This is the 19th entry in this weekly series. (For an index of the series’ other published posts, click here.) The purpose is to provide a detailed chronology of the history of North American comic-book publishing. The comics will be presented in order of publication.
While in some instances I will only include key issues of significant titles, I will for the most part be presenting the entirety of the major bodies of work. For example, every comic book with an original Carl Barks Donald Duck story will be featured in the posts. One will get to see something of the context in which the comics were published. With the original Barks duck comics, they will, depending on the year, appear alongside the Walt Kelly Pogo books, the EC “New Trend” titles, and the 1960s Marvel superhero line. This should reflect the books’ presence on newsstands when they were originally on sale.
The publication dates are by and large the on-sale dates the publishers reported to the U. S. Copyright Office. Exceptions will be noted.
Only magazines and books will be featured. Newspaper material will be included only when it has been published in these formats.
If the comic appears to be in the public domain, and a copy is available online for reading at the Digital Comic Museum [www.digitalcomicmuseum.com] or elsewhere, a link will be included in the listing.
The series will give perhaps as good an idea as one can have as to the worthwhile comics a reader would have found at a retailer at a given point in time. If nothing else, the posts should prove a fun exercise in nostalgia.
This 19th post covers January 1948 to April 1948.
Dick Tracy Monthly #2.
Published on January 13, 1948. The comic features color versions of stories from Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy daily newspaper strip. The cover illustrator is unknown. There is no credited editor for the issue. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: February 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories, Vol. 8, No. 5 [#89].
Published on January 13, 1948. Edited by Alice Nielsen [Cobb]. The comic includes the Donald Duck story “Watching the Watchman,” by Carl Barks. Cover illustration by Walt Kelly. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: February 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Police Comics #76.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on January 14, 1948. Edited by George E. Brenner. Includes the Plastic Man story “The Melancholy Dr. Morbid,” by Jack Cole & Joe Millard. Cover illustration by Jack Cole. Buffalo: Comic Magazines [Quality]. Cover/indicia date: March 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Plastic Man #11.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on January 16, 1948. Edited by George E. Brenner. The comic includes these stories: “Bubble Gum,” by Jack Cole, with John Spranger; and “Stand-In for Cullen Sark,” by Jack Cole & Gwen Hansen. Cover illustration by Jack Cole. Buffalo: Comic Magazines [Quality]. Cover/indicia date: Spring 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
The Marvel Family #21.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on January 21, 1948. Edited by Wendell Crowley, Will Lieberson, and Ralph Daigh. The comic includes the Marvel Family story “The Trio of Terror,” by C. C. Beck & Otto Binder. Cover illustration by Jack Binder & Pete Costanza. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett. Cover/indicia date: March 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Wonder Woman #28.
Published on January 26, 1948. Edited by Sheldon Mayer. The comic features the story “Villainy Incorporated,” by William Moulton Marston & Harry G. Peter, with Joye Hummel Murchison. Cover illustration by Harry G. Peter. New York: National [DC]. Cover/indicia date: March-April 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Marge’s Little Lulu #2.
Published on January 27, 1948. Edited by Helen Meyer. The comic includes the stories “Lulu’s Conscience,” “A Good Time at the Movies,” “Lulu’s Heartthrob,” “Luluhaha,” and “The Report Card,” all by John Stanley. Cover illustration by John Stanley. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: March-April 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Captain Marvel Adventures #83.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on January 30, 1948. Edited by Wendell Crowley, Will Lieberson, and Ralph Daigh. The comic includes the story “Captain Marvel and Billy Batson Split,” by C. C. Beck & Otto Binder, with Pete Costanza. Cover illustration by C. C. Beck. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett. Cover/indicia date: April 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Police Comics #77.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on February 13, 1948. Edited by George E. Brenner. The comic includes the Plastic Man story “Eloc, Maker of Mischief,” by Jack Cole & William Woolfolk. Cover illustration by Jack Cole. Buffalo: Comic Magazines [Quality]. Cover/indicia date: April 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Dick Tracy Monthly #3.
Published on February 13, 1948. The comic features color versions of stories from Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy daily newspaper strip. The cover illustrator is unknown. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: March 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories, Vol. 8, No. 6 [#90].
Published on February 13, 1948. Edited by Alice Nielsen [Cobb]. The comic includes the Donald Duck story “Wired,” by Carl Barks. Cover illustration by Walt Kelly. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: March 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Captain Marvel Adventures #84.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on February 27, 1948. Edited by Wendell Crowley, Will Lieberson, and Ralph Daigh. The comic includes the story “Billy Batson’s Phobias,” by C. C. Beck & Otto Binder. Cover illustration by C. C. Beck. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett. Cover/indicia date: May 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Jingle Jangle Comics #31.
To read the issue online, click here.
The comic includes the Jingle Jangle Tales story “Sleepy Yollo the Bedless Norseman” and an untitled episode of “The Pie-Face Prince of Old Pretzleburg,” both by George Carlson. Cover illustration by Allen Ulmer. New York: Famous Funnies [Eastern Color]. Cover/indicia date: February 1948. Cover price: 10¢. Note: The exact publication date is unknown. A copyright registration does not appear to have been filed.
Li’l Abner Comics #62.
Edited by Leon Harvey. The comic features color versions of stories from Al Capp’s Li’l Abner daily newpaper strip. Cover illustration by Al Capp. New York: Harvey. Cover/indicia date: February 1948. Cover price: 10¢. Notes: The exact publication date is unknown. While the strips are under copyright to the United Feature Syndicate, no copyright registration was filed for this publication.
Steve Canyon Comics #1.
Edited by Leon Harvey. The comic features color versions of stories from Milton Caniff’s Steve Canyon daily newpaper strip. Cover illustration by Milton Caniff. New York: Harvey. Cover/indicia date: February 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Terry and the Pirates Comics #8.
To read the issue online, click here.
Edited by Leon Harvey. The comic features color versions of stories from Milton Caniff’s run on the Terry and the Pirates daily newpaper strip. Cover illustration by Milton Caniff. New York: Harvey. Cover/indicia date: February 1948. Cover price: 10¢. Notes: Those who click to read the online scan should be aware the stories feature racist caricatures. The exact publication date is unknown. While the strips are under copyright to the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate (now Tribune Media Services), no copyright registration was filed for this publication.
Police Comics #78.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on March 12, 1948. Edited by George E. Brenner. The comic includes the Plastic Man story “The Dictator of Dreams,” by Jack Cole. Cover illustration by Jack Cole. Buffalo: Comic Magazines [Quality]. Cover/indicia date: May 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Dick Tracy Monthly #4.
Published on March 16, 1948. The comic features color versions of stories from Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy daily newspaper strip. The cover illustrator is unknown. There is no credited editor for the issue. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: April 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories, Vol. 8, No. 7 [#91].
Published on March 16, 1948. Edited by Alice Nielsen [Cobb]. The comic includes the Donald Duck story “Going Ape,” by Carl Barks. Cover illustration by Walt Kelly. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: April 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Boys and Girls March of Comics Featuring Donald Duck.
Published on March 23, 1948. Edited by Alice Nielsen [Cobb]. The comic includes the story “Darkest Africa,” by Carl Barks. Cover illustration by Walt Kelly. New York: Dell. Cover price: Free. Note: Also known as March of Comics #20.
Wonder Woman #29.
Published on March 24, 1948. Edited by Whitney Ellsworth. The comic includes the story “Tale of the Tigers,” by William Moulton Marston & Harry G. Peter. Cover illustration by Harry G. Peter. New York: National [DC]. Cover/indicia date: May-June 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Marge’s Little Lulu #3.
Published on March 30, 1948. Edited by Helen Meyer. The comic includes the stories “In the Doghouse,” “Babes in the Wood,” “Alvin Baba and the Forty Thieves,” and “The Piece of Cake,” all by John Stanley. Cover illustration by John Stanley. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: May-June 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Captain Marvel Adventures #85.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on March 31, 1948. Edited by Wendell Crowley, Will Lieberson, and Ralph Daigh. The comic includes the story “The Freedom Train,” by C. C. Beck & Otto Binder, with Pete Costanza. Cover illustration by C. C. Beck. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett. Cover/indicia date: June 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Police Comics #79.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on April 9, 1948. Edited by George E. Brenner. The comic includes the Plastic Man story “Eaglebeak,” by Jack Cole & Gwen Hansen, with Alex Kotzky. Cover illustration by Jack Cole. Buffalo: Comic Magazines [Quality]. Cover/indicia date: June 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Comic Cavalcade #27.
Published on April 12, 1948. Edited by Sheldon Mayer. The comic includes the Wonder Woman story “Anti-Electric,” by William Moulton Marston & Harry G. Peter. Cover illustration by Alex Toth & Harry Lampert. New York: National [DC]. Cover/indicia date: June-July 1948. Cover price: 15¢.
Dick Tracy Monthly #5.
Published on April 13, 1948. The comic features color versions of stories from Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy daily newspaper strip. The cover illustrator is unknown. There is no credited editor for the issue. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: May 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories, Vol. 8, No. 8 [#92].
Published on April 13, 1948. Edited by Alice Nielsen [Cobb]. The comic includes the Donald Duck story “Spoil the Rod,” by Carl Barks. Cover illustration by Walt Kelly. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: May 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
The Marvel Family #24.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on April 21, 1948. Edited by Wendell Crowley, Will Lieberson, and Ralph Daigh. The comic includes the Mary Marvel story “Mary Marvel Visits Valhalla,” by C. C. Beck & Otto Binder, with Pete Costanza. Cover illustration by Pete Costanza. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett. Cover/indicia date: June 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Plastic Man #12.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on April 21, 1948. Edited by George E. Brenner. The comic includes these stories: “Spadehead,” by Jack Cole & William Woolfolk, with John Spranger; and “Riverman,” by Jack Cole & William Woolfolk, with Andre LeBlanc.Cover illustration by Jack Cole. Buffalo: Comic Magazines [Quality]. Cover/indicia date: July [Summer] 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Captain Marvel Adventures #86.
To read the issue online, click here.
Published on April 30, 1948. Edited by Wendell Crowley, Will Lieberson, and Ralph Daigh. The comic includes the stories “Mr. Tawny’s Problem,” and “Captain Marvel Unites a Split Personality,” by C. C. Beck & Otto Binder, with Pete Costanza. Cover illustration by C. C. Beck. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett. Cover/indicia date: June 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Walt Disney’s Donald Duck in The Old Castle’s Secret.
Published on April 30, 1948. Edited by Eleanor Packer, Alice Nielsen [Cobb], and Tom McKimson. The comic includes the story “The Old Castle’s Secret,” by Carl Barks. Cover illustration by Carl Barks. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: June 1948. Cover price: 10¢. Note: Also known as Four Color #189.
Jingle Jangle Comics #32.
To read the issue online, click here.
The comic includes the Jingle Jangle Tales story “The Hickory-Hatted Duke and the Spooked-Up Tower” and an untitled episode of “The Pie-Face Prince of Old Pretzleburg,” both by George Carlson. Cover illustration by Ray Willner. New York: Famous Funnies [Eastern Color]. Cover/indicia date: April 1948. Cover price: 10¢. Notes: The exact publication date is unknown. A copyright registration does not appear to have been filed. There is no credited editor for the issue.
Li’l Abner Comics #63.
Edited by Leon Harvey. The comic features color versions of stories from Al Capp’s Li’l Abner daily newpaper strip. Cover illustration by Al Capp. New York: Harvey. Cover/indicia date: April 1948. Cover price: 10¢. Notes: The exact publication date is unknown. While the strips are under copyright to the United Feature Syndicate, no copyright registration was filed for this publication.
Steve Canyon Comics #2.
Edited by Leon Harvey. The comic features color versions of stories from Milton Caniff’s Steve Canyon daily newpaper strip. Cover illustration by Milton Caniff. New York: Harvey. Cover/indicia date: April 1948. Cover price: 10¢.
Terry and the Pirates Comics #9.
To read the issue online, click here.
Edited by Leon Harvey. The comic features color versions of stories from Milton Caniff’s run on the Terry and the Pirates daily newpaper strip. Cover illustration by Milton Caniff. New York: Harvey. Cover/indicia date: April 1948. Cover price: 10¢. Notes: Those who click to read the online scan should be aware the stories feature racist caricatures. The exact publication date is unknown. While the strips are under copyright to the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate (now Tribune Media Services), no copyright registration was filed for this publication.
Next: May 1948 to August 1948.