In Smash Comics #14 (July 1940), Quality introduces a new superhero in the form of The Ray. The Ray is “Happy” Terrill, a newspaper reporter who is exposed to radiation in a weather balloon experiment and gains fantastic radiation powers – at the cost of his pants. The Ray shows up in other versions throughout […]
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Quality Comics started a new comic book in April 1940: National Comics #1. This book featured the debut of an odd superhero, Uncle Sam created by Will Eisner. Eisner based the superhero on the character used for U.S. Army recruiting since the 1800s. The superhero was the embodiment of the American spirit, seemingly indestructible in […]
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Doll Man debuted in November 1939 in Feature Comics #27 (November 1939), published by Quality Comics. Doll Man was created by Will Eisner under the pseudonym “William Erwin Maxwell” and is now owned by DC. Darrel Dane, a scientist, invented a formula to shrink himself to 6 inches tall, giving him super strength. He was […]
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Quality released Smash Comics #1 in June 1939. It featured a silly series called “Hugh Hazzard and his Iron Man”, who is turned from villain to crime-fighting slave and given the humiliating name of “Bozo” in this first story. Of course, Bozo the Iron Man predates Marvel Comics own Iron Man by decades.
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In September 1937, Quality Comics debuted with Feature Funnies #1. It mostly reprinted of strips that had already been published by other companies like Joe Palooka and Jane Arden. It also featured Lala Palooza by Rube Goldberg, who became famous for “Rube Goldberg Machines“. Before it was a famous alternative music festival, Lollapalooza was a […]
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