1940 in comics


Notable events of 1940 in comics.

Events and publications

Year overall

January

January 13: Charles Addams' classic cartoon Downhill Skier is published in The New Yorker, showing a skier magically passing around a tree with each foot on one side.Ace Comics #34 – David McKay PublicationsAction Comics #20 – DC ComicsAdventure Comics #46 – DC ComicsAll-American Comics #10 – DC ComicsAmazing Mystery Funnies #17 – Centaur PublicationsDaring Mystery Comics #1 – Timely ComicsDetective Comics #35 – DC ComicsDouble Action Comics #2 – National Periodical Publications, consisting entirely of black and white reprints from early issues of More Fun Comics.Fantastic Comics #2 - Fox Feature SyndicateFeature Comics #28 – Quality ComicsFlash Comics #1 – National Periodical Publications. In this issue Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert's The Flash makes his debut, as well as Fox and Dennis Neville's Hawkman.Funny Pages #1 - Centaur PublicationsMarvel Mystery Comics #3 – Timely ComicsMore Fun Comics #51 – National Periodical PublicationsMystery Men Comics #6 – Fox Feature SyndicateSmash Comics #6 – Quality ComicsTeen-Age Romances #1 – St. John Publications debuts January 14Wonderworld Comics #9 - Fox Feature Syndicate

February

Ace Comics #35 – David McKay PublicationsAction Comics #21 – DC ComicsAdventure Comics #47 – DC ComicsAll-American Comics #11 – DC ComicsDaring Mystery Comics #2 – Timely ComicsDetective Comics #36 – DC ComicsFantastic Comics #3 - Fox Feature SyndicateFeature Comics #29 – Quality ComicsFlash Comics #2 – National Periodical PublicationsMarvel Mystery Comics #4 – Timely ComicsMore Fun Comics #52 – National Periodical PublicationsMystery Men Comics #7 – Fox Feature SyndicateScience Comics #1 - Fox Feature SyndicateSmash Comics #7 – Quality ComicsTarget Comics #1 - Novelty PressWhiz Comics #2, the first appearance of Captain Marvel — Fawcett Wonderworld Comics #10 - Fox Feature Syndicate

March

Ace Comics #36 – David McKay PublicationsAction Comics #22 – DC ComicsAdventure Comics #48 – DC ComicsAll-American Comics #12 – DC ComicsAmazing Mystery Funnies #18 – Centaur PublicationsDetective Comics #37 – DC ComicsFantastic Comics #4 - Fox Feature SyndicateFeature Comics #30 – Quality ComicsFlash Comics #3 – National Periodical PublicationsFunny Pages #35 - Centaur PublicationsMarvel Mystery Comics #5 – Timely ComicsMaster Comics #1 – Fawcett PublicationsMore Fun Comics #53 – National Periodical PublicationsMystery Men Comics #8 – Fox Feature SyndicateMystic Comics #1 – Timely ComicsScience Comics #2 - Fox Feature SyndicateSilver Streak Comics #3 — title acquired by Lev Gleason PublicationsSlam-Bang Comics #1 – Fawcett ComicsSmash Comics #8 – Quality ComicsTarget Comics #2 - Novelty PressWhiz Comics #3 – Fawcett Comics Wonderworld Comics #11 - Fox Feature Syndicate

April

Ace Comics #37 – David McKay PublicationsAction Comics #23 – DC ComicsAdventure Comics #49 – DC ComicsAll-American Comics #13 – DC ComicsAmazing Mystery Funnies #19 – Centaur PublicationsBatman #1 – DC Comics, first appearance of Joker, first appearance of CatwomanBlue Beetle #2 – Fox Feature SyndicateDaring Mystery Comics #3 – Timely ComicsDetective Comics #38 – DC Comics, first appearance of Robin.Fantastic Comics #5 - Fox Feature SyndicateFeature Comics #31 – Quality ComicsFlash Comics #4 – National Periodical PublicationsFunny Pages #36 - Centaur PublicationsMarvel Mystery Comics #6 – Timely ComicsMaster Comics #2 – Fawcett PublicationsMore Fun Comics #54 – National Periodical PublicationsMystery Men Comics #9 – Fox Feature SyndicateMystic Comics #2 – Timely ComicsScience Comics #3 - Fox Feature SyndicateSlam-Bang Comics #2 – Fawcett ComicsSmash Comics #9 – Quality ComicsSuperman #4 – DC ComicsTarget Comics #3 - Novelty PressWeird Comics #1 - Fox Feature SyndicateWhiz Comics #3 – Fawcett Comics Wonderworld Comics #12 - Fox Feature Syndicate

May

May 8: As the Nazis invade Belgium several comics magazines are disestablished forever, including Le Petit Vingtième and Kindervriend.May 27: Already a popular Sunday comic since 1934, Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon now also receives a daily comic series, also written by Don Moore, but drawn by Austin Briggs. The daily comic will last until 1993.Ace Comics #38 – David McKay PublicationsAction Comics #24 – DC ComicsAdventure Comics #50 – DC ComicsAll-American Comics #14 – DC ComicsAmazing Mystery Funnies #20 – Centaur PublicationsCrack Comics #1 – Quality Comics Crash Comics Adventures #1 - Helnit PublishingDaring Mystery Comics #4 – Timely ComicsDetective Comics #39 – DC ComicsDoc Savage Comics #1 – Street & Smith PublicationsFantastic Comics #6 - Fox Feature SyndicateFeature Comics #32 – Quality ComicsFlash Comics #5 – National Periodical PublicationsFunny Pages #37 - Centaur PublicationsMarvel Mystery Comics #7 – Timely ComicsMaster Comics #3 – Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #55 – National Periodical Publications. In this issue Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman's Doctor Fate makes his debut.Mystery Men Comics #10 – Fox Feature SyndicateNickel Comics #1 – Fawcett Comics Nickel Comics #2 – Fawcett ComicsScience Comics #4 - Fox Feature SyndicateSlam-Bang Comics #3 – Fawcett ComicsSmash Comics #10 – Quality ComicsTarget Comics #4 - Novelty PressWeird Comics #2 - Fox Feature SyndicateWhiz Comics #4 – Fawcett ComicsWonderworld Comics #13 - Fox Feature Syndicate

June

June 2: First publication of Will Eisner's "The Spirit Section", featuring debuts of the series The Spirit, Lady Luck and Mr. Mystic. In The Spirit both The Spirit and Ebony White make their debuts.June 6: The first issue of the Bulgarian comics magazine Chuden Sviat is published.June 9: In The Spirit by Will Eisner Ellen Dolan makes her debut.June 17: Walter B. Gibson's character The Shadow makes his debut as a comics character in a syndicated daily newspaper comic, illustrated by Vernon Greene. The series will run until 13 June 1942.Ace Comics #39 – David McKay PublicationsAction Comics #25 – DC ComicsAdventure Comics #51 – DC ComicsAll-American Comics #15 – DC ComicsAmazing Mystery Funnies #21 – Centaur PublicationsCrack Comics #2 – Quality ComicsCrash Comics Adventures #2 - Helnit PublishingDaring Mystery Comics #5 – Timely ComicsDetective Comics #40 – DC ComicsFantastic Comics #7 - Fox Feature SyndicateFeature Comics #33 – Quality ComicsFlash Comics #6 – National Periodical PublicationsFunny Pages #38 - Centaur PublicationsMarvel Mystery Comics #8 – Timely ComicsMore Fun Comics #56 – National Periodical PublicationsMystery Men Comics #11 – Fox Feature SyndicateMystic Comics #3 – Timely ComicsNickel Comics #3 – Fawcett ComicsNickel Comics #4 – Fawcett ComicsScience Comics #5 - Fox Feature SyndicateSlam-Bang Comics #4 – Fawcett ComicsSmash Comics #11 – Quality ComicsTarget Comics #5 - Novelty PressWeird Comics #3 - Fox Feature SyndicateWhirlwind Comics #1 - Nita PublishingWhiz Comics #5 – Fawcett ComicsWonderworld Comics #14 - Fox Feature Syndicate

July

July 7: In Al Capp's Li'l Abner the character Joe Btfsplk makes his debut. Ace Comics #40 – David McKay PublicationsAction Comics #26 – DC ComicsAdventure Comics #52 – DC ComicsAll-American Comics #16 – DC Comics, first appearance of Green Lantern All-Star Comics #1 – DC ComicsAmazing Mystery Funnies #22 – Centaur PublicationsBatman #2 – DC ComicsBlue Beetle #3 – Fox Feature SyndicateCrack Comics #3 – Quality ComicsCrash Comics Adventures #3 - Helnit PublishingDetective Comics #41 – DC ComicsDoc Savage Comics #2 – Street & Smith PublicationsFantastic Comics #8 - Fox Feature SyndicateFeature Comics #34 – Quality ComicsFlash Comics #7 – National Periodical PublicationsFunny Pages #39 - Centaur PublicationsHit Comics #1 – Quality ComicsGreen Mask #1 - Fox Feature SyndicateMarvel Mystery Comics #9 – Timely ComicsMaster Comics #4 – Fawcett PublicationsMore Fun Comics #57 – National Periodical PublicationsMystery Men Comics #12 – Fox Feature SyndicateNickel Comics #5 – Fawcett ComicsNickel Comics #6 – Fawcett ComicsScience Comics #6 - Fox Feature SyndicateSlam-Bang Comics #5 – Fawcett ComicsSmash Comics #12 – Quality ComicsSuperman #5 – DC ComicsTarget Comics #6 - Novelty PressThe Flame #1 - Fox Feature SyndicateWeird Comics #4 - Fox Feature SyndicateWhirlwind Comics #2 - Nita PublishingWhiz Comics #6 – Fawcett ComicsWonderworld Comics #15 - Fox Feature Syndicate

August

August 11: In Bob Karp and Al Taliaferro's Donald Duck comic strip Grandma Duck makes her debut in a framed picture. She will only appear as a character from 27 July 1943 onwards.Ace Comics #41 – David McKay PublicationsAction Comics #27 – DC ComicsAdventure Comics #53 – DC ComicsAll-American Comics #17 – DC ComicsAmazing Mystery Funnies #23 – Centaur PublicationsCrack Comics #4 – Quality ComicsDetective Comics #42 – DC ComicsFantastic Comics #9 - Fox Feature SyndicateFeature Comics #35 – Quality ComicsFlash Comics #8 – National Periodical PublicationsFunny Pages #40 - Centaur PublicationsHit Comics #2 – Quality ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #10 – Timely ComicsMaster Comics #5 – Fawcett PublicationsMore Fun Comics #58 – National Periodical PublicationsMystery Men Comics #13 – Fox Feature SyndicateMystic Comics #4 – Timely ComicsNickel Comics #7 – Fawcett ComicsNickel Comics #8 – Fawcett Comics, Final Issue

September

September 1: Ralph Graczak's Our Own Oddities makes its debut. It will run until 1991. September 21: The final episode of C. M. Payne's S'Matter, Pop? is published, which had run since 1910.September 22: Maurice Cuvillier's Perlin et Pinpin makes its debut.Ace Comics #42 – David McKay PublicationsAction Comics #28 – DC ComicsAdventure Comics #54 – DC ComicsAll-American Comics #18 – DC ComicsAll-Star Comics #2 – DC ComicsAmazing Mystery Funnies #24, last issue – Centaur PublicationsBatman #3 – DC Comics

October

October 17: The first issue of the short-lived Walloon children's comics magazine Le Soir-Jeunesse, a supplement of the Nazi-controlled Le Soir, is published. It will run until 23 September 1941. In its first issue Hergé's Tintin story The Crab with the Golden Claws is prepublished. Halfway the story Allan Thompson and Captain Haddock make their debut. October 26: The Italian Disney comics magazine Donald Duck and Other Adventures merges with another Italian Disney magazine, Topolino.

November

November 4: In Bob Karp and Al Taliaferro's Donald Duck newspaper comic Daisy Duck makes her debut as a comics character, having made her screen debut in the animated short Don Donald six months earlier.Ace Comics #44 – David McKay PublicationsAction Comics #30 – DC ComicsAdventure Comics #56 – DC ComicsAll-American Comics #20 – DC ComicsAll-Star Comics #3 – DC Comics. In this issue Gardner Fox and Sheldon Mayer introduce Justice Society.Batman #4 – DC ComicsBlue Beetle #5 – Fox Feature SyndicateCrack Comics #7 – Quality ComicsCrash Comics Adventures #5 - Helnit Publishing, Final IssueDetective Comics #45 – DC ComicsFantastic Comics #12 - Fox Feature SyndicateFeature Comics #38 – Quality ComicsFlash Comics #11 – National Periodical PublicationsHit Comics #5 – Quality ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #13 – Timely ComicsMaster Comics #8 – Fawcett PublicationsMore Fun Comics #61 – National Periodical PublicationsMystery Men Comics #16 – Fox Feature SyndicateSmash Comics #16 – Quality ComicsTarget Comics #10 - Novelty PressWeird Comics #8 - Fox Feature SyndicateWhiz Comics #10 – Fawcett ComicsWonderworld Comics #19 - Fox Feature SyndicateWow Comics #1 – Fawcett Comics

December

December 19: The Flemish comics magazine Bravo! launches a French-language sister magazine. It will run until 17 April 1951.December 20: Captain America and Bucky Barnes debut in Captain America Comics #1, cover-dated Spring 1941.Ace Comics #45 – David McKay PublicationsAction Comics #31 – DC ComicsAdventure Comics #57 – DC ComicsAll-American Comics #21 – DC Comics

Specials

Mutt & Jeff #2 – All-American ComicsNew York World's Fair Comics #2 – National Periodical PublicationsSpecial Edition Comics #1- Fawcett Publications

Births

January

January 26: Gonzalo Mayo, Peruvian comics artist,.

April

October

October 20: Nikita Mandryka, French comics artist and publisher,.

Specific date unknown

Deaths

January

January 15: Henri Verstijnen, Dutch comics artist and philosopher, dies at age 57.January 19: Luc Leguey, French illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 64.

February

February 27: Johan Braakensiek, Dutch illustrator, painter, graphic artist, political cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 81.

May

May 25: William Conselman, American screenwriter and comics writer, dies at age 43.

June

June 3: Charles R. Snelgrove, Canadian comics artist, dies at age 47.June 21: Tjerk Bottema, Dutch caricaturist, political cartoonist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 58.

July

July 20: Harry E. Homan, American comics artist, dies at age 51 from a heart attack.July 28: Gerda Wegener, Danish graphic designer, painter, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 47 or 51.

September

September 28: Earl Hurd, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 60.

October

October 4: Tom Wood, American illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 53 from injuries in a car accident.October 15: Georges Léonnec, French comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 59.October 16: G. Ri, A.K.A. Victor Mousselet, French illustrator and comic artist, dies at age 87.

November

November 9: Nikola Navojev, Yugoslavian comics artist, dies at age 27 from tuberculosis.November 16: Albert Engström, Swedish novelist and comics artist, dies at age 71.

December

December 5:
  • * Juan Arthenack, Mexican comic artist, dies at age 48 or 49.
  • * Jos Wins, Dutch painter and comic artist, dies at age 59.

Specific date unknown

  • Lucien Haye, French illustrator and comics artist, died at age 73 or 74.
  • Karl Pommerhanz, German-Austrian illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 82 or 83.
  • Émile Tap, French illustrator, caricaturist and comic artist, dies at age 62 or 63.

First issues by title

Initial appearances by character name