Turbines to speed...
As we wait for a pointy-eared someone to make his first appearance, DC added two new series to its roster (sort of). One is Movie Comics, which I couldn't find any scans for, and which lasted 6 issues, featuring movie adaptations. The other was All-American Comics, where many superheroes would make their debuts, including such trademarks as Green Lantern and the Atom, and if I say "sort of", it's because the book was published by All-American Comics which DC (or National, if you prefer) would purchase later and fold into its shared universe. The first issue didn't give us a superhero though. It could have been possible though, because at this point, Superman's popularity has started producing copycats, including Will Eisner's Wonder Man, who premieres this month in Wonder Comics #1, a character very briefly published by Fox Publications before National/DC dropped a lawsuit on their heads for poaching their big idea.
From Zatara: "Sea Ghost" by Gardner Fox and Fred Guardineer, Action Comics #11 (April 1939)
Alternating as I do between Superman and Zatara, I can't help but have a preference for the latter. In this story, he turns into a mouse, walks around invisibly, punches holes through walls with his mind, creates a giant magic carpet, summons demons, and more. And yet, he can still take the time to make a bunny jump through a hoop for our amusement.
From "A Message from All-American Comics" by Sheldon Mayer, All-American Comics #1 (April 1939)
The one premiering star DC acknowledged in its Who's Who was aviator Hop Harrigan... and then there's Uncle Sam, appearing in comics form here before Quality Comics put its hands on him and turned him into a superhero. It's so strange to think of a public domain character going this route, isn't it? Also in the pic, Mutt & Jeff (top), Always Belittlin' (bottom), and Scribbly (bottom right). With the other books largely publishing adventure strips, it seems All-American was invested in doing more humor strips as had been the early mandate of DC's original line-up.
From Cotton Carver: "The White Witch" by Gardner Fox and Geoff Newman, Adventure Comics #37 (April 1939)
And back to boy's own adventure... if that's the proper appellation for massacring the natives.
From Slam Bradley: "Artists of Death" by Siegel & Shuster, Detective Comics #26 (April 1939)
Slam Bradley chokes out a leopard, unaware that he's about to be replaced as Detective's number one star. I mean, he's CHOKING OUT LEOPARDS! How could he lose his spot?!
As we wait for a pointy-eared someone to make his first appearance, DC added two new series to its roster (sort of). One is Movie Comics, which I couldn't find any scans for, and which lasted 6 issues, featuring movie adaptations. The other was All-American Comics, where many superheroes would make their debuts, including such trademarks as Green Lantern and the Atom, and if I say "sort of", it's because the book was published by All-American Comics which DC (or National, if you prefer) would purchase later and fold into its shared universe. The first issue didn't give us a superhero though. It could have been possible though, because at this point, Superman's popularity has started producing copycats, including Will Eisner's Wonder Man, who premieres this month in Wonder Comics #1, a character very briefly published by Fox Publications before National/DC dropped a lawsuit on their heads for poaching their big idea.
Alternating as I do between Superman and Zatara, I can't help but have a preference for the latter. In this story, he turns into a mouse, walks around invisibly, punches holes through walls with his mind, creates a giant magic carpet, summons demons, and more. And yet, he can still take the time to make a bunny jump through a hoop for our amusement.
The one premiering star DC acknowledged in its Who's Who was aviator Hop Harrigan... and then there's Uncle Sam, appearing in comics form here before Quality Comics put its hands on him and turned him into a superhero. It's so strange to think of a public domain character going this route, isn't it? Also in the pic, Mutt & Jeff (top), Always Belittlin' (bottom), and Scribbly (bottom right). With the other books largely publishing adventure strips, it seems All-American was invested in doing more humor strips as had been the early mandate of DC's original line-up.
And back to boy's own adventure... if that's the proper appellation for massacring the natives.
Slam Bradley chokes out a leopard, unaware that he's about to be replaced as Detective's number one star. I mean, he's CHOKING OUT LEOPARDS! How could he lose his spot?!
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