The science fiction angle continues for Siegel and Shuster in this Federal Men tale from December 1936. In it, this four page “imaginary tale” from the futuristic year 2000 shows federal agent Jor-L fighting bandit queen Nira-Q. The name Jor-L was of course re-used for Superman’s father on Krypton. This issue also shows the title […]
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National Allied Publications started advertising their newest upcoming comic book title, “Detective Comics” in late 1936. Above is a full-page ad inside New Comics #11, November 1936, though the magazine wouldn’t come out for three more months. “Detective Comics” of course became the official name for the comic book company in the 1970s and years […]
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Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster continue to lean heavy into the sci-fi angle for their comic strips. In October 1936, New Comics #10 features Steve Carson, an FBI agent infiltrating a secret criminal organization and then heroically commandeering an out-of-control giant robot. I really love the art here by Joe Shuster, the use of the […]
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It’s pretty clear that by mid-1936, Siegel & Shuster were trying to make their strips more exciting and fantastical. In September 1936, “Federal Men” took a turn from its G-Man roots towards science fiction when Steve Carson made his way on to a submersible in order to infiltrate the “Invisible Empire”, resulting in a costume […]
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August 1936 creeps the industry ever-closer to a full-fledged superhero, with Doctor Occult meeting The Seven, donning a skin-tight uniform with a symbol on its chest and a red cape, and then flying through the ether to Egypt. Clearly Siegel and Shuster were playing with their crazy Superman idea in other strips. Note that this […]
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In More Comics #13 (July 1935), the Doctor Occult story featured a “next issue!” blurb. I think this is the first time I’ve seen the creators excited enough to tease the next issue storyline.
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David McKay Publications started publishing their own newspaper reprint comic, King Comics, in 1936. In King Comics #4, they start including Mandrake the Magician. Mandrake is considered by many historians as the first costumed superhero. In other news, Doctor Occult takes on a werewolf over in More Comics:
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In May 1936, Centaur Publications released Comic Magazine #2 containing a first in comic book history: a full 7-page comic book story. This was a departure from everything else being published in comic books at the time since it was also a self-contained story having a beginning, middle and end. It was by Tom Cooper, […]
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I’m not sure what “tough thongs” are exactly, but this panel from Doctor Occult in More Fun #10 was too good to pass up. April 1936.
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March 1936 brings three more companies into the comic book publishing game: Centaur Publications, United Features, David McKay. Centaur Publications was formed by two former employees of National Allied Publications, John Mahon and Bill Cook. Their flagship comic book is Comics Magazine #1, which includes a feature called “Dr. Mystic, Occult Detective”. The feature is […]
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