Timely Comics

Last updated
Timely Comics
Company type Division
IndustryPublishing
Founded1939;85 years ago (1939)
Defunct1950;74 years ago (1950)
FateRebranded as Atlas Comics in 1951
SuccessorAtlas Comics, Marvel Comics
Headquarters Manhattan, New York City
Key people
 Martin Goodman
ProductsComic books, magazine

Timely Comics was the common name for the group of corporations that was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics. [1]

Contents

Founded in 1939, during the era called the Golden Age of comic books, "Timely" was the umbrella name for the comics division of pulp magazine publisher Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities all producing the same product. [1] The company's first publication in 1939 used Timely Publications, [2] [3] based at his existing company in the McGraw-Hill Building at 330 West 42nd Street in New York City. In 1942, it moved to the 14th floor of the Empire State Building, where it remained until 1951. In 2016, Marvel announced that Timely Comics would be the name of a new imprint of low-priced reprint comics.

Creation

In 1939, with the emerging medium of comic books proving hugely popular, and the first superheroes setting the trend, pulp-magazine publisher Martin Goodman founded Timely Publications, basing it at his existing company in the McGraw-Hill Building at 330 West 42nd Street in New York City. Goodman – whose official titles were editor, managing editor, and business manager, with Abraham Goodman officially listed as publisher [3] – contracted with the newly formed comic book packager Funnies, Inc. to supply material. [2]

His first effort, Marvel Comics #1 (Oct. 1939), featured the first appearances of writer-artist Carl Burgos' android superhero, the Human Torch, and Paul Gustavson's costumed detective the Angel. It also contained the first published appearance of Bill Everett's anti-hero Namor the Sub-Mariner, created for the unpublished movie-theater giveaway comic Motion Picture Funnies Weekly earlier that year, with the eight-page original story now expanded by four pages. [4]

Also included were Al Anders' Western hero the Masked Raider; the jungle lord Ka-Zar the Great, [5] with Ben Thompson beginning a five-issue adaptation of the story "King of Fang and Claw" by Bob Byrd in Goodman's pulp magazine Ka-Zar #1 (Oct. 1936); [6] the non-continuing-character story "Jungle Terror", featuring adventurer Ken Masters, drawn and possibly written by Art Pinajian under the quirky pseudonym "Tohm Dixon" or "Tomm Dixon" (with the published signature smudged); "Now I'll Tell One", five single-panel, black-and-white gag cartoons by Fred Schwab, on the inside front cover; and a two-page prose story by Ray Gill, "Burning Rubber", about auto racing. A painted cover by veteran science-fiction pulp artist Frank R. Paul featured the Human Torch, looking much different from the interior story. [4] [7]

Marvel Comics #1 (Oct. 1939), the first comic book from Marvel predecessor Timely Comics. Cover art by Frank R. Paul. MarvelComics1.jpg
Marvel Comics #1 (Oct. 1939), the first comic book from Marvel predecessor Timely Comics. Cover art by Frank R. Paul.

That initial comic, cover-dated October 1939, quickly sold out 80,000 copies, prompting Goodman to produce a second printing, cover-dated November 1939. The latter is identical except for a black bar over the October date in the inside-front-cover indicia, and the November date added at the end. [4] That sold approximately 800,000 copies. [8] With a hit on his hands, Goodman began assembling an in-house staff, hiring Funnies, Inc. writer-artist Joe Simon as editor. Simon brought along his collaborator, artist Jack Kirby, followed by artist Syd Shores. [9] Goodman then formed Timely Comics, Inc., beginning with comics cover-dated April 1941 or Spring 1941. [10]

There is evidence that "Red Circle Comics", a name that would be used for an unrelated imprint of Archie Comics in the 1970s and 1980s – may have been a term in use as Goodman prepared to publish his first comic book. Historian Les Daniels, referring to Goodman's pulp-magazine line, describes the name Red Circle as "a halfhearted attempt to establish an identity for what was usually described loosely as 'the Goodman group' [made] when a new logo was adopted: a red disk surrounded by a black ring that bore the phrase 'A Red Circle Magazine.' But it appeared only intermittently, when someone remembered to put it on [a pulp magazine's] cover. [11] Historian Jess Nevins, conversely, writes that, "Timely Publications [was how] Goodman's group [of companies] had become known; before this, it was known as 'Red Circle' because of the logo that Goodman had put on his pulp magazines...." [12] The Grand Comics Database identifies 23 issues of Goodman comic books from 1944 to 1959 with Red Circle, Inc. branding, [13] and a single 1948 issue under Red Circle Magazines Corp. [14]

Golden Age of Comic Books

Marvel Comics was rechristened Marvel Mystery Comics with issue #2 (Dec. 1939); the magazine would continue under that title through #92 (June 1949) before becoming Marvel Tales through #159 (Aug. 1957). Timely began publishing additional series, beginning with Daring Mystery Comics #1 (Jan. 1940), Mystic Comics #1 (March 1940), Red Raven Comics #1 (Aug. 1940), The Human Torch #2 (premiering Fall 1940 with no cover date and having taken over the numbering from the unsuccessful Red Raven), and Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941). Going on sale in December 1940, a year before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and already showing the hero punching Hitler, that first issue sold nearly one million copies. [8]

With the hit characters Human Torch and Sub-Mariner now joined by Simon and Kirby's seminal patriotic hero Captain America, Timely had its "big three" stars of the era fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. Rival publishers National Comics Publications / All-American Comics, the sister companies that would evolve into DC Comics, likewise had their own "big three": Superman and Batman plus the soon-to-debut Wonder Woman. Timely's other major competitors were Fawcett Publications (with Captain Marvel, introduced in 1940); Quality Comics (with Plastic Man and Blackhawk, both in 1941); and Lev Gleason Publications (with Daredevil, introduced in 1940 and unrelated to the 1960s Marvel hero).

Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941), art by Jack Kirby (penciler) Captain America Comics-1 (March 1941 Timely Comics).jpg
Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941), art by Jack Kirby (penciler)

Other Timely characters, many seen both in modern-day retroactive-continuity appearances and in flashbacks, include the Angel, the next-most-popular character in terms of number of appearances; the Destroyer, an early creation of future Marvel chief Stan Lee; super-speedster the Whizzer; the flying and super-strong Miss America; the original Vision, who inspired Marvel writer Roy Thomas in the 1960s to create a Silver Age version of the character; and the Blazing Skull and the Thin Man, two members of the present-day New Invaders.

Just as Captain America had his teenage sidekick Bucky and DC Comics' Batman had Robin, the Human Torch acquired a young partner, Toro, in the first issue of the Torch's own magazine. The Young Allies—one of several "kid gangs" popular in comics at the time—debuted under the rubric the Sentinels of Liberty in a text story in Captain America Comics #4 (June 1941) before making it to the comics pages themselves the following issue, and then eventually into their own title.

Seeing a natural "fire and water" theme, Timely was responsible for comic books' first major crossover, with a two-issue battle between the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner that spanned Marvel Mystery Comics #8–9 (telling the story from the two characters' different perspectives).

After the Simon and Kirby team moved to DC late 1941, having produced Captain America Comics through issue #10 (Jan. 1942), Al Avison and Syd Shores became regular pencilers on the title, with one generally inking over the other. Stan Lee (né Stanley Lieber), a cousin of Goodman's by marriage who had been serving as an assistant since 1939, at age 16, [n 1] was promoted to interim editor just shy of his 19th birthday. Showing a knack for the business, Lee stayed on for decades, eventually becoming Marvel Comics' publisher in 1972. Fellow Timely staffer Vincent Fago would substitute during Lee's World War II military service.

The staff at that time, Fago recalled, was, "Mike Sekowsky. Ed Winiarski. Gary Keller was a production assistant and letterer. Ernest Hart and Kin Platt were writers, but they worked freelance; Hart also drew. George Klein, Syd Shores, Vince Alascia, Dave Gantz, and Chris Rule were there, too". [16]

In 1942, Goodman moved his publisher operations to the 14th floor of the Empire State Building, where it remained until 1951. [17]

Funny animals, and people


The superheroes were the products of what Timely referred to as the "adventure" bullpen. The company also developed an "animator" bullpen creating such movie tie-in and original talking animal comics as Terrytoons Comics , Mighty Mouse , All Surprise Comics , Super Rabbit Comics , Funny Frolics, and Funny Tunes, renamed Animated Funny Comic-Tunes. Former Fleischer Studios animator Fago, who joined Timely in 1942, headed this group, which consisted through the years of such writer/artists as Hart, Gantz, Klein, Platt, Rule, Sekowsky, Frank Carin (né Carino), Bob Deschamps, Chad Grothkopf, Pauline Loth, Jim Mooney, Moss Worthman a.k.a. Moe Worth, and future Mad magazine cartoonists Dave Berg and Al Jaffee.

Features from this department include "Dinky" and "Frenchy Rabbit" in Terrytoons Comics; "Floop and Skilly Boo" in Comedy Comics; "Posty the Pelican Postman" in Krazy Komics and other titles; "Krazy Krow" in that character's eponymous comic; "Tubby an' Tack", in various comics; and the most popular of these features, Jaffee's "Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal" and Hart's "Super Rabbit", the cover stars of many different titles. Timely also published one of humor cartoonist Basil Wolverton's best-known features, Powerhouse Pepper . The first issue, cover-dated January 1943, bore no number, and protagonist Pepper looked different from his more familiar visualization (when the series returned for four issues, May–Nov. 1948) as the bullet-headed naif in the striped turtleneck sweater.

Additionally, Timely in 1944 and 1945 initiated a sitcom selection of titles aimed at female readers: Millie the Model , Tessie the Typist and Nellie the Nurse. The company continued to pursue female readers later in the decade with such superheroines as Sun Girl; the Sub-Mariner spin-off Namora; and Venus, the Roman goddess of love, posing as a human reporter. [18] Patsy Walker , Millie the Model, Tessie the Typist and other Timely humor titles also included Harvey Kurtzman's "Hey Look!" one-pagers in several issues. [19] [20]

Future Comic Book Hall of Fame artist Gene Colan, a Marvel mainstay from 1946 on, recalled that, "The atmosphere at Timely was very good, very funny. ... [I worked in] a big art room and there were about 20 artists in there, all stacked up. Syd [Shores] was in the last row on my side, and there was another row on the other side. Dan DeCarlo was there, several other people – Vince Alascia was an inker; Rudy LaPick sat right behind me," with Mike Sekowsky "in another room". [21]

Yet after the wartime boom years – when superheroes had been new and inspirational, and comics provided cheap entertainment for millions of children, soldiers and others – the post-war era found superheroes falling out of fashion. Television and mass market paperback books now also competed for readers and leisure time. [22] Goodman began turning to a wider variety of genres than ever, emphasizing horror, Westerns, teen humor, crime and war comics, and introducing female heroes to try to attract girls and young women to read comics. In 1946, for instance, the superhero title All Select Comics was changed to Blonde Phantom Comics, and now starred a masked secretary who fought crime in an evening gown. That same year, Kid Komics eliminated its stars and became Kid Movie Comics. All Winners Comics became All Teen Comics in January 1947. Timely eliminated virtually all its staff positions in 1948.

Time after Timely

Timely Comics
Company type Division
IndustryPublishing
Founded2015
Headquarters United States
ProductsComic books, magazine
Parent Marvel Comics

The precise end-point of the Golden Age of comics is vague, but for Timely, at least, it appears to have ended with the cancellation of Captain America Comics at issue #75 (Feb. 1950) – by which time the series had already been Captain America's Weird Tales for two issues, with the finale featuring merely anthological horror/suspense tales and no superheroes. Sub-Mariner Comics and Human Torch Comics had already ended with #32 (June 1949) and #35 (March 1949) respectively, and the company's flagship title, Marvel Mystery Comics , starring the Angel, ended that same month with #92, becoming the horror anthology Marvel Tales beginning with issue #93 (Aug. 1949). Goodman began using the globe logo of the Atlas News Company, [23] the newsstand-distribution company he owned, on comics cover-dated Nov. 1951. [24]

All New All Different Avengers #1 (Nov. 2015). Cover art by Alex Ross. All New All Different Avengers.jpg
All New All Different Avengers #1 (Nov. 2015). Cover art by Alex Ross.

In 2015, Marvel registered the trademark "Timely Comics". [25] The following year, Marvel announced that Timely Comics would be the name of a new imprint of low-priced reprint comics. [26]

Marvel branding

Publisher Martin Goodman's business strategy involved having his various magazines and comic books published by a number of companies all operating out of the same office and with the same staff. [1] One of these shell companies under which Timely Comics was published was named Marvel Comics by at least Marvel Mystery Comics #55 (May 1944). As well, some comics' covers, such as All Surprise Comics #12 (Winter 1946–47), were labeled "A Marvel Magazine" many years before Goodman would formally adopt the name in 1961. [27] This brand extended to the company's short-lived editorial advisory board in 1948 in an effort to compete with other publishers like DC Comics and Fawcett Comics, and used the moniker Marvel Comic Group in its editorials. [28] [29] [30]

Timely characters and creators

List of characters making multiple appearances, either in Timely Comics solely or in Timely and subsequent companies Atlas Comics and Marvel Comics.

CharacterDebutReintroduced (Modern Age)Creators
Sub-Mariner Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 (April, 1939)Fantastic Four #4 (May 1962) Bill Everett (writer/artist)
American AceMotion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 (April, 1939)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #4 (Nov. 2011)Paul J. Lauretta (penciler). Writer unknown. [31]
Angel Marvel Comics #1 (Nov. 1939) The Avengers #97 (March 1972); [32]
U.S. Agent #3 (Aug. 1993)		 Paul Gustavson (artist). Writer unknown. [33] [34]
Archie the GruesomeComedy Comics #10 (Jun. 1942)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #1 (Aug. 2011)
Black Marvel Mystic Comics #5 (March 1941)Slingers #1 (Dec. 1998) Al Gabriele (penciller-inker). Writer unknown but not Stan Lee as often mis-credited. [35]
Black Widow Mystic Comics #4 (Aug. 1940)Marvels #1 (Jan. 1994) George Kapitan (writer), Harry Sahle (penciller) [36]
Blazing Skull Mystic Comics #5 (March 1941)The Avengers #97 (March 1972); [32] Invaders #2 (1993)Bob Davis (writer-penciler) [37]
Blonde Phantom All Select Comics #11 (Fall 1946) The Sensational She-Hulk #4 (July 1989)Stan Lee (writer), Syd Shores (penciller) [38]
Blue Blade U.S.A. Comics #5 (Summer 1942)The Twelve #1 (March 2008)Unknown writer and artist. [39]
Blue BlazeMystic Comics #1 (March 1940)Harry Douglas (writer-penciler), signed "Harry / Douglas", leading to numerous theories of two creators or other pseudonym situations which have proven incorrect. [40]
Bucky Barnes Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941)As Winter Soldier:
Captain America vol. 5, #1 (Jan. 2005)		 Joe Simon (writer), Jack Kirby (penciller) [41]
Blue Diamond Daring Mystery Comics #7 (April 1941)Marvel Premiere #29 (April 1976) Ben Thompson (penciller). Unknown writer. [42]
Captain America Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941)The Avengers #4 (March 1964)Joe Simon (writer), Jack Kirby (penciller) [41]
Captain TerrorU.S.A. Comics #2 (Nov. 1941)Captain America #442 (Aug. 1995)Mike Suchorsky (penciller). Unknown writer. [43]
Captain Wonder Kid Komics #1 (Feb. 1943)The Twelve #1 (March 2008) Otto Binder (writer), Frank Giacoia (penciller) [44]
Challenger Daring Mystery Comics #7 (April 1941)Marvel Knights Spider-Man #9 (Feb. 2005)Charles Nicholas (penciller). Unknown writer. [45]
Citizen V Daring Mystery Comics #8 (Jan. 1942)Thunderbolts −1 (July 1997)Ben Thompson (penciler, as "Tom Benson"). Unknown writer. [46]
Comet Pierce Red Raven Comics #1 (Aug. 1940)Jack Kirby (writer-artist) [47]
Davey Drew (Davey and the Demon)Mystic Comics #7 (December 1941)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #3 (October 2011)Howard James
DefenderU.S.A. Comics #1 (August 1941)Daredevil #66 (Dec. 2004)Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (writers). Penciler uncertain [48]
Destroyer Mystic Comics #6 (Oct. 1941)Invaders #26 (March 1978)Stan Lee (writer), Jack Binder (penciler)
Dynamic Man Mystic Comics #1 (March 1940)The Twelve #1 (March 2008) Daniel Peters
Electro Marvel Mystery #4 (Feb. 1940)The Twelve #1 (March 2008) Steve Dahlman (writer-penciler)
FalconHuman Torch Comics #2 (June 1940)Marvel Knights Spider-Man #9 (Feb. 2005)Carl Burgos (writer - artist)
Father Time Captain America Comics #6 (Sep. 1941)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #2 (Sep. 2011)Stan Lee (writer)
FerretMarvel Mystery Comics #4 (Feb. 1940)The Marvels Project #3 (Dec. 2009)
Fiery Mask Daring Mystery Comics #1 (Jan. 1940)The Twelve #1 (March 2008)Joe Simon (writer-penciller) [49]
Fighting YankCaptain America Comics #17 (Aug. 1942)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #2 (Sep. 2011)
Fin Daring Mystery Comics #7 (April 1941)The Avengers #97 (March 1972); [32] Invaders #5 (March 1976) Bill Everett (writer-penciller) [42]
Flash FosterDaring Mystery Comics #1 (Jan. 1940)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #1 (Aug. 2011)
Flexo the Rubber ManMystic Comics #1 (April 1940)Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man/Venom (May 2022)Jack Binder (penciller). Unknown writer
Human Torch Marvel Comics #1 (Oct. 1939) Fantastic Four Annual #4 (Nov. 1966) Al Fagaly (penciller), Carl Burgos (writer-penciller)
Hurricane [50] Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941)Marvel Universe #7 (Dec. 1998)Jack Kirby and Joe Simon (writers), Jack Kirby (penciler) [41]
Invisible ManMystic Comics #2 (Apr. 1940)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #1 (Aug. 2011)
Jack Frost U.S.A. Comics #1 (Aug. 1941) Marvel Premiere #29 (April 1976)Stan Lee (writer), Charles Nicholas (penciler) [48]
Jap Buster JohnsonU.S.A Comics #6 (Dec. 1942)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #2 (Sept. 2011)
Jimmy JupiterMarvel Mystery Comics #28 (Feb. 1942)Captain America #1 (Sept. 2011)
John Steele Daring Mystery Comics #1The Marvels Project #1 (Oct. 2009)Larry Antonette (writer and, as "Dean Carr", penciler) [49]
Laughing Mask Daring Mystery Comics #2The Twelve #1 (March 2008)Will Harr (writer), Maurice Gutwirth (penciler) [51]
Major LibertyU.S.A. Comics #1 (Aug. 1941)
Marvel Boy (first)Daring Mystery Comics #6 (Sept. 1940)Jack Kirby (penciller), Joe Simon and Al Avison (inkers)
Marvel Boy (second)U.S.A. Comics #7 (Feb. 1943) Fantastic Four #165 (Dec. 1975) Bob Oksner (writer-penciller-inker)
Marvex the Super-RobotDaring Mystery Comics #3 (April 1940)All Select Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1 (Sept. 2009)Unknown writer and penciler from the Harry "A" Chesler studio [52]
Master Mind Excello Mystic Comics #2The Twelve #1 (March 2008)
Mercury [50] Red Raven Comics #1 (Aug. 1940)Marvel Universe #7 (Dec. 1998) Martin A. Bursten (writer), Jack Kirby (artist)
Merzah the MysticMystic Comics #4 (Aug. 1940)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #1 (Aug. 2011)
Miss America Marvel Mystery Comics #49 (Nov. 1943)Giant-Size Avengers #1 (Aug. 1974) Otto Binder (writer), Al Gabriele (penciller)
Miss Patriot Human Torch Comics #4 (Spring 1941) (as Mary Morgan); Marvel Mystery Comics #50 (Dec. 1943) (as Miss Patriot)Captain America: Patriot #1 (Nov. 2010)
Mister E Daring Mystery Comics #2The Twelve #1 (March 2008)
Monako the MagicianDaring Mystery Comics #1The Marvels Project #1 (Oct. 2009)
Moon ManMystic Comics #5All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #2 (Sep. 2011)
Namora Marvel Mystery Comics #82 (May 1947)Sub-Mariner #33 (January 1971) Ken Bald (writer), Syd Shores (artist)
Nellie the Nurse
Patriot Human Torch Comics #4 (Spring 1941)The Avengers #97 (March 1972); [32] The Invaders #5 (March 1976) Ray Gill (writer), Bill Everett or George Mandel (penciler) [53]
Patsy Walker Miss America Magazine #2 (Nov. 1944)The Avengers #144 (Feb. 1976) Stuart Little (writer), Ruth Atkinson (artist)
Phantom BulletDaring Comics #2 (Feb. 1940)The Marvels Project #2 (Nov. 2009)
Phantom Reporter Daring Mystery Comics #3The Twelve #1 (March 2008)
Red Raven Red Raven Comics #1 (Aug. 1940) X-Men #44 (May 1968)Joe Simon (writer), Louis Cazeneuve (penciller)
Rockman U.S.A. Comics #1 (Aug. 1941)The Twelve #1 (March 2008)
Silver ScorpionDaring Mystery Comics #7 (Jan. 1941)Invaders #2 (June 1993)Henry Sahle
Slow-Motion JonesU.S.A. Comics #6 (Dec. 1942)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #1 (Aug. 2011)
Sun Girl Sun Girl #1 (Aug. 1948)Ant-Man: Last Days #1 (Oct. 2015)Ken Bald
Taxi TaylorMystic Comics #2 (Apr. 1940)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #1 (Aug. 2011)
TerrorMystic Comics #5 (March 1941)Sensational She-Hulk #15 (May 1990)Phil Sturm (writer); Syd Shores (penciler). George Klein may have added background pencils, but that would not be a creator role. [54]
Thin Man Mystic Comics #4 (July 1940)Marvel Premiere #29 (April 1976) Klaus Nordling (penciller-inker)
Thunderer Daring Mystery Comics #7 (April 1941)Marvel Premiere #29 (April 1976)
Toro Human Torch Comics #2 (Fall 1940)Sub-Mariner #14 (June 1969)Carl Burgos
VagabondU.S.A. Comics #2 (Nov. 1941)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #3 (Oct. 2011)
Venus Venus #1 (Aug. 1948)Sub-Mariner #57 (January 1973)Ken Bald (first artist)
Victory BoysComedy Comics #10 (June 1942)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #1 (Aug. 2011)
Vision Marvel Mystery Comics #13 (Nov. 1940)The Avengers #97 (March 1972) [32] Jack Kirby & Joe Simon (writers); Jack Kirby (penciller-inker) [55]
Whizzer U.S.A. Comics #1 (Aug. 1941)Giant-Size Avengers #1 (Aug. 1974)Al Avison (penciller), Al Gabriele (inker). Writer unknown.
The Witness Mystic Comics #6 (Dec. 1941)The Twelve #1 (March 2008)Stan Lee (writer) [56]
Young Allies Young Allies Comics #1 (July 1941)Young Allies Comics 70th Anniversary Special (August 2009)Jack Kirby (penciller), Syd Shores (inker)
Young AvengerU.S.A. Comics #1 (Aug. 1941)All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #1 (Aug. 2011)

Notes

  1. ↑ Lee's account of how he began working for Marvel's predecessor, Timely, has varied. He has said in lectures and elsewhere that he simply answered a newspaper ad seeking a publishing assistant, not knowing it involved comics, let alone his cousin Jean's husband, Martin Goodman:
    I applied for a job in a publishing company ... I didn't even know they published comics. I was fresh out of high school, and I wanted to get into the publishing business, if I could. There was an ad in the paper that said, "Assistant Wanted in a Publishing House." When I found out that they wanted me to assist in comics, I figured, 'Well, I'll stay here for a little while and get some experience, and then I'll get out into the real world.' ... I just wanted to know, 'What do you do in a publishing company?' How do you write? ... How do you publish? I was an assistant. There were two people there named Joe Simon and Jack Kirby—Joe was sort-of the editor/artist/writer, and Jack was the artist/writer. Joe was the senior member. They were turning out most of the artwork. Then there was the publisher, Martin Goodman... And that was about the only staff that I was involved with. After a while, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby left. I was about 17 years old [sic], and Martin Goodman said to me, 'Do you think you can hold down the job of editor until I can find a real person?' When you're 17, what do you know? I said, 'Sure! I can do it!' I think he forgot about me, because I stayed there ever since. [15]
    However, in his 2002 autobiography, Excelsior! The Amazing Life of Stan Lee (cited under References, below), he says:
    My uncle, Robbie Solomon, told me they might be able to use someone at a publishing company where he worked. The idea of being involved in publishing definitely appealed to me. ... So I contacted the man Robbie said did the hiring, Joe Simon, and applied for a job. He took me on and I began working as a gofer for eight dollars a week....
    Joe Simon, in his 1990 autobiography The Comic Book Makers (cited under References, below), gives the account slightly differently: "One day [Goodman's relative known as] Uncle Robbie came to work with a lanky 17-year-old in tow. 'This is Stanley Lieber, Martin's wife's cousin,' Uncle Robbie said. 'Martin wants you to keep him busy.'" In an appendix, however, Simon appears to reconcile the two accounts. He relates a 1989 conversation with Lee:
    Lee: "I've been saying this [classified-ad] story for years, but apparently it isn't so. And I can't remember because I['ve] said it so long now that I believe it."
    ...
    Simon: "Your Uncle Robbie brought you into the office one day and he said, 'This is Martin Goodman's wife's nephew.' [sic] ... You were seventeen years old."

    Lee: "Sixteen and a half!"

    Simon: "Well, Stan, you told me seventeen. You were probably trying to be older.... I did hire you."

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Kirby</span> American comic book artist (1917–1994)

Jack Kirby was an American comic book artist, widely regarded as one of the medium's major innovators and one of its most prolific and influential creators. He grew up in New York City and learned to draw cartoon figures by tracing characters from comic strips and editorial cartoons. He entered the nascent comics industry in the 1930s, drawing various comics features under different pen names, including Jack Curtiss, before settling on Jack Kirby. In 1940, he and writer-editor Joe Simon created the highly successful superhero character Captain America for Timely Comics, predecessor of Marvel Comics. During the 1940s, Kirby regularly teamed with Simon, creating numerous characters for that company and for National Comics Publications, later to become DC Comics.

Marvel Comics is a New York City-based comic book publisher, a property of The Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin Goodman as Timely Comics, and by 1951 had generally become known as Atlas Comics. The Marvel era began in August 1961 with the launch of The Fantastic Four and other superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and numerous others. The Marvel brand, which had been used over the years and decades, was solidified as the company's primary brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Simon</span> American comic book creator (1913–2011)

Joseph Henry Simon was an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s–1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Lieber</span> American comic book artist and writer

Lawrence D. Lieber is an American comic book writer and artist best known as co-creator of the Marvel Comics superheroes Iron Man, Thor, and Ant-Man. He is also known for his long stint both writing and drawing the Marvel Western Rawhide Kid and for illustrating the newspaper comic strip The Amazing Spider-Man from 1986 to 2018. From 1974 to 1975, he was editor of Atlas/Seaboard Comics. Lieber is the younger brother of Stan Lee, who had been a writer, editor, and publisher of Marvel Comics.

<i>Marvel Mystery Comics</i> American comic book series

Marvel Mystery Comics is an American comic book series published during the 1930s–1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books. It was the first publication of Marvel Comics' predecessor, Timely Comics, a division of Timely Publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Everett</span> American comic book artist

William Blake Everett was an American comic book writer-artist best known for creating Namor the Sub-Mariner as well as co-creating Zombie and Daredevil with writer Stan Lee for Marvel Comics. He was allegedly a descendant of the childless poet William Blake and of Richard Everett, founder of Dedham, Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Schomburg</span> Puerto Rican commercial and comic-book artist (1905–1998)

Alexander A. Schomburg, born Alejandro Schomburg y Rosa, was a Puerto Rican commercial artist and comic-book artist and painter whose career lasted over 70 years.

Carl Burgos was an American comic book and advertising artist best known for creating the original Human Torch in Marvel Comics #1, during the period historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funnies Inc.</span> American comic book packager of the late 1930s-1940s

Funnies, Inc. was an American comic book packager of the late 1930s to 1940s period collectors and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. Founded by Lloyd Jacquet, it supplied the contents of early comics, including that of Marvel Comics #1, the first publication of what would become the multimedia corporation Marvel Comics.

Sydney Shores was an American comic book artist known for his work on Captain America both during the 1940s, in what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books, and during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlas Comics (1950s)</span> US comic book publisher (1951–1957)

Atlas Comics was the 1950s comic-book publishing label that evolved into Marvel Comics. Magazine and paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities, used Atlas as the umbrella name for his comic-book division during this time. Atlas evolved out of Goodman's 1940s comic-book division, Timely Comics, and was located on the 14th floor of the Empire State Building. This company is distinct from the 1970s comic-book company, also founded by Goodman, that is known as Atlas/Seaboard Comics.

"Charles Nicholas" is the pseudonymous house name of three early creators of American comic books for the Fox Feature Syndicate and Fox Comics: Chuck Cuidera (1915–2001), Jack Kirby (1917–1994), and Charles Wojtkoski (1921–1985). The name originated at Eisner & Iger, one of the first comic book packagers that created comics on demand for publishers entering the new medium during the 1930s–1940s Golden Age of comic books. The three creators are listed in order of birth year, below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Goodman (publisher)</span> Publisher; founder of Marvel Comics

Martin Goodman was an American publisher of pulp magazines, digest sized magazines, paperback books, men's adventure magazines, and comic books, who founded the comics magazine company Timely Comics in 1939. Timely Comics would go on to become Marvel Comics, one of the United States' two largest comic book publishers along with rival DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sol Brodsky</span> American comic book artist

Soloman "Sol" Brodsky was an American comic book artist who, as Marvel Comics' Silver Age production manager, was one of the key architects of the small company's expansion to a major popular culture conglomerate. He later rose to vice president, operations; and vice president, special projects. "Sol was really my right-hand man for years", described Marvel editor and company patriarch Stan Lee.

<i>All Winners Comics</i>

All Winners Comics is the name of two American comic book series of the 1940s, both were published by Marvel Comics' predecessor, Timely Comics, during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. A superhero anthology comic in both cases, they variously featured such star characters as Captain America, the original Human Torch, and the Sub-Mariner. All Winners Comics was also the venue for two full-length stories of Marvel's first superhero team, the (hyphenated) All-Winners Squad.

<i>Daring Mystery Comics</i>

Daring Mystery Comics is an American comic-book series published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics, during the 1930–40s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. Primarily a superhero anthology, it ran eight issues from 1940 to 1942, and is notable for work by Carl Burgos, Bill Everett, Alex Schomburg, and the team of Joe Simon & Jack Kirby.

Christopher Rule was an American comic book artist active from the 1940s through at least 1960, and best known as the first regular Marvel Comics inker for comics artist Jack Kirby during the period fans and historians call the Silver Age of Comic Books.

<i>U.S.A. Comics</i> American comic-book series

U.S.A. Comics is an American comic-book series that was published by Marvel Comics' 1930–1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books.

Mystic Comics is the name of three comic book series published by the company that eventually became Marvel Comics. The first two series were superhero anthologies published by Marvel's 1930-1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, during what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books. The third, simply titled Mystic, was a horror fiction-suspense anthology from Marvel's 1950s forerunner, Atlas Comics.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Daniels, Les (1991). Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics. New York: Harry N. Abrams. pp. 27 & 32–33. ISBN   0-8109-3821-9. "Timely Publications became the name under which Goodman first published a comic book line. He eventually created a number of companies to publish comics ... but Timely was the name by which Goodman's Golden Age comics were known." "Marvel wasn't always Marvel; in the early 1940s the company was known as Timely Comics, and some covers bore this shield."
  2. 1 2 Postal indicia in issue, per Marvel Comics #1 [1st printing] (October 1939) at the Grand Comics Database: "Vol.1, No.1, MARVEL COMICS, Oct., 1939 Published monthly by Timely Publications, ... Art and editorial by Funnies Incorporated..."
  3. 1 2 Per statement of ownership, dated October 2, 1939, published in Marvel Mystery Comics #4 (Feb. 1940), p. 40; reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Volume 1 (Marvel Comics, 2004, ISBN   0-7851-1609-5, ISBN   978-0-7851-1609-7), p. 239
  4. 1 2 3 Marvel Comics #1 at the Grand Comics Database
  5. ↑ Unrelated to the Marvel Comics jungle lord Ka-Zar introduced in The X-Men #10 (March 1965)
  6. ↑ Ka-Zar at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on November 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics. The smudged Dixon signature is reprinted on page 46.
  8. 1 2 Per researcher Keif Fromm, Alter Ego #49, p. 4 (caption)
  9. ↑ Simon, Joe (2011). Joe Simon: My Life in Comics. London, UK: Titan Books. p. 109. ISBN   978-1-84576-930-7.
  10. ↑ "Marvel : Timely Publications (Indicia Publisher)" at the Grand Comics Database. "This is the original business name under which Martin Goodman began publishing comics in 1939. It was used on all issues up to and including those cover-dated March 1941 or Winter 1940–1941, spanning the period from Marvel Comics #1 to Captain America Comics #1. It was replaced by Timely Comics, Inc. starting with all issues cover-dated April 1941 or Spring 1941."
  11. ↑ Daniels, Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics, p. 21
  12. ↑ Nevins, Jess. "The Timely Comics Story". p. 3: "Antebellum" Part I". Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  13. ↑ Marvel : Red Circle Magazines, Inc. (Indicia / Colophon Publisher) at the Grand Comics Database.
  14. ↑ Marvel : Red Circle Magazines Corp. (Indicia / Colophon Publisher) at the Grand Comics Database.
  15. ↑ "Interview with Stan Lee (Part 1 of 5)". IGN FilmForce. June 26, 2000. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015.
  16. ↑ "I Let People Do Their Jobs!': A Conversation with Vince Fago—Artist, writer, and Third Editor-in-Chief of Timely/Marvel Comics". Alter Ego . Vol. 3, no. 11. TwoMorrows Publishing. November 2001. Archived from the original on June 23, 2009.
  17. ↑ Sanderson, Peter (2007). The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City. New York City: Pocket Books. pp. 52–61. ISBN   978-1-4165-3141-8.
  18. ↑ Ro, Ronin (2004). Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and the American Comic Book Revolution. Bloomsbury Publishing. p.  47.
  19. ↑ Kitchen, Denis; Buhle, Paul (2009). Harvey Kurtzman: The Man Who Created Mad and Revolutionized Humor in America. Harry N. Abrams. p. 23. ISBN   978-0-8109-7296-4.
  20. ↑ "Hey Look!" at the Grand Comics Database.
  21. ↑ Gene Colan interview, Alter Ego # 52 (March 2006), pp. 66–67
  22. ↑ Wright, Bradford W. (2001). Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America. The Johns Hopkins University Press. p.  57. ISBN   978-0-8018-6514-5.
  23. ↑ "Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc.". International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 10. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale / St. James Press, via FundingUniverse.com. 1995. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  24. ↑ Marvel : Atlas [wireframe globe] (Brand) at the Grand Comics Database
  25. ↑ Johnston, Rich (May 18, 2015). "After 74 Years, Marvel Registers Timely Comics Trademark". BleedingCool.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  26. ↑ Arrant, Chris (February 26, 2016). "Marvel Relaunches Timely Comics To Bolster 'All-New All-Different' Titles". Newsarama. Purch. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  27. ↑ Cover, All Surprise Comics #12 at the Grand Comics Database
  28. ↑ "Seduction of the Innocent: More Anti-Comics Items". www.lostsoti.org. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  29. ↑ "TheComicBooks.com - The History of Graphic Novels". March 8, 2021. Archived from the original on July 12, 2024.
  30. ↑ V, Doc (February 6, 2011). "Timely-Atlas-Comics: Part 1: Fredric Wertham, Censorship & the Timely Anti-Wertham Editorials". Timely-Atlas-Comics. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  31. ↑ Marvel Mystery Comics #2 at the Grand Comics Database.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 Simulacrum only
  33. ↑ Bails, Jerry. "Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999: Paul Gustavson" . Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  34. ↑ The writer-creator credit is unconfirmed. Historian Don Markstein in the character's entry at Don Markstein's Toonopedia (Archived from the original on April 4, 2012) writes, "The character was created by cartoonist Paul Gustavson, who wrote and drew his first adventure as well as many later ones." The Grand Comics Database's entry for Marvel Comics #1 gives credit as "Ray Gill  ?"
  35. ↑ Mystic Comics #5 at the Grand Comics Database.
  36. ↑ Mystic Comics #4 at the Grand Comics Database.
  37. ↑ Mystic Comics #5 at the Grand Comics Database.
  38. ↑ All Select Comics #11 at the Grand Comics Database.
  39. ↑ USA Comics #5 at the Grand Comics Database.
  40. ↑ Mystic Comics #1 at the Grand Comics Database.
  41. 1 2 3 Captain America Comics #1 at the Grand Comics Database.
  42. 1 2 Daring Mystery Comics #7 t the Grand Comics Database.
  43. ↑ U.S.A. Comics #2 at the Grand Comics Database.
  44. ↑ Kid Komics #1 at the Grand Comics Database.
  45. ↑ Daring Mystery Comics #7 at the Grand Comics Database.
  46. ↑ Daring Mystery Comics #8 at the Grand Comics Database.
  47. ↑ Bails, Jerry. "Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999: Jack Kirby" . Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  48. 1 2 USA Comics #1 at the Grand Comics Database. RE: Defender, source notes Joe Simon and Jack Kirby as writers, "Pencils: Joe Simon (looming image); Al Avison ?; Al Gabriele ?"
  49. 1 2 Daring Mystery Comics #1 at the Grand Comics Database.
  50. 1 2 In 1998, the Hurricane and Mercury were revealed in retcon to be the same character, the Eternal named Makkari .
  51. ↑ Daring Mystery Comics #2 at the Grand Comics Database.
  52. ↑ Daring Mystery Comics #3 at the Grand Comics Database.
  53. ↑ The Human Torch #4 (mis-numbered #3) at the Grand Comics Database, with cover blowup here. The Patriot debuted this issue with both a two-page text story by writer Ray Gill, with a spot illustration by artist Bill Everett, and a 10-page comics story by writer Gill and artist George Mandel.
  54. ↑ Mystic Comics #5 at the Grand Comics Database
  55. ↑ Theakston, Greg, at Marvel Mystery Comics #13 in the Grand Comics Database
  56. ↑ Stan Lee at the Lambiek Comiclopedia

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.