1942 in comics
Notable events of 1942 in comics.
Events and publications
January
January: Holyoke Publishing purchases the publishing rights to Cat-Man Comics and Captain Aero Comics from Helnit Publishing.4Most Comics #1 - Novelty PressAction Comics #44 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #70 - DC ComicsAll-American Comics #34 - DC ComicsAll-Star Comics #8 - DC Comics: First appearance of Wonder WomanBatman #8 - DC ComicsBig 3 #7 - Fox Feature Syndicate: Final IssueBulletman #3 - Fawcett ComicsCaptain America Comics #10 - Timely ComicsCaptain Marvel Adventures #6 - Fawcett ComicsCat-Man Comics #6 - Holyoke Publishing- Crack Comics #20 - Quality ComicsDaring Mystery Comics #8 - Final issue, renamed Comedy Comics starting with issue #9.Detective Comics #59 - DC ComicsFlash Comics #25 - DC ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #27 - Timely ComicsMaster Comics #22 - Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #75 - DC ComicsMystery Men Comics #30 - Fox Feature SyndicateSensation Comics #1 #1 - DC ComicsStar Spangled Comics #4 - DC ComicsSuperman #14 - DC ComicsTarget Comics #11 - Novelty PressThe Eagle #4 - Fox Feature Syndicate, Final IssueThe Flame #8 - Fox Feature Syndicate, Final IssueU.S.A. Comics #3 - Timely ComicsU.S. Jones #2 - Fox Feature Syndicate, Final IssueV...- Comics #1 - Fox Feature SyndicateWeird Comics #20 - Fox Feature Syndicate, Final IssueWhiz Comics #26 - Fawcett ComicsWonderworld Comics #33 - Fox Feature Syndicate, Final Issue
February
February 10. In Italy, after the outbreak of the war with USA, Tuffolino, by Federico Petrocchi and Pier Lorenzo De Vita, replaces Topolino, until then the only American comic tolerated by the Fascist censure. The new comic, a shameless plagiarism of the Disney original, with human characters instead of animals, lasts until December 1943.Action Comics #45 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #71 - DC ComicsAll-American Comics #35 - DC ComicsAll-Star Comics #9 - DC ComicsBlue Beetle #11 - Fox Feature SyndicateCaptain Aero Comics #2 - Holyoke PublishingCaptain America Comics #11 - Timely ComicsCaptain Marvel Adventures #7 - Fawcett ComicsCat-Man Comics #7 - Holyoke Publishing- Crack Comics #21 - Quality ComicsDetective Comics #60 - DC ComicsDime Comics #1 - Leo Bachle reinvents the Canadian national personification Johnny Canuck as a superhero comic.Flash Comics #26 - DC ComicsGreen Mask #9 - Fox Feature SyndicateJingle Jangle Comics #1 - Eastern ColorMarvel Mystery Comics #28 - Timely ComicsMaster Comics #23 - Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #76 - DC ComicsMystery Men Comics #31 - Fox Feature Syndicate, Final IssueSensation Comics #2 — DC Comics: In this issue the Wonder Woman characters Etta Candy and Doctor Poison make their debut.Spy Smasher #3 - Fawcett ComicsStar Spangled Comics #5 - DC ComicsTarget Comics #12 - Novelty PressWhiz Comics #27 - Fawcett Comics
March
March 6: The Captain Marvel villain Ibac makes his debut.March 6: Fox Feature Syndicate goes bankrupt, canceling several titles with Blue Beetle moving to Holyoke Publishing until Fox regained Blue Beetle in 1944.March 11: Marten Toonder's Tom Poes story De Zieke Hertog marks the debut of Olivier B. Bommel's faithful butler Joost.March 15: The final episode of Tailspin Tommy, at this point drawn by Reynold Brown, is published..- The Dutch comics magazine Sjors is banned on Nazi orders. It will reappear after the war in June 1947.
- The final issue of Blue Ribbon Comics is published.
- The final issue of Human Top is published.Action Comics #46 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #72 - DC ComicsAll-American Comics #36 - DC Comics
- Batman #9 - DC Comics
- Bulletman #4 - Fawcett Comics
- Captain Aero Comics #3 - Holyoke PublishingCaptain America Comics #12 - Timely ComicsCaptain Marvel Adventures #8 - Fawcett ComicsCat-Man Comics #8 - Holyoke Publishing
- Crack Comics #22 - Quality ComicsDetective Comics #61 - DC ComicsFlash Comics #27 - DC ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #29 - Timely ComicsMaster Comics #24 - Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #77 - DC ComicsMystic Comics #8 - Timely ComicsSensation Comics #3 - DC ComicsStar Spangled Comics #6 - DC ComicsSuperman #15 - DC ComicsTarget Comics #1 - Novelty PressV...- Comics #2 - Fox Feature Syndicate, Final IssueWhiz Comics #28 - Fawcett Comics
Spring Issue
4Most Comics #2 - Novelty PressAll Flash Quarterly #4 - DC ComicsAll-Winners Comics #4 - Timely ComicsAmerica's Greatest Comics #2 - Fawcett ComicsGreen Lantern Quarterly #3 - DC ComicsHuman Torch Comics #7 - Timely ComicsLeading Comics #2 - DC ComicsMinute-Man #3 - Fawcett Comics: Final issueSub-Mariner Comics #5 - Timely ComicsWorld's Finest Comics #5 - DC ComicsWow Comics #5 - Fawcett ComicsYoung Allies Comics #3 - Timely ComicsApril
April 16: Marten Toonder's Tom Poes story Het Monster-Ei marks the debut of Wammes Waggel.April 20: The first episode of Crockett Johnson's Barnaby is published.Action Comics #47 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #73 - DC ComicsAll-American Comics #37 - DC ComicsAll-Star Comics #10 - DC ComicsBatman #10 - DC ComicsCaptain Aero Comics #4 - Holyoke PublishingCaptain America Comics #13 - Timely ComicsCaptain Marvel Adventures #9 - Fawcett ComicsCat-Man Comics #9 - Holyoke PublishingComedy Comics #9 - Timely ComicsDetective Comics #62 - DC ComicsFlash Comics #28 - DC ComicsJoker Comics #1 - Timely Comics. In its first issue Basil Wolverton's Powerhouse Pepper makes its debut.Marvel Mystery Comics #30 - Timely ComicsMaster Comics #25 - Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #78 - DC ComicsRed Ryder Comics, with issue #6, taken over from Hawley by Dell Comics.Sensation Comics #4 — DC ComicsSpy Smasher #4 - Fawcett ComicsStar Spangled Comics #7 - DC ComicsTarget Comics #2 - Novelty PressWhiz Comics #29 - Fawcett ComicsMay
May 15: In the U.S. internment camp for Japanese-Americans, Santa Anita, California at the Assembly Center, Chris Ishii creates the comic strip Li'l Neebo for the prisoners. The series is later continued by, respectively, Tom Okamoto and Jack Ito until 1944.May 16: The British comics magazine Funny Wonder merges with another magazine Wonder.- The final episode of Tailspin Tommy, originally created by Hal Forrest, is published.Action Comics #48 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #74 - DC ComicsAll-American Comics #38 - DC ComicsBulletman #5 - Fawcett ComicsCaptain Aero Comics #5 - Holyoke PublishingCaptain America Comics #14 - Timely ComicsCaptain Marvel Adventures #10 - Fawcett ComicsCaptain Marvel Adventures #11 - Fawcett ComicsCat-Man Comics #10 - Holyoke Publishing
- Crack Comics #23 - Quality ComicsDetective Comics #63 - DC ComicsFlash Comics #29 - DC ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #31 - Timely ComicsMaster Comics #26 - Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #79 - DC ComicsMystic Comics #9 - Timely ComicsSensation Comics #5 - DC Comics: In this issue the supervillain Paula von Gunther makes her debut.Star Spangled Comics #8 - DC ComicsSuperman #16 - DC ComicsTarget Comics #3 - Novelty Press
- U.S.A. Comics #4 - Timely Comics
- Whiz Comics #30 - Fawcett Comics
June
June 11: Hergé's Tintin story The Secret of the Unicorn is prepublished in Le Soir. Halfway the story butler Nestor and the castle of Marlinspike Hall make their debut.June 13: The final episode of comic strip The Shadow by Walter B. Gibson and Vernon Greene is published.Action Comics #49 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #75 - DC ComicsAll-American Comics #39 - DC ComicsAll Star Comics #11 - DC ComicsBatman #11 - DC ComicsBlue Beetle #12 - Holyoke PublishingCaptain Aero Comics #6 - Holyoke PublishingCaptain America Comics #15 - Timely ComicsCaptain Marvel Adventures #12 - Fawcett ComicsCat-Man Comics #11 - Holyoke PublishingComedy Comics #10 - Timely ComicsDetective Comics #64 - DC ComicsFlash Comics #30 - DC ComicsJoker Comics #2 - Timely ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #32 - Timely ComicsMaster Comics #27 - Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #80 - DC ComicsSensation Comics #6 - DC ComicsSpy Smasher #5 - Fawcett ComicsStar Spangled Comics #9 - DC Comics- Target Comics #4 - Novelty PressYank, the Army Weekly #1 - Harvey Comics: In its first issue George Baker's Sad Sack makes its debut.Whiz Comics #31 - Fawcett Comics
Summer Issue
All Flash Quarterly #5 - DC Comics. In this issue the villain trio Winky, Blinky, and Noddy make their debut.All-Winners Comics #5 - Timely ComicsAmerica's Greatest Comics #3 - Fawcett ComicsGreen Lantern Quarterly #4 - DC ComicsHuman Torch Comics #8 - Timely ComicsLeading Comics #3 - DC ComicsSub-Mariner Comics #6 - Timely ComicsWonder Woman #1 - DC Comics, which marks the first stand-alone series of William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter's Wonder Woman. In its first issue supervillain Ares makes his debut.World's Finest Comics #6 - DC ComicsU.S.A. Comics #5 - Timely ComicsYoung Allies Comics #4 - Timely ComicsJuly
July 27: The first episode of Eric Stanton's Tin Hats appears in the Philadelphia Post Gazette.- The American comics magazine The Funnies changes its name to New Funnies.Action Comics #50 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #76 - DC ComicsAll-American Comics #40 - DC ComicsBulletman #6 - Fawcett ComicsCaptain Aero Comics #7 - Holyoke PublishingCaptain America Comics #16 - Timely ComicsCaptain Marvel Adventures #13 - Fawcett ComicsCat-Man Comics #12 - Holyoke Publishing
- Crack Comics #24 - Quality ComicsCrime Does Not Pay debuts with issue #22, continuing the numbering of Silver Streak Comics — Lev Gleason PublicationsDetective Comics #65 - DC ComicsFlash Comics #31 - DC ComicsGene Autry Comics #2 - Fawcett ComicsKrazy Komics #1 - Timely ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #33 - Timely ComicsMaster Comics #28 - Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #81 - DC ComicsSensation Comics #7 - DC ComicsStar Spangled Comics #10 - DC ComicsSuperman #17 - DC ComicsTarget Comics #5 - Novelty PressWhiz Comics #32 - Fawcett Comics
August
- In Al Capp's Li'l Abner the comic-within-a-comic Fearless Fosdick makes its debut, though only as a reference. For his first adventure within the series itself readers have to wait until 19 June 1944.Action Comics #51 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #77 - DC Comics: In this issue Alfred Bester and Stan Kaye's Genius Jones makes its debut.All-American Comics #41 - DC ComicsAll Star Comics #12 - DC ComicsBatman #12 - DC ComicsBlue Beetle #13 - Holyoke PublishingCaptain America Comics #17 - Timely ComicsCaptain Marvel Adventures #14 - Fawcett ComicsDetective Comics #66 - DC Comics: In this issue the Batman villain Harvey Dent, better known as Two-Face, makes his debut.Flash Comics #32 - DC ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #34 - Timely ComicsMaster Comics #29 - Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #82 - DC ComicsMystic Comics #10 - Timely ComicsSensation Comics #8 - DC ComicsSpy Smasher #6 - Fawcett ComicsStar Spangled Comics #11 - DC ComicsTarget Comics #6 - Novelty PressWhiz Comics #33 - Fawcett Comics
September
September 4: In Chester Gould's Dick Tracy the villain Pruneface makes his debut.Action Comics #52 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #78 - DC ComicsAll-American Comics #42 - DC ComicsBlue Beetle #14 - Holyoke PublishingBulletman #7 - Fawcett Comics- Captain Aero Comics #8 - Holyoke PublishingCaptain America Comics #18 - Timely ComicsCaptain Marvel Adventures #15 - Fawcett ComicsCat-Man Comics #13 - Holyoke PublishingComedy Comics #11 - Timely Comics
- Crack Comics #25 - Quality ComicsDetective Comics #67 - DC ComicsFlash Comics #33 - DC Comics
- Joker Comics #3 - Timely Comics
- Krazy Komics #2 - Timely ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #35 - Timely ComicsMaster Comics #30 - Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #83 - DC ComicsSensation Comics #9 - DC ComicsStar Spangled Comics #12 - DC ComicsSuperman #18 - DC ComicsTarget Comics #7 - Novelty Press
- Whiz Comics #34 - Fawcett Comics
Fall Issue
All Flash #6, previously All Flash Quarterly - DC ComicsAll-Winners Comics #6 - Timely ComicsAmerica's Greatest Comics #4 - Fawcett ComicsGreen Lantern Quarterly #5 - DC ComicsHuman Torch Comics #9 - Timely ComicsLeading Comics #4 - DC ComicsSub-Mariner Comics #7 - Timely ComicsWonder Woman #2 - DC ComicsWorld's Finest Comics #7 - DC ComicsU.S.A. Comics #6 - Timely ComicsYoung Allies Comics #5 - Timely ComicsOctober
October 1: Bob Karp, Carl Barks and Jack Hannah create the first American adventure comics series based on Donald Duck. The series kicks off with the story Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold.- October 11; Josè Carioca debuts in comics, in a Sunday table by Hubie Karp and Bob Grant.
- In Belgium the Nazis ban the comics magazine Bimbo. Action Comics #53 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #79 - DC ComicsAll-American Comics #43 - DC ComicsAll Star Comics #13 - DC ComicsBatman #13 - DC ComicsBlue Beetle #15 - Holyoke PublishingBulletman #8 - Fawcett ComicsCaptain America Comics #19 - Timely ComicsCaptain Marvel Adventures #16 - Fawcett ComicsCat-Man Comics #14 - Holyoke PublishingDetective Comics #68 - DC ComicsFlash Comics #34 - DC ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #36 - Timely ComicsMaster Comics #31 - Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #84 - DC ComicsSensation Comics #10 - DC ComicsStar Spangled Comics #13 - DC ComicsTarget Comics #8 - Novelty PressWhiz Comics #35 - Fawcett Comics
November
Action Comics #54 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #80 - DC Comics- Air Fighter Comics #2 - Hillman PeriodicalsAll-American Comics #44 - DC ComicsAll-Flash #07, previously quarterly - DC Comics
- Blue Beetle #16 - Holyoke Publishing
- Captain Aero Comics #9 - Holyoke Publishing
- Captain America Comics #20 - Timely Comics
- Captain Marvel Adventures #17 - Fawcett Comics
- Cat-Man Comics #15 - Holyoke Publishing
- Crack Comics #26 - Quality ComicsDetective Comics #69 - DC ComicsFlash Comics #35 - DC ComicsGene Autry Comics #3 - Fawcett ComicsJoker Comics #4 - Timely ComicsKrazy Komics #3 - Timely ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #37 - Timely ComicsMaster Comics #32 - Fawcett ComicsMore Fun Comics #85 - DC ComicsSensation Comics #11 - DC ComicsStar Spangled Comics #14 - DC ComicsSuperman #19 - DC ComicsTarget Comics #9 - Novelty PressWhiz Comics #36 - Fawcett Comics
December
- The Swedish comic strip Allan Kämpe by Eugen Semitjov makes its debut.Action Comics #55 - DC ComicsAdventure Comics #81 - DC ComicsAir Fighters Comics #3 - Hillman Periodicals: In this issue Heap makes his debut.All-American Comics #45 - DC ComicsAll Star Comics #14 - DC ComicsBatman #14 - DC ComicsCaptain America Comics #21 - Timely ComicsCat-Man Comics #16 - Holyoke PublishingComedy Comics #12 - Timely ComicsDetective Comics #70 - DC ComicsFlash Comics #36 - DC ComicsJoker Comics #5 - Timely ComicsKrazy Komics #4 - Timely ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics #38 - Timely ComicsMore Fun Comics #86 - DC ComicsSensation Comics #12 - DC ComicsStar Spangled Comics #15 - DC ComicsTarget Comics #10 - Novelty PressU.S.A. Comics #6 - Timely Comics
Winter Issue
All-Winners Comics #7 - Timely ComicsBoy Commandos #1 - DC ComicsComic Cavalcade #1 - DC ComicsGreen Lantern Quarterly #6 - DC ComicsHuman Torch Comics #10 - Timely ComicsLeading Comics #5 - DC ComicsSub-Mariner Comics #8 - Timely ComicsWorld's Finest Comics #8 - DC Comics- Eugen Semitjov begins publishing ''Allan Kämpe''
Specific date unknown
- The final issue of the Flemish comics magazine Wonderland is published, a supplement to the newspaper De Dag.
- The first episode of Carl Grubert's The Berrys is published. It will run until 1974.
- Bovil creates his comic strip Tusen Och en Natt, based on Arabian Nights. It will run until his death in 1949.
- Vic Herman creates Winnie the Wac.
- Philip Mendoza draws The Early Life of Winston Churchill, which is the earliest biographical comic about Winston Churchill.
- During the internment of Japanese Americans Bennie Nobori draws the comic strip Yankee Reporter for the prisoners in camp Topaz in Central Utah.
- Joe Simon and Jack Kirby leave Timely Comics and move to National Comics.
- Ángel Umpierrez launches his gag comic Don Cristóbal. Golden Arrow #1 - Fawcett Comics
Births
February
February 6: Clive Collins, British cartoonist,.Deaths
April
April 1:- * John Devlin, American comics artist and editor, dies at age 36.
- * Charles H. Wellington, American comics artist, dies at age 48.
May
May 12: George William Wakefield, British comics artist, dies from a stroke at age 54.May 14: René Bull, Irish comics illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 79.June
June 21: Victor T'Sas, A.K.A. Vias, Belgian painter, advertising illustrator and illustrator, dies at age 75.July
July 11: Antonio Salemme, Italian comics artist, dies at age 48 or 49.July 21: Giove Toppi, Italian comics artist, dies at age 53.August
August 10: Albert Guillaume, French caricaturist, illustrator and poster designer who also made some occasional pantomime comics, dies at age 69.September
September 11: Horst Rosenthal, German-born French comics artist, is executed in Auschwitz at the age of 27.November
November 7: J. Norman Lynd, American comics artist, dies at age 63.November 11: Billy DeBeck, American comics artist, dies at the age of 52.November 26: Larry Whittington, American comics artist dies in a car accident at the age of 39.Specific date unknown
- Emil Reinicke, German comics artist, dies at age 82 or 83.
- Josiah Walker, aka Jos Walker, British comics artist, dies at age 55.
First issues by title
- Boy Commandos, cover-dated Winter, published by DC Comics.Comic Cavalcade, cover-dated Winter, published by DC ComicsHangman Comics, cover-dated Spring, published by MLJ Magazines Inc.Sensation Comics, cover-dated January, published by DC Comics.V...- Comics, cover-dated January, published by Fox Feature SyndicateWonder Woman, cover-dated Summer, published by DC Comics.
Initial appearances by character name
- Airboy in Air Fighters Comics #2, created by writers Charles Biro and Dick Wood, and artist Al Camy - Hillman Periodicals
- Air Wave in Detective Comics #60, created by Murray Boltinoff - DC Comics
- Boomerang in More Fun Comics #79 - DC ComicsDan the Dyna-Mite in Star Spangled Comics #7, created by Mort Weisinger and Hal Sharp - DC Comics
- Dan Turpin in Detective Comics #64, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby - DC Comics
- Doctor Poison in Sensation Comics #2, created by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter - DC Comics
- Etta Candy' in Sensation Comics #2, created by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter - DC ComicsFalse-Face in Leading Comics #2, created by Mort Weisinger and Creig FlesselGay Ghost in Sensation Comics #1, created by Gardner Fox and Howard Purcell - DC ComicsGuardian in Star Spangled Comics #7, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby - DC Comics
- Heap in Air Fighters Comics #3, created by Harry Stein and Mort Leav - Hillman Periodicals
- Kid Eternity in Hit Comics #25, created by Otto Binder and Sheldon Moldoff - DC ComicsLiberty Belle in Boy Commandos #1, created by Don Cameron and Chuck Winter - DC Comics
- Mary Marvel in Captain Marvel Adventures #18, created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze - DC ComicsMetallo in World's Finest Comics #6, created by Robert Bernstein and Al Plastino - DC ComicsMister Terrific (Terry Sloane) in Sensation Comics #1, created by Charles Reizenstein and Hal SharpePaul Kirk, created by Jack Kirby, in Adventure Comics #58, published by DC ComicsThe Prankster in Action Comics #51, created by Jerry Siegel and John Sikela - DC Comics
- The Puzzler in Action Comics #49, created by Jerry Siegel and John Sikela - DC Comics
- Shade in Flash Comics #33,created by Gardner Fox - DC ComicsRag Doll in Flash Comics #36, created by Gardner Fox - DC ComicsRobotman in Star Spangled Comics #7, created by Jerry Siegel and Leo Nowak - DC Comics
- Sal Maroni in Detective Comics #66, created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane - DC Comics
- Spider Widow in Feature Comics #57, created by Frank Borth - DC ComicsTNT in Star Spangled Comics #7, created by Mort Weisinger and Hal Sharp - DC ComicsTwo Face in Detective Comics #66, created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane - DC ComicsWildcat in Sensation Comics #1, created by Bill Finger and Irwin Hasen - DC ComicsWonder Woman, created by William Moulton Marston, in All Star Comics#8, published by All-American Publications