Notable events of 1940 in comics. Events and publications
Year overall Another boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Ace Comics, Columbia Comics, Farrell Publications, Holyoke Publishing, Novelty Press, and Street & Smith Comics all begin publishing.
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 (1937 series) #34 – David McKay Publications Action Comics (1938 series) #20 – DC Comics Adventure Comics (1938 series) #46 – DC Comics All-American Comics (1939 series) #10 – DC Comics Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #17 – Centaur Publications Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #1 – Timely Comics Detective Comics (1937 series) #35 – DC Comics Double Action Comics (1939 series) #2 – National Periodical Publications, consisting entirely of black and white reprints from early issues of More Fun Comics. Fantastic Comics (1939 series) #2 - Fox Feature Syndicate Feature Comics (1939 series) #28 – Quality Comics Flash Comics (1940 series) #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 (1940 series) #1 (34) - Centaur Publications Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #3 – Timely Comics More Fun Comics (1936 series) #51 – National Periodical Publications Mystery Men Comics (1939 series) #6 – Fox Feature Syndicate Smash Comics (1939 series) #6 – Quality Comics Teen-Age Romances (1940 series) #1 – St. John Publications debuts January 14 Wonderworld Comics #9 - Fox Feature Syndicate
February Ace Comics (1937 series) #35 – David McKay Publications Action Comics (1938 series) #21 – DC Comics Adventure Comics (1938 series) #47 – DC Comics All-American Comics (1939 series) #11 – DC Comics Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #2 – Timely Comics Detective Comics (1937 series) #36 – DC Comics Fantastic Comics (1939 series) #3 - Fox Feature Syndicate Feature Comics (1939 series) #29 – Quality Comics Flash Comics (1940 series) #2 – National Periodical Publications Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #4 – Timely Comics More Fun Comics (1936 series) #52 – National Periodical Publications Mystery Men Comics (1939 series) #7 – Fox Feature Syndicate Science Comics (1940 series) #1 - Fox Feature Syndicate Smash Comics (1939 series) #7 – Quality Comics Target Comics (1940 series) #1 - Novelty Press Whiz Comics #2, the first appearance of Captain Marvel — Fawcett (This is actually #1 due to Whiz Comics #1 doesn't exist) Wonderworld Comics #10 - Fox Feature Syndicate
March Ace Comics (1937 series) #36 – David McKay Publications Action Comics (1938 series) #22 – DC Comics Adventure Comics (1938 series) #48 – DC Comics All-American Comics (1939 series) #12 – DC Comics Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #18 – Centaur Publications Detective Comics (1937 series) #37 – DC Comics Fantastic Comics (1939 series) #4 - Fox Feature Syndicate Feature Comics (1939 series) #30 – Quality Comics Flash Comics (1940 series) #3 – National Periodical Publications Funny Pages (1940 series) #35 - Centaur Publications Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #5 – Timely Comics Master Comics (1940 series) #1 – Fawcett Publications More Fun Comics (1936 series) #53 – National Periodical Publications Mystery Men Comics (1939 series) #8 – Fox Feature Syndicate Mystic Comics (1940 series) #1 – Timely Comics Science Comics (1940 series) #2 - Fox Feature Syndicate Silver Streak Comics (1939 series) #3 — title acquired by Lev Gleason Publications Slam-Bang Comics (1940 series) #1 – Fawcett Comics Smash Comics (1939 series) #8 – Quality Comics Target Comics (1940 series) #2 - Novelty Press Whiz Comics #3 – Fawcett Comics (This is actually #2 due to #1 not being published) Wonderworld Comics #11 - Fox Feature Syndicate
April Ace Comics (1937 series) #37 – David McKay Publications Action Comics (1938 series) #23 – DC Comics Adventure Comics (1938 series) #49 – DC Comics All-American Comics (1939 series) #13 – DC Comics Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #19 – Centaur Publications Batman (1940 series) #1 – DC Comics, first appearance of Joker, first appearance of Catwoman Blue Beetle (1939 series) #2 – Fox Feature Syndicate Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #3 – Timely Comics Detective Comics (1937 series) #38 – DC Comics, first appearance of Robin. Fantastic Comics (1939 series) #5 - Fox Feature Syndicate Feature Comics (1939 series) #31 – Quality Comics Flash Comics (1940 series) #4 – National Periodical Publications Funny Pages (1940 series) #36 - Centaur Publications Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #6 – Timely Comics Master Comics (1940 series) #2 – Fawcett Publications More Fun Comics (1936 series) #54 – National Periodical Publications Mystery Men Comics (1939 series) #9 – Fox Feature Syndicate Mystic Comics (1940 series) #2 – Timely Comics Science Comics (1940 series) #3 - Fox Feature Syndicate Slam-Bang Comics (1940 series) #2 – Fawcett Comics Smash Comics (1939 series) #9 – Quality Comics Superman (1939 series) #4 – DC Comics Target Comics (1940 series) #3 - Novelty Press Weird Comics (1940 series) #1 - Fox Feature Syndicate Whiz Comics (1940 series) #3 – Fawcett Comics (Numbering will be correct from here on) 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 W. Moore, but drawn by Austin Briggs. The daily comic will last until 1993. Ace Comics (1937 series) #38 – David McKay Publications Action Comics (1938 series) #24 – DC Comics Adventure Comics (1938 series) #50 – DC Comics All-American Comics (1939 series) #14 – DC Comics Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #20 – Centaur Publications Crack Comics (1940 series) #1 – Quality Comics (First appearance of Alias the Spider, Madame Fatal, Red Torpedo, and Black Condor) Crash Comics Adventures (1940 series) #1 - Helnit Publishing Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #4 – Timely Comics Detective Comics (1937 series) #39 – DC Comics Doc Savage Comics (1940 series) #1 – Street & Smith Publications Fantastic Comics (1939 series) #6 - Fox Feature Syndicate Feature Comics (1939 series) #32 – Quality Comics Flash Comics (1940 series) #5 – National Periodical Publications Funny Pages (1940 series) #37 - Centaur Publications Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #7 – Timely Comics Master Comics (1940 series) #3 – Fawcett Comics More Fun Comics (1936 series) #55 – National Periodical Publications. In this issue Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman's Doctor Fate makes his debut. Mystery Men Comics (1939 series) #10 – Fox Feature Syndicate Nickel Comics (1940 series) #1 – Fawcett Comics (First appearance of Bulletman) Nickel Comics (1940 series) #2 – Fawcett Comics Science Comics (1940 series) #4 - Fox Feature Syndicate Slam-Bang Comics (1940 series) #3 – Fawcett Comics Smash Comics (1939 series) #10 – Quality Comics Target Comics (1940 series) #4 - Novelty Press Weird Comics (1940 series) #2 - Fox Feature Syndicate Whiz Comics (1940 series) #4 – Fawcett Comics Wonderworld 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 ("Wonderland") 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 (1937 series) #39 – David McKay Publications Action Comics (1938 series) #25 – DC Comics Adventure Comics (1938 series) #51 – DC Comics All-American Comics (1939 series) #15 – DC Comics Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #21 – Centaur Publications Crack Comics (1940 series) #2 – Quality Comics Crash Comics Adventures (1940 series) #2 - Helnit Publishing Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #5 – Timely Comics Detective Comics (1937 series) #40 – DC Comics Fantastic Comics (1939 series) #7 - Fox Feature Syndicate Feature Comics (1939 series) #33 – Quality Comics Flash Comics (1940 series) #6 – National Periodical Publications Funny Pages (1940 series) #38 - Centaur Publications Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #8 – Timely Comics More Fun Comics (1936 series) #56 – National Periodical Publications Mystery Men Comics (1939 series) #11 – Fox Feature Syndicate Mystic Comics (1940 series) #3 – Timely Comics Nickel Comics (1940 series) #3 – Fawcett Comics Nickel Comics (1940 series) #4 – Fawcett Comics Science Comics (1940 series) #5 - Fox Feature Syndicate Slam-Bang Comics (1940 series) #4 – Fawcett Comics Smash Comics (1939 series) #11 – Quality Comics Target Comics (1940 series) #5 - Novelty Press Weird Comics (1940 series) #3 - Fox Feature Syndicate Whirlwind Comics (1940 series) #1 - Nita Publishing Whiz Comics (1940 series) #5 – Fawcett Comics Wonderworld Comics #14 - Fox Feature Syndicate
July July 7: In Al Capp's Li'l Abner the character Joe Btfsplk makes his debut. Ace Comics (1937 series) #40 – David McKay Publications Action Comics (1938 series) #26 – DC Comics Adventure Comics (1938 series) #52 – DC Comics All-American Comics (1939 series) #16 – DC Comics, first appearance of Green Lantern (Alan Scott) All-Star Comics (1940 series) #1 – DC Comics Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #22 – Centaur Publications Batman (1940 series) #2 – DC Comics Blue Beetle (1939 series) #3 – Fox Feature Syndicate Crack Comics (1940 series) #3 – Quality Comics Crash Comics Adventures (1940 series) #3 - Helnit Publishing Detective Comics (1937 series) #41 – DC Comics Doc Savage Comics (1940 series) #2 – Street & Smith Publications Fantastic Comics (1939 series) #8 - Fox Feature Syndicate Feature Comics (1939 series) #34 – Quality Comics Flash Comics (1940 series) #7 – National Periodical Publications Funny Pages (1940 series) #39 - Centaur Publications Hit Comics (1940 series) #1 – Quality Comics Green Mask (1940 series) #1 - Fox Feature Syndicate Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #9 – Timely Comics Master Comics (1940 series) #4 – Fawcett Publications More Fun Comics (1936 series) #57 – National Periodical Publications Mystery Men Comics (1939 series) #12 – Fox Feature Syndicate Nickel Comics (1940 series) #5 – Fawcett Comics Nickel Comics (1940 series) #6 – Fawcett Comics Science Comics (1940 series) #6 - Fox Feature Syndicate Slam-Bang Comics (1940 series) #5 – Fawcett Comics Smash Comics (1939 series) #12 – Quality Comics Superman (1939 series) #5 – DC Comics Target Comics (1940 series) #6 - Novelty Press The Flame (1940 series) #1 - Fox Feature Syndicate Weird Comics (1940 series) #4 - Fox Feature Syndicate Whirlwind Comics (1940 series) #2 - Nita Publishing Whiz Comics (1940 series) #6 – Fawcett Comics Wonderworld 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 (1937 series) #41 – David McKay Publications Action Comics (1938 series) #27 – DC Comics Adventure Comics (1938 series) #53 – DC Comics All-American Comics (1939 series) #17 – DC Comics Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #23 – Centaur Publications Crack Comics (1940 series) #4 – Quality Comics Detective Comics (1937 series) #42 – DC Comics