Chronological History of American Comics
part three 1934-1952






Click the image above of a Flash Gordon by
Alex Raymond for a 70k gif.
1934
- Famous Funnies #1 published in May becomes the first continuing
comic book publication.
- Skippy's Own Book of Comics published. The first four-color comic
book.
- Al Capp's Lil Abner makes first appearance.
- Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon Jungle Jim and Secret Agent X-9 all
begin in January. Secret Agent X-9 written by Dashiell Hammett.
- F.Martinek & L.Beroth's Don Winslow first appearance.
- Lee Falk & Phil Davis' Mandrake the Magician makes first
appearance.
- Milton Caniff's Terry & The Pirates makes first appearance.
- Noel Sickles becomes artist & writer on Scorchy Smith
- Otto Soglow's Little King first appearance.
- Will Gould's Red Barry first appearance.
1935
February
December
month unk.
- Bill Holman's Smokey Stover first appearance in the Chicago
Tribune.
- Bob Moore and Carl Pfeufer's Don Dixon makes first appearance.
- Mickey Mouse Magazine begins publication.
- National Publications publishes New Fun Comics the first comic
book with original content.
- Ralph Fuller's Oakey Doakes first appearance.
- Zane Grey's King of the Royal Mounted becomes a strip illustrated
by Allen Dean.
1936
January
- NEW FUN COMICS retitled MORE FUN COMICS (#7)
month unk.
- King Comics begins by King Features Syndicate.
- Lee Falk & Ray Moore's the Phantom makes first appearance.
- Popular Comics by Tribune syndicate.
- The advent of Eastern's success with comic books prompts newspaper
syndicates to issue their own titles.
- The Funnies by NEA Syndicate.
- Tip Top Comics by United Features Syndicate.
1937
January
- NEW COMICS retitled NEW ADVENTURE COMICS (#12)
March
month unk.
- Burne Hogarth becomes artist on the Tarzan Sunday page.
- Detective Comics #1 published by National.
- Harold Foster leaves the Tarzan strip (for the second time) to
create his own strip Prince Valiant for King Features.
1938
June
- ACTION COMICS #1 (First appearance of Superman)
September
- NEW ADVENTURE COMICS retitled ADVENTURE COMICS (#32)
- NEW BOOK OF COMICS ends (#2)
month unk.
- Alfred Andriola's Charlie Chan strip makes it's first appearance.
- First Donald Duck comic published.
- Fran Stiker's Lone Ranger become a comic strip illustrated by
Charles Flanders and written by Ed Kressy.
- Fred Harmon's Red Ryder makes his first appearance.
- In Italy, Benito Mussolini bans publication of American comic
strips with the exception of Mickey Mouse.
- Jerry Siegal & Joe Shuster's Superman makes first appearance
in Action Comics #1. One of the most important events in comics history.
- Jumbo Comics begins publication. First Fiction House Comic.
- Vernon Greene's the Shadow comic strip makes it's first
appearance.
1939
April
month unk.
- DETECTIVE COMICS #27 (First appearance of Batman)
June
October
December
- MARVEL COMICS becomes MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS (#2)
month unk.
- All American Comics #1 published.
- Bob Kane's Batman written by Bill Finger makes his first
appearance in Detective Comics #27.
- Carl Burgos' Human Torch and Bill Everett's Sub-Mariner make their
first appearances in Marvel Comics #1, the first Marvel Comic.
- Jerry Robinson creates the Joker in a Batman #1.
- Motion Picture Comics #1 published by DC. First adaptation comic
of movies.
- Motion Picture Funnies #1 featuring Bill Everett's Sub-Mariner
- New York World's Fair Comics Published with Superman and Batman
- Superman #1 published. The first comic book devoted to a single
superhero.
1940
January
March
April
month unk.
- DETECTIVE COMICS #38 (First appearance of Robin)
June
August
- ALL-AMERICAN COMICS #16 (First appearance of Green Lantern)
September
- RED RAVEN COMICS becomes THE HUMAN TORCH (#2)
November
- ALL-AMERICAN COMICS #19 (First appearance of Hourman)
December
- ALL-STAR COMICS #3 (First appearance of Justice Society)
month unk.
- Daredevil makes his first appearance in Silver Streak #6.
- Robin the Boy Wonder makes his first appearance in Detective #38
- All-Star Comics #1 published. The third issue creates the Justice
Society of America, the first superhero group.
- C.C.Beck & William Parker create Captain Marvel in Whiz Comics
#1
- Dale Messick's Brenda Starr makes her first appearance in the
Chicago Tribune.
- Gardner Fox & Harry Lampert create the Flash for DC in Flash
Comics #1.
- Planet Comics published. The first comic book devoted to science
fiction.
- The Shadow & Doc Savage get comic book titles.
- Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #1 published.
- Will Eisner's the Spirit makes his first appearance.
1941
March
- CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1
April
- WORLD'S BEST COMICS retitled WORLD'S FINEST COMICS (#2)
June
August
September
November
- ALL-STAR COMICS #8 (First appearance of Wonder Woman)
December
month unk.
- Bob Montana's Archie makes his first appearance in Pep Comics #4.
- Classic Comics #1 published title becomes Classic Illustrated in
- George Papp's Green Arrow first appearance in More Fun #
- Gus Arriola's Gordo first appearance.
- Jack Cole's Plastic Man makes his first appearance in Police
Comics #1
- Jack Kirby & Joe Simon create Captain America in Captain
America #1.
- Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies #1 published, featuring Bugs
Bunny
- William Marsten & H.G. Peters' Wonder Woman makes her first
appearance in All Star Comics #8.
1942
January
April
- DARING MYSTERY COMICS becomes COMEDY COMICS (#9)
June
July
August
October
December
month unk.
- Archie Comics #1 published.
- Carl Barks first Donald Duck story appears in Four Color Comic #9.
- Crime Does Not Pay #22, the first crime comic appears.
- Crockett Johnson's Barnaby first appearance.
- George Baker's the Sad Sack makes his first appearance.
- Wonder Woman #1 published.
1943
February
September
December
month unk.
- Alfred Andriola's Kerry Drake makes first appearance.
- Roy Crane's Buz Sawyer makes first appearance.
- Walt Kelly's Pogo makes his first appearance in Animal Comics #
1944
June
September
- DARING MYSTERY COMICS revived & becomes DARING COMICS (#9)
- FUNNY TUNES becomes GAY COMICS (#18)
- ZIGGY PIG-SILLY SEAL COMICS #1
October
- MYSTIC COMICS (second series) #1
November
- MISS AMERICA COMICS becomes MISS AMERICA MAGAZINE (#2)
December
month unk.
- Alex Raymond does his last Flash Gordon Sunday page.
- Frank Robbins' Johnny Hazard makes first appearance.
1945
April
June
September
December
- AMAZING COMICS becomes COMPLETE COMICS (#2)
- COMPLETE COMICS ends (#2)
- MYSTIC COMICS (second series) ends (#4)
month unk.
- Frankenstein comics #1 published.
- Little Lulu becomes a comic book.
- Burne Hogarth leaves Tarzan to create his own strip Drago.
- Ray Bailey's Bruce Gentry makes first appearance.
1946
March
April
- ADVENTURE COMICS #103 (First appearance of Superboy)
June
- KID KOMICS becomes KID MOVIE COMICS (#11)
September
- ANIMATED MOVIE-TUNES becomes MOVIE TUNES COMICS (#3)
- DOPEY DUCK COMICS becomes WACKY DUCK (#3)
- IDEAL COMICS becomes WILLIE COMICS (#5)
- ZIGGY PIG-SILLY SEAL COMICS ends (#6)
October
- YOUNG ALLIES COMICS ends (#20)
December
month unk.
- Alex Raymond's Rip Kirby daily strip makes first appearance.
- Milton Caniff does his last Terry & the Pirates strip.
- The National Cartoonists Society founded. Rube Goldberg serves as
President.
1947
January
- ALL WINNERS COMICS becomes ALL TEEN (#20)
April
- ALL TEEN becomes TEEN COMICS (#21)
- KID MOVIE COMICS becomes RUSTY COMICS (#12)
- THE HUMAN TORCH becomes JUNIOR MISS (#24)
- FUNNY COMICS becomes OSCAR COMICS (#24)
August
- TEEN COMICS becomes HEDY DEVINE COMICS (#22)
- TERRY-TOONS COMICS ends (#59)
September
- KRAZY COMICS becomes CINDY COMICS (#27)
- OSCAR COMICS renumbered (#26/3)
- SUB-MARINER COMICS becomes OFFICIAL TRUE CRIME CASES (#24)
- WACKY DUCK becomes JUSTICE COMICS (#7)
October
November
- ALL-FLASH COMICS ends (#32)
- MORE FUN COMICS ends (#147)
December
- ALL-SELECT COMICS becomes BLONDE PHANTOM (#12)
- COMEDY COMICS becomes MarIE COMICS (#35)
- MOVIE TUNES COMICS becomes FRANKIE COMICS (#4)
month unk.
- Coulton Waugh's book The Comics published by MacMillen Publishing
Company. It is the first in depth discussion and study of the comic strip's
history in
- Eerie Comics #1 published by Avon Publishing, the first all horror
comic.
- George Wunder takes over Terry & The Pirates.
- Max Gaines dies in boating accident, his son William M. Gaines
takes over EC Comics.
- Milton Caniff's Steve Canyon first appearance.
1948
January
February
- OFFICIAL TRUE CRIME CASES becomes ALL TRUE CRIME (#26)
March
April
- LAWBREAKERS ALWAYS LOSE! #1
month unk.
- ALL FUNNY COMICS ends (#23)
- BLACKSTONE THE MAGICIAN #1 (#2)
- COMEDY COMICS (second series) #1
June
- MITZI COMICS becomes MITZI'S BOYFRIEND
July
- BLACKSTONE THE MAGICIAN becomes BLACKSTONE THE DETECTIVE (#3)
August
- ALL WINNERS COMICS (second series) #1
- JUSTICE COMICS renumbered (#10/4)
- KRAZY KOMICS (second series) #1
September
- BLACKSTONE THE DETECTIVE #4, ends
- WILD WEST becomes WILD WESTERN (#3)
October
November
- ALL-AMERICAN COMICS retitled ALL-AMERICAN WESTERN (#103)
- KRAZY KOMICS (second series) ends (#2)
December
- ALL-SURPRISE becomes JEANIE (#13)
- ALL TEEN and YOUNG ALLIES merged as ALL WINNERS & TEEN COMICS
(#21)
month unk.
- Frank Godwin's Rusty Riley first appearance.
- Rex Morgan, M.D. created by Nicholas Dallis & Allen Saunders.
- Walt Kelly's Pogo introduced as a comic strip in the New York
Star.
1949
February
- FRANKIE COMICS becomes FRANKIE & LANA (#13)
March
- MISS BEVERLY HILLS OF HOLLYWOOD #1
- MY ROMANCE becomes MY OWN ROMANCE (#4)
April
- COMPLETE MYSTERY becomes TRUE COMPLETE MYSTERY (#5)
- MITZI'S BOYFRIEND ends (#7)
month unk.
- BLONDE PHANTOM becomes LOVERS (#23)
- IDEAL becomes LOVE ROMANCES (#6)
- SUB-MARINER COMICS becomes AMAZING MYSTERIES (#32)
- THE HUMAN TORCH becomes LOVE TALES (#36)
June
- ALL WESTERN WINNERS becomes WESTERN WINNERS (#5)
- OSCAR COMICS becomes AWFUL OSCAR (#11)
- TERRY-TOONS COMICS revived and becomes BEST WESTERN (#58)
July
- REAL FACT COMICS ends (#21)
- WILLIE COMICS becomes LI'L WILLIE COMICS (#20)
August
- BLAZE CARSON becomes REX HART (#6)
- CASEY--CRIME PHOTOGRAPHER #1
- FRANKIE & LANA becomes FRANKIE FUDDLE (#16)
- MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS becomes MARVEL TALES (#93)
- SUB-MARINER COMICS becomes BEST LOVE (#33)
September
- MOLLY MANTON'S ROMANCES #1
October
- ADVENTURES OF ALAN LADD #1
- ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET #1
- AWFUL OSCAR becomes OSCAR COMICS (#13)
- BLAZE THE WONDER COLLIE #1 (#2)
- LAWBREAKERS ALWAYS LOSE! ends (#10)
- MITZI'S BOYFRIEND revived & becomes TRUE LIFE TALES (#8)
- TESSIE THE TYPIST becomes TINY TESSIE (#24)
- TRUE COMPLETE MYSTERY ends (#8)
- WESTERN WINNERS becomes ROMANCE TALES (#7)
November
- FRANKIE FUDDLE ends (#17)
- LANA becomes LITTLE LANA (#8)
December
- BEST WESTERN becomes WESTERN OUTLAWS & SHERIFFS (#60)
- MOLLY MANTON'S ROMANCES ends (#2)
- ALL WINNERS COMICS (second series) becomes ALL WESTERN WINNERS
(#2)
month unk.
- KID COLT becomes KID COLT OUTLAW (#5)
1950
January
- AMAZING MYSTERIES ends (#35)
- ANIMAL ANTICS retitled MOVIE TOWN ANIMAL ANTICS (#24)
- CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS ends (#75)
- COMEDY COMICS (second series) ends (#10)
- COWGIRL ROMANCES ends (#28)
- JEANIE COMICS becomes COWGIRL ROMANCES (#28)
- LI'L WILLIE COMICS renumbered (#20/22)
- LOVE ADVENTURES ends (#2)
- REAL EXPERIENCES ends (#25)
- RUSTY COMICS becomes THE KELLYS (#23)
- TINY TESSIE becomes REAL EXPERIENCES (#25)
- TRUE LIFE TALES renumbered & ends (#2)
February
- MISS MELODY LANE OF BROADWAY #1
- SPORTS STARS becomes SPORTS ACTION (#2)
March
- ACTUAL ROMANCES becomes TRUE SECRETS (#3)
- BLAZE THE WONDER COLLIE ends (#3)
- OUR LOVE becomes TRUE SECRETS (#3)
- ROMANCES OF THE WEST becomes ROMANTIC AFFAIRS (#3)
- ROMANTIC AFFAIRS ends (#3)
- WESTERN LIFE ROMANCES ends (#2)
- WESTERN WINNERS becomes BLACK RIDER (#8)
April
- LEADING COMICS retitled LEADING SCREEN COMICS (#42)
- MarIE COMICS becomes RENO BROWNE HOLLYWOOD'S GREATEST COWGIRL
month unk.
- TRUE WESTERN becomes TRUE ADVENTURES (#3)
June
- COWBOY ROMANCES becomes YOUNG MEN (#4)
- MISS MELODY LANE OF BROADWAY ends (#3)
- MY DIARY becomes MY FRIEND IRMA (#3)
July
- ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET ends (#6)
- MISS BEVERLY HILLS OF HOLLYWOOD ends (#9)
August
- FUNNY FOLKS retitled HOLLYWOOD FUNNY FOLKS (#27)
- LI'L WILLIE COMICS becomes CRIME CASES COMICS (#24)
- TRUE ADVENTURES becomes MEN'S ADVENTURES (#4)
September
- CINDY COMICS becomes CRIME CAN'T WIN (#41)
- HEDY OF HOLLYWOOD ends (#50)
- TEEN COMICS becomes JOURNEY INTO UNKNOWN WORLDS (#36)
- THE KELLYS becomes SPY CASES (#26)
October
- ADVENTURES OF BOB HOPE #1
November
- CASEY--CRIME PHOTOGRAPHER becomes TWO-GUN WESTERN (#5)
- JOKER COMICS becomes ADVENTURES INTO TERROR (#43)
- SUSPENSE becomes AMAZING DETECTIVE CASES (#3)
- WHIP WILSON becomes THE GUNHAWK (#12)
December
- HEDY DEVINE COMICS becomes HEDY OF HOLLYWOOD
- RENO BROWNE, HOLLYWOOD'S GREATEST COWGIRL becomes APACHE KID
month unk.
- Charles Schulz's Peanuts appears as a newspaper strip. Previously
the strip appeared in a magazine and was called Lil Folks.
- EC Comics launches its new trend of horror and sci-fi comics
signaling a new era in comics. Titles published are Crypt of Terror (Tales From
the Crypt), Vault of Horror and Haunt of Fear,
- Mort Walker's Beetle Baily
1951
January
February
- ADVENTURES OF ALAN LADD ends (#9)
- LOVE ADVENTURES revived (#3)
March
April
- ALL-STAR COMICS retitled ALL-STAR WESTERN (#57)
- ADVENTURES INTO TERROR renumbered (#3/1)
- CRIME CAN'T WIN renumbered (#44/4)
- JOURNEY INTO UNKNOWN WORLDS renumbers (#39/4)
- MARVEL BOY becomes ASTONISHING (#3)
- SPY CASES renumbers (#29/4)
month unk.
- CRIME CASES COMICS rennumbered (#28/5)
- KENT BLAKE OF THE SECRET SERVICE #1
June
November
December
- SECRET HEARTS revived (#7)
- YOUNG MEN becomes YOUNG MEN ON THE BATTLEFIELD (#12)
month unk.
- Hank Ketcham's Dennis the Menace make his first appearance. ( five
days later British cartoonist David Law creates a strip of the same name).
- Jose Luis Salinas' Cisco Kid comic strip makes first appearance.
1952
January
- ADVENTURES INTO WEIRD WORLDS #1
- ADVENTURES OF REX THE WONDER DOG #1
February
- ADVENTURES OF DEAN MARTIN AND JERRY LEWIS #1
- IT'S A DUCK'S LIFE ends (#11)
March
- GIRL COMICS becomes GIRL CONFESSIONS (#13)
April
- SPACE SQUADRON becomes SPACE WORLDS (#6)
June
- TWO-GUN WESTERN ends (#14)
- WESTERN OUTLAWS & SHERIFFS ends (#73)
July
- DALE EVANS COMICS ends (#24)
- SENSATION COMICS retitled SENSATION MYSTERY (#110)
August
- LOVE ADVENTURES ends (#12)
September
- ALL TRUE CRIME ends (#52)
- AMAZING DETECTIVE CASES ends (#14)
October
- GEORGIE COMICS ends (#39)
- LOVE ADVENTURES becomes ACTUAL CONFESSIONS (#13)
- NELLIE THE NURSE ends (#36)
November
December
- ACTUAL CONFESSIONS ends (#14)
- ALL-AMERICAN WESTERN retitled ALL-AMERICAN MEN AT WAR (#127/1)
- STAR-SPANGLED COMICS retitled STAR-SPANGLED WAR STORIES (#131/1)
month unk.
- Judge created by Nick Dallis and Dan Heilman.
- Mad Comics #1 published, the most popular humor comic of all time
Some great prince Valiant scans....
If you can take the time to
view them, they are gorgeous!
- Prince Valiant by Hal
Foster-A panel from a 1940 Sunday page. 287k Jpeg.
- Prince Valiant by Hal
Foster-A panel from a 1940 Sunday page. 300k Jpeg.
- Prince Valiant by Hal
Foster-A panel from a 1940 Sunday page. 25k Jpeg.

Detail of a drawing of Captain
America by Jack Kirby. 3k Gif

Some more cool scans for my cyber friends
Click the image for a 135k jpeg

The History of Comic Art









A Chronological History of Comic Art in
America






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