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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New Comics #3 (February 1936) brought another adventure for Siegel & Shuster’s “Federal Men”. It also had the first contest to win original artwork of its hero Steve Carson. Eastern Color’s Famous Funnies #20 also featured a letter from a reader for the first time.
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