 - Centaur Publications
- Daring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery Comics is an American comic-book series published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics, during the 1930-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
(1940 series) #3 - 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.... - Detective Comics (1937 series) #38 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #31 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #4 - National Periodical Publications
- 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) #6 - 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.... - Master Comics (1940 series) #2 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #54 - National Periodical Publications
- Mystic ComicsMystic ComicsMystic Comics is the name of four comic book series published by the company that would eventually become Marvel Comics. The first two series were superhero anthologies published by Marvel's 1930-1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, during what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books...
(1940 series) #2 - 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.... - Smash Comics (1939 series) #9 - Quality Comics
May
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #38 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #24 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #50 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #14 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #20 - Centaur Publications
- Daring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery Comics is an American comic-book series published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics, during the 1930-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
(1940 series) #4 - 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.... - Detective Comics (1937 series) #39 - DC Comics
- Doc Savage Comics (1940 series) #1 - Street & Smith Publications
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #32 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #5 - National Periodical Publications
- 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) #7 - 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 (1936 series) #55 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #10 - Quality Comics
Summer
- All Star ComicsAll Star ComicsAll Star Comics is a 1940s comic book series from All-American Publications, one of the early companies that merged with National Periodical Publications to form the modern-day DC Comics. With the exception of the first two issues, All Star Comics primarily told stories about the adventures of the...
(1940 series) #1 - DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner... - BatmanBatman (comic book)Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
(1940 series) #2 - DC Comics
June
- June 2: first publication of Will EisnerWill EisnerWilliam Erwin "Will" Eisner was an American comics writer, artist and entrepreneur. He is considered one of the most important contributors to the development of the medium and is known for the cartooning studio he founded; for his highly influential series The Spirit; for his use of comics as an...
's "The Spirit Section", featuring debuts of the series The SpiritThe SpiritThe Spirit is a crime-fighting fictional character created by writer-artist Will Eisner. He first appeared June 2, 1940 in "The Spirit Section", the colloquial name given to a 16-page Sunday supplement, distributed to 20 newspapers by the Register and Tribune Syndicate and reaching five million...
, Lady LuckLady Luck (comics)Lady Luck is a fictional, American comic-strip and comic book crime fighter and adventuress created and designed in 1940 by Will Eisner with artist Chuck Mazoujian . Through 1946, she starred in a namesake, four-page weekly feature published in a Sunday-newspaper comic-book insert colloquially...
and Mr. MysticMr. MysticMr. Mystic is comics series featuring a magician crime-fighter, created by Will Eisner and initially drawn by Bob Powell. The strip featured in four-page backup feature a Sunday-newspaper comic-book insert, known colloquially as "The Spirit Section"...
. - Ace Comics (1937 series) #39 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #25 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #51 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #15 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #21 - Centaur Publications
- Daring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery Comics is an American comic-book series published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics, during the 1930-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
(1940 series) #5 - 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.... - Detective Comics (1937 series) #40 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #33 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #6 - National Periodical Publications
- 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) #8 - 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.... - Master Comics (1940 series) #3 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #56 - National Periodical Publications
- Mystic ComicsMystic ComicsMystic Comics is the name of four comic book series published by the company that would eventually become Marvel Comics. The first two series were superhero anthologies published by Marvel's 1930-1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, during what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books...
(1940 series) #3 - 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.... - Smash Comics (1939 series) #11 - Quality Comics
- Superman (1939 series) #5 cover dated Summer - National Periodical Publications
July
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #40 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #26 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #52 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #16 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #22 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #41 - DC Comics
- Doc Savage Comics (1940 series) #2 - Street & Smith Publications
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #34 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #7 - National Periodical Publications
- 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) #9 - 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.... - Master Comics (1940 series) #4 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #57 - National Periodical Publications
- Mystic ComicsMystic ComicsMystic Comics is the name of four comic book series published by the company that would eventually become Marvel Comics. The first two series were superhero anthologies published by Marvel's 1930-1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, during what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books...
(1940 series) #4 - 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.... - Smash Comics (1939 series) #12 - Quality Comics
August
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #41 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #27 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #53 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #17 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #23 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #42 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #35 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #8 - National Periodical Publications
- 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) #10 - 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.... - Master Comics (1940 series) #5 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #58 - National Periodical Publications
- Red Raven Comics (1940 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....
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #13 - Quality Comics
Fall
- All Star Comics (1940 series) #2 - DC Comics
- Batman (1940 series) #3 - DC Comics
September
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #42 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #28 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #54 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #18 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #24, last issue - Centaur Publications
- Daring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery Comics is an American comic-book series published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics, during the 1930-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
(1940 series) #6 - 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.... - Detective Comics (1937 series) #43 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #36 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #9 - National Periodical Publications
- 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) #11 - 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.... - Master Comics (1940 series) #6 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #59 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #14 - Quality Comics
- Superman (1939 series) #6 - National Periodical Publications
October
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #43 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #29 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #55 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #19 - DC Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #44 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #37 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #10 - National Periodical Publications
- Human TorchHuman TorchThe Human Torch is a fictional character and superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he is a member of the superhero team the Fantastic Four, debuting in The Fantastic Four #1...
(1940 series) #2 - 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.... - 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) #12 - 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.... - Master Comics (1940 series) #7 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #60 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #15 - Quality Comics
November
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #44 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #30 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #56 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #20 - DC Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #45 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #38 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #11 - National Periodical Publications
- 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) #13 - 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.... - Master Comics (1940 series) #8 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #61 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #16 - Quality Comics
- Superman (1939 series) #7 - National Periodical Publications
Winter
- All Star Comics (1940 series) #3 - DC Comics
- BatmanBatman (comic book)Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
(1940 series) #4 (DC Comics) — first appearance of Gotham CityGotham CityGotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
December
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #45 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #31 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #57 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #21 - DC Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #46 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #39 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #12 - National Periodical Publications
- 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) #14 - 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.... - Master Comics (1940 series) #9 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #62 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #17 - Quality Comics
Specials
- Mutt & Jeff (19391939 in comics-Year overall:* A boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Archie Comics, Fawcett Comics, Fox Feature Syndicate, Lev Gleason Publications, Marvel Comics, Nedor Comics, Quality Comics, and Timely Comics all begin publishing.-January:...
series) #2 - 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... - New York World's Fair Comics (19391939 in comics-Year overall:* A boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Archie Comics, Fawcett Comics, Fox Feature Syndicate, Lev Gleason Publications, Marvel Comics, Nedor Comics, Quality Comics, and Timely Comics all begin publishing.-January:...
series) #2 - National Periodical Publications
First issues by title
- All Star ComicsAll Star ComicsAll Star Comics is a 1940s comic book series from All-American Publications, one of the early companies that merged with National Periodical Publications to form the modern-day DC Comics. With the exception of the first two issues, All Star Comics primarily told stories about the adventures of the...
, cover-dated Summer, 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...
. - BatmanBatman (comic book)Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
, cover-dated Spring, published by DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. - Daring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery ComicsDaring Mystery Comics is an American comic-book series published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics, during the 1930-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
, cover-dated Jan., 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....
. - Doc Savage Comics published by Street & Smith Publications.
- Flash ComicsFlash ComicsFlash Comics was an anthology comic book published by All-American Publications and later National Periodicals . The title ran for 104 issues between January 1940 to February 1949. Although the name of the comic book was Flash Comics, the Flash was only one of many different series featured in the...
cover dated January, published by National Periodical Publications. - Flash ComicsFlash ComicsFlash Comics was an anthology comic book published by All-American Publications and later National Periodicals . The title ran for 104 issues between January 1940 to February 1949. Although the name of the comic book was Flash Comics, the Flash was only one of many different series featured in the...
cover dated January, published by National Periodical Publications. - Green Hornet, cover-dated Dec., published by Helnit.
- Jackpot Comics, cover-dated Spring, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc.
- Master ComicsMaster ComicsMaster Comics was a monthly ongoing comic book anthology series that began its 133-issue run during the 1930s and 1940s period known as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
, cover-dated March, published by Fawcett PublicationsFawcett PublicationsFawcett Publications was an American publishing company founded in 1919 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota by Wilford Hamilton "Captain Billy" Fawcett . At the age of 16, Fawcett ran away from home to join the Army, and the Spanish-American War took him to the Philippines. Back in Minnesota, he became a...
. - Red Raven Comics, cover-dated Aug., 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....
. - Shield-Wizard ComicsShield-Wizard ComicsShield-Wizard Comics was the name of an American comic book series published by MLJ Magazines Inc., more commonly known as MLJ Comics, for thirteen issues between Summer 1940 and Winter 1944....
, cover-dated Summer, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc. - Walt Disney's Comics and StoriesWalt Disney's Comics and StoriesWalt Disney's Comics and Stories, sometimes abbreviated WDC or WDC&S, is an anthology comic book series that has an assortment of Disney characters, including Donald Duck, Scrooge McDuck, Mickey Mouse, Chip 'n Dale, Lil Bad Wolf, Scamp, Bucky Bug, Grandma Duck, Brer Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh, and...
, cover-dated Oct., published by Dell ComicsDell ComicsDell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium...
. - Zip ComicsZip ComicsZip Comics was the name of an American anthology comic book series published by MLJ Magazines Inc., more commonly known as MLJ Comics, for 47 issues between June 1940 and Summer 1944...
, cover-dated June, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc.
Initial appearances by character name
- CatwomanCatwomanCatwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
in BatmanBatman (comic book)Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
#1 (Summer), 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 DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. - The FlashFlash (comics)The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
(Jay Garrick) in Flash ComicsFlash ComicsFlash Comics was an anthology comic book published by All-American Publications and later National Periodicals . The title ran for 104 issues between January 1940 to February 1949. Although the name of the comic book was Flash Comics, the Flash was only one of many different series featured in the...
#1 (January), 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 Harry LampertHarry LampertHarry Lampert was a cartoonist, adman and author, bridge book author, and bridge teacher.Born in New York, Lampert began cartooning when he was sixteen years old, and worked for the legendary Max Fleischer, inking and helping produce Betty Boop, Popeye, and Koko the Clown cartoons...
, published by National Periodical Publications. - HawkmanHawkmanHawkman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940....
(Carter Hall) in Flash Comics #1 (January), created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville, published by National Periodical Publications. - The JokerJoker (comics)The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
in Batman #1 (Summer), created by Jerry RobinsonJerry RobinsonJerry Robinson is an American comic book artist best known for his work on DC Comics' Batman line of comics during the 1940s.He was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2004.-Career:...
(concept), 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 DC Comics. - Justice Society of AmericaJustice Society of AmericaThe Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
in All Star ComicsAll Star ComicsAll Star Comics is a 1940s comic book series from All-American Publications, one of the early companies that merged with National Periodical Publications to form the modern-day DC Comics. With the exception of the first two issues, All Star Comics primarily told stories about the adventures of the...
#3 (Winter), created by Sheldon MayerSheldon MayerSheldon Mayer was an American comic book writer, artist and editor. One of the earliest employees of Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson's National Allied Publications, Mayer produced almost all of his comics work for the company that would become known as DC Comics.He is credited with rescuing the...
and Gardner Fox, published by DC Comics. - RobinRobin (comics)Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
in Detective Comics #40 (June), created by Jerry RobinsonJerry RobinsonJerry Robinson is an American comic book artist best known for his work on DC Comics' Batman line of comics during the 1940s.He was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2004.-Career:...
(concept), 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 DC Comics. - Silver StreakSilver Streak (comics)Silver Streak is a fictional superhero character created by Joe Simon, who first appeared in Silver Streak Comics #3 , from Lev Gleason Publications. He is believed to be the second-ever comic book superhero whose primary power is speed; All-American Publications' The Flash preceded him by two months...
in Silver Streak Comics #3 (Mar.), created by Joe SimonJoe SimonJoseph Henry "Joe" Simon is an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.With his...
, published by 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....
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