Mystic Comics
Encyclopedia
Mystic 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
. The third, simply titled Mystic, was a horror fiction
-suspense anthology from Marvel's 1950s forerunner, Atlas Comics
.
The first two series titled Mystic came during the 1940s Golden Age of Comic Books
from publisher Martin Goodman
, whose Timely Comics
by the early 1960s would evolve into Marvel Comics
. Initially edited by future Marvel chief Stan Lee
very early in his career, and by Vincent Fago after Lee left for military duty in early 1942, it ran 10 issues (March 1940 - Aug. 1942).
A superhero anthology with no regular starring feature, Mystic Comics introduced at least two notable characters: the Blazing Skull
(issue # 5, March 1941), who made appearances both in the Golden Age and in the 2000s; and the Destroyer (issue # 6, Oct. 1941), noted by comics historian and former Marvel editor-in-chief Roy Thomas as "Stan's most popular superhero creation before the Fantastic Four". The Destroyer was cover-featured for the last half of the run.
Additional superheroes introduced in this initial series include the Thin Man
, by artist Klaus Nordling
and an unknown writer (issue #4, Aug. 1940); the Blue Blaze, by writer-artist Harry Douglas (#1-4); the robot
hero Flexo the Rubber Man (#1-4); the Black Marvel
(# 5-9), another early Stan Lee creation, with artist Al Gabriele
; and the Terror (# 5-10) by writer Phil Sturm and penciler Syd Shores
. The non-superhero trio of detectives the 3Xs (issue # 1) comprised Timely's first team feature.
's costumed detective the Angel was cover-featured for the first three, with one or two stories in each, and the Young Allies on issue #4. Timely star the Human Torch appeared in the first two issues, and time travel
er Tommy Tyme in the first three. The Destroyer was the only character with a story every issue.
A one-shot publication, Mystic Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1 (Oct. 2009), featured a new 22-page story of the Golden Age Vision by writer-artist David Lapham
, and reprints of Sub-Mariner, Human Torch and Vision stories from Marvel Mystery Comics
#12 and 14.
, this was a 61-issue horror-suspense anthology (March 1951 - Aug. 1957). Begun prior to the creation of the comic-book industry's self-censorship board, the Comics Code Authority
, Mystic softened its horror and began sporting the Comics Code seal with issue #37 (May 1955). Its contributors included artists Bill Everett
and John Severin
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published by the company that would eventually become Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel 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...
. The first two series were superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
anthologies published by Marvel's 1930-1940s predecessor, Timely Comics
Timely Comics
Timely 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....
, during what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
. The third, simply titled Mystic, was a horror fiction
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
-suspense anthology from Marvel's 1950s forerunner, Atlas Comics
Atlas Comics (1950s)
Atlas Comics is the term used to describe the 1950s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. Magazine and paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities, used Atlas as the umbrella name for his comic...
.
Volume 1
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
from publisher Martin Goodman
Martin Goodman (publisher)
Martin Goodman born on was an American publisher of pulp magazines, paperback books, men's adventure magazines, and comic books, launching the company that would become Marvel Comics....
, whose Timely Comics
Timely Comics
Timely 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....
by the early 1960s would evolve into Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel 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...
. Initially edited by future Marvel chief Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
very early in his career, and by Vincent Fago after Lee left for military duty in early 1942, it ran 10 issues (March 1940 - Aug. 1942).
A superhero anthology with no regular starring feature, Mystic Comics introduced at least two notable characters: the Blazing Skull
Blazing Skull
The Blazing Skull is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe, created during the 1930-'40s Golden Age of Comic Books for Marvel's predecessor, Timely Comics...
(issue # 5, March 1941), who made appearances both in the Golden Age and in the 2000s; and the Destroyer (issue # 6, Oct. 1941), noted by comics historian and former Marvel editor-in-chief Roy Thomas as "Stan's most popular superhero creation before the Fantastic Four". The Destroyer was cover-featured for the last half of the run.
Additional superheroes introduced in this initial series include the Thin Man
Thin Man (comics)
The Thin Man is a fictional, American comic book character in Marvel Comics' main shared universe. Created by artist Klaus Nordling and an unknown writer in Mystic Comics #4 , published by Marvel predecessor Timely Comics during the time fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books, the...
, by artist Klaus Nordling
Klaus Nordling
Klaus Nordling was a Finnish American writer-artist for American comic books. He is best-known for his work on the 1940s masked-crimefighter feature "Lady Luck", and as co-creator of the Marvel Comics superhero the Thin Man. Some of Nordling's earliest comic books are signed F...
and an unknown writer (issue #4, Aug. 1940); the Blue Blaze, by writer-artist Harry Douglas (#1-4); the robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
hero Flexo the Rubber Man (#1-4); the Black Marvel
Black Marvel
The Black Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Al Gabriele, he first appeared in Mystic Comics #5 , published by Marvel's 1940s forerunner Timely Comics during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic...
(# 5-9), another early Stan Lee creation, with artist Al Gabriele
Al Gabriele
Albert Gabriele or possibly Alfred Gabriele was an American comic book artist during the 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books...
; and the Terror (# 5-10) by writer Phil Sturm and penciler Syd Shores
Syd Shores
Sydney Shores was an American comic book artist known for his work on Captain America both during the 1940s, in what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books, and during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books....
. The non-superhero trio of detectives the 3Xs (issue # 1) comprised Timely's first team feature.
Volume 2
Timely's second series titled Mystic Comics was a shorter-lived superhero anthology that ran four issues (Oct. 1944 - March 1945). Paul GustavsonPaul Gustavson
Paul Gustavson née Karl Paul Gustafson was an American-immigrant comic-book writer and artist. His most notable creations during the Golden Age of Comic Books were The Human Bomb for Quality Comics, and the Angel, who debuted in Marvel Comics #1 , the first publication of Marvel Comics forerunner...
's costumed detective the Angel was cover-featured for the first three, with one or two stories in each, and the Young Allies on issue #4. Timely star the Human Torch appeared in the first two issues, and time travel
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
er Tommy Tyme in the first three. The Destroyer was the only character with a story every issue.
A one-shot publication, Mystic Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1 (Oct. 2009), featured a new 22-page story of the Golden Age Vision by writer-artist David Lapham
David Lapham
David Lapham is an Eisner Award winning American comic book writer, artist, and cartoonist, best known for his work on his groundbreaking independent comic book Stray Bullets.-Biography:...
, and reprints of Sub-Mariner, Human Torch and Vision stories from Marvel Mystery Comics
Marvel Mystery Comics
Marvel 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...
#12 and 14.
Mystic (Atlas Comics)
Titled simply Mystic and published by Marvel's 1950s iteration, Atlas ComicsAtlas Comics (1950s)
Atlas Comics is the term used to describe the 1950s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. Magazine and paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities, used Atlas as the umbrella name for his comic...
, this was a 61-issue horror-suspense anthology (March 1951 - Aug. 1957). Begun prior to the creation of the comic-book industry's self-censorship board, the Comics Code Authority
Comics Code Authority
The Comics Code Authority was a body created as part of the Comics Magazine Association of America, as a tool for the comics-publishing industry to self-regulate the content of comic books in the United States. Member publishers submitted comic books to the CCA, which screened them for adherence to...
, Mystic softened its horror and began sporting the Comics Code seal with issue #37 (May 1955). Its contributors included artists Bill Everett
Bill Everett
William 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...
and John Severin
John Severin
John Powers Severin is an American comic book artist noted for his distinctive work with EC Comics, primarily on the war comics Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat; for Marvel Comics, primarily on its war and Western comics; and for the satiric magazine Cracked...
.
Collected editions
- Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Volume 1 (Mystic Comics #1-4)