When I started out doing "One Panel", the comics were from the 1930s and proto-DC wasn't publishing a whole lot of books. Now that we're into the 1940s, they are, and they've been joined by future acquisitions Quality and Fawcett. So I thought it'd be interesting to look at the anthology books (which is most of them) on the stands in January of 1941, and list all the strips being published at the time. This is gonna take a few posts, but I'm interested to see just how far superheroes have come, and non-supers have gone.
From Superman: "The Coal Mine Heiress" by Jerry Siegel and Jack Burnley, Action Comics #34 (March 1941)
Superman breaks the time barrier and discovers '80s pop (not really). What ELSE was considered Action at the time?
The sporty Pep Morgan, by George Papp
The Black Pirate, by Sheldon Moldoff
Three Aces, a team of aviators written by Gardner Fox
Mr. America (formerly the non-costumed Tex Thompson), by Ken Fitch and Bernard Bailey
Soldier-of-fortune Clip Carson, by George Papp
And Zatara the Magician, by Gardner Fox and Joseph Sulman
From Hourman: "Dr. Feher, Hypnotist of Crime" by Ken Fitch and Bernard Bailey, Adventure Comics #59 (February 1941)
Hourman headlines this particular book, but I gotta say, there's a lot of tell-don't-show in the strip. Anyway, what ELSE constitutes "adventure" in the Golden Age?
Barry O'Neill, a yellow peril strip starring a playboy adventurer, by Ed Winiarski
Mark Lansing, Howard Purcell's rocket age hero
Federal Men, by Chad Grothkopf
Explorer Cotton Carver, by Gardner Fox and Jack Lehti
Paul Kirk, Manhunter, not yet a costumed hero, by Ed Moore
Steve Conrad, all-purpose adventurer, by Jack Lehti
And Sandman, finally a recognizable, uhm, gas mask, by Gardner Fox and Craig Flessel
From Scribby: "Neither Man Nor Mouse" by Sheldon Meyer, All-American Comics #24 (March 1941)
Scribbly's been overtaken by Ma Hunkel AKA the Red Tornado (and the Cyclone Kids make their first appearance), but what ELSE was considered all-american in the '40s? Is there an Apple Pie feature?
The actual headliner is Green Lantern Alan Scott, by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell
Aviation hero Hop Harrigan, by Jon L. Blummer
The diminutive Atom, by Bill O'Connor and Ben Flinton
Carl Claudy's science fiction strip, Adventures In the Unknown
Boy detective/adventurer Ben Webster, with gorgeous art by Russell Cole (the last panel says the strip will be replaced by "Doctor Mid-Nite", whatever that is)
Red, White and Blue, Jerry Siegel and William Smith's Marine/Army/Navy strip
Plus, humor strips continue to hang on thanks to Bud Fisher's Mutt & Jeff, and Art Helfant's Popsicle Pete.
It doesn't look like the era of non-costumed heroes is quite done! To be continued...
Superman breaks the time barrier and discovers '80s pop (not really). What ELSE was considered Action at the time?
The sporty Pep Morgan, by George Papp
The Black Pirate, by Sheldon Moldoff
Three Aces, a team of aviators written by Gardner Fox
Mr. America (formerly the non-costumed Tex Thompson), by Ken Fitch and Bernard Bailey
Soldier-of-fortune Clip Carson, by George Papp
And Zatara the Magician, by Gardner Fox and Joseph Sulman
Hourman headlines this particular book, but I gotta say, there's a lot of tell-don't-show in the strip. Anyway, what ELSE constitutes "adventure" in the Golden Age?
Barry O'Neill, a yellow peril strip starring a playboy adventurer, by Ed Winiarski
Mark Lansing, Howard Purcell's rocket age hero
Federal Men, by Chad Grothkopf
Explorer Cotton Carver, by Gardner Fox and Jack Lehti
Paul Kirk, Manhunter, not yet a costumed hero, by Ed Moore
Steve Conrad, all-purpose adventurer, by Jack Lehti
And Sandman, finally a recognizable, uhm, gas mask, by Gardner Fox and Craig Flessel
Scribbly's been overtaken by Ma Hunkel AKA the Red Tornado (and the Cyclone Kids make their first appearance), but what ELSE was considered all-american in the '40s? Is there an Apple Pie feature?
The actual headliner is Green Lantern Alan Scott, by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell
Aviation hero Hop Harrigan, by Jon L. Blummer
The diminutive Atom, by Bill O'Connor and Ben Flinton
Carl Claudy's science fiction strip, Adventures In the Unknown
Boy detective/adventurer Ben Webster, with gorgeous art by Russell Cole (the last panel says the strip will be replaced by "Doctor Mid-Nite", whatever that is)
Red, White and Blue, Jerry Siegel and William Smith's Marine/Army/Navy strip
Plus, humor strips continue to hang on thanks to Bud Fisher's Mutt & Jeff, and Art Helfant's Popsicle Pete.
It doesn't look like the era of non-costumed heroes is quite done! To be continued...
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