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1939
1940 in comics

Notable events of 1939 in comics. See also List of years in comics.

Events and publications[]

Template:Inc-lit

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/Timely Comics, Nedor Comics, and Quality Comics all begin publishing.
  • Serbian comic strip Zigomar begins publication

January[]

  • Ace Comics (1937 series) #22 - David McKay Publications
  • Action Comics (1938 series) #8 - National Allied Publications
  • Adventure Comics (1938 series) #34 - National Allied Publications
  • Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #5 - Centaur Publications
  • Detective Comics (1937 series) #23 - National Allied Publications
  • Feature Funnies (1937 series) #16 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
  • More Fun Comics (1936 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 Comics #1 - All-American Publications
  • Amazing Mystery Funnies #8 - Centaur Publications
  • Detective Comics #26 - National Allied Publications
  • Feature Funnies #19 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
  • More Fun Comics #42 - National Periodical Publications
  • Movie Comics (1939 series) #1 - National Periodical Publications

May[]

  • May 20: In Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse comic strip the villain Phantom Blot makes his debut.
  • 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 - First appearance of Batman
  • Feature Funnies #20 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
  • 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
  • Superman (1939 series) #1, cover dated Summer - National Periodical Publications[1]

July[]

  • Ace Comics #28 - David McKay Publications
  • Action Comics #14 - National Allied Publications
  • Adventure Comics #40 - National Allied Publications. In this issue Gardner Fox, Bert Christman, Ogden Whitney and Creig Flessel's The Sandman makes his debut. [2]
  • All-American Comics #4 - All-American Publications
  • Amazing Mystery Funnies #11 - Centaur Publications
  • Detective Comics #29 - National Allied Publications. In this issue Gardner Fox introduces Batman's utility belt in Batman by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. [3]
  • Feature Comics #22 - Quality Comics
  • More Fun Comics #45 - National Periodical Publications
  • Movie Comics #4 - National Periodical Publications
  • The Magic Comic #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
  • Mystery Men Comics #1 (1939 series) - Fox Feature Syndicate - First appearance of Blue Beetle
  • Smash Comics #1 (1939 series) - Quality Comics

September[]

  • Newspaper strip Ben Bowyang by Alex Gurney begins publication
  • 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 Publications
  • Amazing Mystery Funnies #13 - Centaur Publications
  • Detective Comics #31 - National Allied Publications. In this issue Gardner Fox introduces the Batarang in Batman by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. [4]
  • Feature Comics #24 - Quality Comics
  • Four Color Series 1 (1939 series) #1 - Dell Publishing
    • First comic-book appearance of Dick Tracy, previously seen in comic strips beginning 1931
  • More Fun Comics #47 - National Periodical Publications
  • Movie Comics #6, last issue - National Periodical Publications
  • Mutt and Jeff (1939 series) #1 - National Periodical Publications
  • Mystery Men Comics #2 - Fox Feature Syndicate
  • Smash Comics #2 - Quality Comics
  • Superman #2, cover dated Fall - National Periodical Publications

October[]

  • October 15: Dorothy Urfer and Virginia Krausmann's Annibelle ends its run after a decade of publication. [5]
  • October: Russell Keaton's Flyin' Jenny makes its debut. It will run until 1946.
  • 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 Comics (becomes Marvel Mystery Comics) (1939 series) #1 - Timely Comics
  • More Fun Comics #48 - National Periodical Publications
  • Mystery Men Comics #3 - Fox Feature Syndicate
  • 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
  • Blue Beetle #1 - Fox Feature Syndicate
  • Detective Comics #33 - National Allied Publications
  • Double Action Comics #1 โ€” National Allied Publications. Released only in New York City newsstands, Double Action Comics was most likely an โ€œashcanโ€, a limited-run publication produced simply to register the title. It had a black-and-white cover,[6] with the contents pulled from Action Comics #2.[7]
  • Feature Comics #26 - Quality Comics
  • More Fun Comics #49 - National Periodical Publications
  • Mystery Men Comics #4 - Fox Feature Syndicate
  • Smash Comics #4 - Quality Comics
  • Superman #3 - National Allied Publications - Winter Issue

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 copy, 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
  • Mystery Men Comics #5 - Fox Feature Syndicate
  • Smash Comics #5 - Quality Comics

Specials[]

  • New York World's Fair (1939 series) #1 - National Periodical Publications
  • Mutt & Jeff (1939 series) #1 - All-American Comics

Specific date unknown[]

  • The first episode of Arthur Warden's Tuffy and his Magic Tail is published. [8]

Deaths[]

January[]

  • January 18: Carl E. Schultze, American comics artist (Foxy Grandpa), passes away at age 72. [9]
  • January 20: Victor Bergdahl, Swedish animator and comics artist (Kapten Grogg), dies at age 60. [10][11]

June[]

  • June 28: Joz De Swerts, Belgian illustrator, political cartoonist and comics artist (worked for Zonneland), dies at age 49. [12]

July[]

  • July 4: Louis Wain, British painter and illustrator (illustrations starring anthropomorphic cats), dies at age 78. [13]
  • July 25: A.E. Hayward, American comics artist (Somebody's Stenog), passes away at age 55. [14]

August[]

  • August 14: T.E. Powers, American comics artist (Our Moving Pictures, Mr. Nobody Holme), dies at the age of 69. [15]

September[]

  • September 8: Elie Smalhout, Dutch graphic artist, illustrator and comics artist (made text comics for De Notenkraker), dies at age 49. [16]

October[]

  • October 10: Benjamin Rabier, French comics artist, illustrator, animator and advertising artist (Gรฉdรฉon, Tintin-Lutin, designed La Vache Qui Rit), passes away at age 74. [17]

November[]

  • November 22: Walter Hoban, American comics artist (Jerry on the Job), passes away at age 49. [18]

December[]

  • December 18: Bruno Liljefors, Swedish painter and comics artist, dies at age 79. [19]

Specific date unknown[]

  • E. Nicolson, French illustrator and comics artist (Les Aventures du Chien Brownie, Bambochard et Trรฉmolo), passes away at an unknown age. [20]

First issues by title[]

  • All-American Comics cover dated April, published by All-American Publications
  • Amazing Man Comics cover dated September, published by Centaur Publications. Issues #1 through 4 were not published.
  • Double Action Comics cover dated December, published by National Periodical Publications. The first issue was an ashcan copy, published but not distributed or sold.
  • Fantastic Comics, cover-dated December, published by Fox Feature Syndicate
  • Four Color Series 1 published by Dell Publishing
  • Marvel Comics cover dated October, published by Timely Comics
  • Movie Comics cover dated April, published by National Periodical Publications
  • Mutt & Jeff cover dated Summer, published by All-American Comics
  • Mystery Men Comics cover dated August, published by Fox Feature Syndicate
  • New York World's Fair published by National Periodical Publications
  • Silver Streak Comics cover dated December, published by Rhoda Publications
  • Smash Comics cover dated August, published by Quality Comics
  • Superman cover dated Summer, published by National Periodical Publications[1]
  • The Magic Comic cover dated July, published by D. C. Thomson & Co.

Renamed titles[]

  • Feature Comics renamed Feature Funnies as of the June cover date.
  • Marvel Comics renamed Marvel Mystery Comics as of the December cover date.

Initial appearances by character name[]

  • Batman (Earth-Two) in Detective Comics #27 (May), created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, published by National Allied Publications[21]
  • Bozo the Iron Man in Smash Comics #1 (August), created by George Brenner, published by Quality Comics.
  • Commissioner Gordon in Detective Comics #27 (May) created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, published by National Allied Publications
  • Dan Garret (Blue Beetle) in Mystery Men Comics #1 (August), created by Charles Nicholas, published by Fox Feature Syndicate.
  • Doctor Death (comics) in Detective Comics #29 (July), created by Bob Kane, published by National Periodical Publications
  • Doll Girl in Feature Comics #27 (December), created by Will Eisner, Published by Quality Comics.
  • Doll Man in Feature Comics #27 (December), created by Will Eisner, Published by Quality Comics.
  • Human Torch in Marvel Comics #1 (October) created by Carl Burgos, published by Timely Comics
  • Invisible Hood in Smash Comics #1 (August), created by Art Pinajian, published by Quality Comics.
  • Monk (comics) in Detective Comics #31 (September), created by Gardner Fox and Bob Kane, published by National Periodical Publications
  • Namor The Sub-Mariner in Marvel Comics #1 (October) created by Bill Everett, published by Timely Comics
  • Sandman (Wesley Dodds) in New York World's Fair Comics #1, created by Gardner Fox and Bert Christman, published by National Periodical Publications.
  • Ultra-Humanite in Action Comics #13 (June), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by National Periodical Publications.
  • Ultra-Man in All-American Comics #8 (November), created by Jon L. Blummer, published by National Periodical Publications

References[]

  1. โ†‘ 1.0 1.1 Wallace, Daniel; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1930s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. "Superman's runaway popularity as part of Action Comics earned him his own comic. This was a real breakthrough for the time, as characters introduced in comic books had never before been so successful as to warrant their own titles." 
  2. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/fox_gardner.htm
  3. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/fox_gardner.htm
  4. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/fox_gardner.htm
  5. โ†‘ Morales, Alisande (July 17, 2013). "Wonder Women: On and Off Paper". Ali's Alley. Alisande Morales-Caraballo. Retrieved July 30, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  6. โ†‘ One copy with a color cover has been proven to be a hoax.
  7. โ†‘ The first mention of Double Action Comics #1 is in The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #10 (Robert M. Overstreet, 1980). Additional information regarding Double Action can be found on page A-19 of the market report, which notes that, โ€œfour more copies of Double Action turned up and sold for record prices. All of these copies were in excellent condition with white cover and pages. Even a No. 1 was included in the four, the rest being No. 2โ€™s.โ€ The existence of a Very Good copy has been confirmed by both Robert Overstreet and John K. Snyder III.
  8. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/warden_arnold.htm
  9. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/schultze_carl.htm
  10. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/bergdahl_victor.htm
  11. โ†‘ Bendazzi, p. 45
  12. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/de-swerts_joz.htm
  13. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/wain_louis.htm
  14. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/hayward_ae.htm
  15. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/powers_te.htm
  16. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/smalhout_elie.htm
  17. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/rabier_benjamin.htm
  18. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/hoban.htm
  19. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/liljefors_bruno.htm
  20. โ†‘ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/n/nicolson_e.htm
  21. โ†‘ Wallace "1930s" in Dolan, p. 24: "DC's second superstar debuted in the lead story of this issue, written by Bill Finger and drawn by Bob Kane, though the character was missing many of the elements that would make him a legend."
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