In February 1949, Timely (Marvel) debuts Amazing Mysteries comics with issue #32, an odd first issue number. It seems like it picks up numbering from Sub-Mariner, except Sub-Mariner Comics has its final issue (#32) next month. Anyway, in Amazing Mysteries, an anthology of creepy tales, one story features a narrator character named “The Witness” that […]
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In the midst of major superhero books being cancelled, it is surprising to see a superhero character get a new book all their own, but Superboy #1 debuts in January 1949. Superboy also had his own distinctive font/logo that I associate heavily with the Silver Age. The first time this logo was used was actually […]
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In Flash Comics #104 (December 1948), the Rival makes his first appearance. Though he is not the first evil speedster, he is the first recurring evil speedster and the first to style himself after The Flash. Dr. Edward Clariss worked on a chemical formula to give himself temporary superspeed after learning that the Flash was […]
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The cowboy continues to replace the superhero in September 1948, as DC’s All-American Comics follows “More Fun” out of the superhero genre. It gets a name tweak to “All-American Western” and a new cover star: Johnny Thunder. This means no more solo stories for Dr. Mid-Nite in the Golden Age. Green Lantern still has his […]
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In Green Lantern #34 (July 1947), Allan Scott learns that Harlequin has been a secret agent all along, she is Agent H-9 of the Bureau. This, of course, makes no sense in terms of continuity … we have seen Molly Mayne coming up with the idea for Harlequin! Oh well, at least they tried to […]
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The Western craze continues with the introduction of a new Western character with an old name in All-American Comics #100 (June 1948): Johnny Thunder! Yes, just six months since Johnny Thunder disappeared from DC comics, a completely new character steps in and takes over his name. Johnny Thunder is a blonde school teacher who has […]
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The lineup for EC Comics begins to shift at the end of 1947 after Max Gaines’ untimely boating death, when William Gaines takes over the reins. In December 1947, Moon Girl and the Prince debuts. Moon Girl is a girl from Samarkand who has super strength and a moon rock which gives her even more […]
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The supporting cast of Green Lantern continues to expand! In Green Lantern #30 (December 1947), Alan (Green Lantern) Scott gains a new partner-in-crime-fighting: Streak the Wonder Dog. Streak narrates the story, making him the main character – which is funny because eventually he replaces Green Lantern in the comics. Another interesting thing to note is […]
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In July 1947, Young Romance #1 debuts. Young Romance was created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon for Prize Comics and is widely known as the first romance comic, which are distinguishable from teen comics of the day in that these stories are usually devoid of any humor, anthological, and make an attempt to take […]
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Once again, a Timely (Marvel) superhero comics is completely renamed and has its genre changed: “Sub-Mariner Comics” becomes “Official True Crime Cases” with issue #24 (June 1947). Crime stories, like “teen humor” and “funny animal” comics were increasingly popular in the 1940s. The crime comics genre was started with Lev Gleason’s “Crime Does Not Pay” […]
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