1939 in comics
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Template:Short description Template:Yearsincomics Notable events of 1939 in comics.
Events and publications
January
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #22 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #8 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #34 – National Allied Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #5 – Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #23 – National Allied Publications
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #16 – Comic Favorites, Inc.
- Funny Picture Stories (1939 series) #1 - Centaur Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #39 – National Periodical Publications
- Star Ranger Funnies (1939 series) #1 - Centaur Publications
February
- Ace Comics #23 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #9 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #35 – National Allied Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #6 – Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #24 – National Allied Publications
- Feature Funnies #17 – Comic Favorites, Inc.
- Funny Pages (1939 series) #1 (24) - Centaur Publications
- More Fun Comics #40 – National Periodical Publications
- Star Comics (1939 series) #1 - Centaur Publications
March
- 15 March: DC Comics files a lawsuit against Fox Feature Syndicate for copyright infringement of Superman by Fox’s character Wonder Man first appearing in Wonder Comics #1 (May 1939). In 1940 DC won the suit and Fox was forced to stop using the Wonder Man character. He only appeared in Wonder Comics #1. In 1964 Marvel Comics would introduce their Wonder Man with no association with Fox’s character.
- Ace Comics #24 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #10 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #36 – National Allied Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #7 – Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #25 – National Allied Publications
- Feature Funnies #18 – Comic Favorites, Inc.
- Funny Pages (1939 series) #2 (25) - Centaur Publications
- Funny Picture Stories (1939 series) #2 - Centaur Publications
- More Fun Comics #41 – National Periodical Publications
- Star Comics (1939 series) #2 - Centaur Publications
April
- Ace Comics #25 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #11 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #37 – National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #1 – All-American Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #8 – Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #26 – National Allied Publications
- Feature Funnies #19 – Comic Favorites, Inc.
- Funny Pages (1939 series) #3 (26) - Centaur Publications
- More Fun Comics #42 – National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics (1939 series) #1 – National Periodical Publications
- Star Comics (1939 series) #3 - Centaur Publications
- Star Ranger Funnies (1939 series) #2 - Centaur Publications
May
- May 20: In Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse comic strip the villain Phantom Blot and the policeman Chief O'Hara make their debut; in the story Outwits the Phantom Blot.
- Ace Comics #26 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #12 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #38 – National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #2 – All-American Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #9 – Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #27 – National Allied Publications – First appearance of Batman
- Feature Funnies #20 – Comic Favorites, Inc.
- Funny Picture Stories (1939 series) #3 - Centaur Publications, Final Issue
- More Fun Comics #43 – National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics #2 – National Periodical Publications
- Star Comics (1939 series) #4 - Centaur Publications
- Wonder Comics #1 - Fox Feature Syndicate
June
- Ace Comics #27 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #13 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #39 – National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #3 – National Allied Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #10 – Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #28 – National Allied Publications
- Feature Comics (previously Feature Funnies) #21 – Quality Comics
- Funny Pages (1939 series) #4 (27) - Centaur Publications
- More Fun Comics #44 – National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics #3 – National Periodical Publications
- Star Comics (1939 series) #5 - Centaur Publications
- Star Ranger Funnies (1939 series) #3 - Centaur Publications
- Superman (1939 series) #1, cover dated Summer – National Periodical Publications<ref name="Wallace">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Wonder Comics #2 - Fox Feature Syndicate
July
- 1 July: Fox Feature Syndicate renames Wonder Comics to Wonderworld Comics starting with issue #3.
- Ace Comics #28 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #14 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #40 – National Allied Publications. In this issue Gardner Fox, Bert Christman, Ogden Whitney and Creig Flessel's The Sandman makes his debut.<ref name="lambiek.net">Template:Cite web</ref>
- All-American Comics #4 – All-American Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #11 – Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #29 – National Allied Publications. In this issue Gardner Fox introduces Batman's utility belt in Batman by Bill Finger and Bob Kane.<ref name="lambiek.net"/>
- Feature Comics #22 – Quality Comics
- Funny Pages (1939 series) #5 (28) - Centaur Publications
- More Fun Comics #45 – National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics #4 – National Periodical Publications
- Star Comics (1939 series) #6 - Centaur Publications
- The Magic Comic #1 – D. C. Thomson & Co.
- Wonderworld Comics #3 - Fox Feature Syndicate, Will Eisner and Jerry Iger's The Flame makes his debut.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>
August
- Ace Comics #29 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #15 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #41 – National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #5 – All-American Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #12 – Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #30 – National Allied Publications
- Feature Comics #23 – Quality Comics
- Funny Pages (1939 series) #6 (29) - Centaur Publications
- More Fun Comics #46 – National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics #5 – National Periodical Publications
- Mystery Men Comics #1 (1939 series) – Fox Feature Syndicate – First appearance of Blue Beetle
- Star Comics (1939 series) #7 - Centaur Publications, Final Issue
- Star Ranger Funnies (1939 series) #4 - Centaur Publications
- Smash Comics #1 (1939 series) – Quality Comics
- Wonderworld Comics #4 - Fox Feature Syndicate
September
- Template:Em: on Le Petit Vingtième, first chapter of Land of Black Gold by Hergé; the story will be unfinished because the war.
- Newspaper strip Ben Bowyang by Alex Gurney begins publication
- Ace Comics #30 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #16 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #42 – National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #6 – All-American Publications
- Amazing Man Comics (1939 series) #5 – Centaur Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #13 – Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #31 – National Allied Publications. In this issue Gardner Fox introduces the Batarang in Batman by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.<ref name="lambiek.net"/>
- Feature Comics #24 – Quality Comics
- Four Color Series 1 (1939 series) #1 – Dell Publishing
- First comic-book appearance of Dick Tracy, who was already a popular feature in newspaper comics since 1931.
- Funny Pages (1939 series) #7 (30) - Centaur Publications
- More Fun Comics #47 – National Periodical Publications
- Movie Comics #6 – National Periodical Publications, Final Issue
- Mutt and Jeff (1939 series) #1 – National Periodical Publications
- Mystery Men Comics #2 – Fox Feature Syndicate
- Smash Comics #2 – Quality Comics
- Superman #2, cover dated Fall – National Periodical Publications
- Wonderworld Comics No. 5 - Fox Feature Syndicate
October
- October 15: Dorothy Urfer and Virginia Krausmann's Annibelle ends its run after a decade of publication.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- October: Russell Keaton's Flyin' Jenny makes its debut. It will run until 1946.
- Ace Comics #31 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #17 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #43 – National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #7 – All-American Publications
- Amazing Man Comics #6 – Centaur Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #14 – Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #32 – National Allied Publications
- Feature Comics #25 – Quality Comics
- Four Color Series 1 #2 – Dell Publishing
- Funny Pages (1939 series) #8 (31) - Centaur Publications
- Marvel Comics (becomes Marvel Mystery Comics) (1939 series) #1 – Timely Comics
- More Fun Comics #48 – National Periodical Publications
- Mystery Men Comics #3 – Fox Feature Syndicate
- Smash Comics #3 – Quality Comics
- Star Ranger Funnies (1939 series) #5 - Centaur Publications
- Wonderworld Comics #6 - Fox Feature Syndicate
November
- Ace Comics #32 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #18 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #44 – National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #8 – All-American Publications
- Amazing Man Comics #7 – Centaur Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #15 – Centaur Publications
- Blue Beetle #1 – Fox Feature Syndicate
- Detective Comics #33 – National Allied Publications
- Double Action Comics #1 — National Allied Publications. Released only in New York City newsstands, Double Action Comics was most likely an "ashcan", a limited-run publication produced simply to register the title. It had a black-and-white cover,<ref>One copy with a color cover has been proven to be a hoax.</ref> with the contents pulled from Action Comics No. 2.<ref>The first mention of Double Action Comics No. 1 is in The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide No. 10 (Robert M. Overstreet, 1980). Additional information regarding Double Action can be found on page A-19 of the market report, which notes that, "four more copies of Double Action turned up and sold for record prices. All of these copies were in excellent condition with white cover and pages. Even a No. 1 was included in the four, the rest being No. 2's." The existence of a Very Good copy has been confirmed by both Robert Overstreet and John K. Snyder III.</ref>
- Feature Comics #26 – Quality Comics
- Funny Pages (1939 series) #9 (32) - Centaur Publications
- More Fun Comics #49 – National Periodical Publications
- Mystery Men Comics #4 – Fox Feature Syndicate
- Smash Comics #4 – Quality Comics
- Superman #3 – National Allied Publications – Winter Issue
- Wonderworld Comics #7 - Fox Feature Syndicate
December
- Will Eisner leaves the comics studio Eisner & Iger.<ref name="auto" />
- Ace Comics #33 – David McKay Publications
- Action Comics #19 – National Allied Publications
- Adventure Comics #45 – National Allied Publications
- All-American Comics #9 – All-American Publications
- Amazing Man Comics #8 – Centaur Publications
- Amazing Mystery Funnies #16 – Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics #34 – National Allied Publications
- Double Action Comics (1939 series) #1 – National Periodical Publications (ashcan copy, distributed only in New York City newsstands)
- Fantastic Comics (1939 series) #1 - Fox Feature Syndicate
- Feature Comics #27 – Quality Comics – In this issue Will Eisner and Lou Fine's Doll Man makes his debut.<ref name="auto"/>
- Funny Pages (1939 series) #10 (33) - Centaur Publications
- Marvel Mystery Comics (previously Marvel Comics) #2 – Timely Comics
- More Fun Comics #50 – National Periodical Publications
- Mystery Men Comics #5 – Fox Feature Syndicate
- Smash Comics #5 – Quality Comics
- Wonderworld Comics #8 - Fox Feature Syndicate
Specials
- New York World's Fair (1939 series) #1 – National Periodical Publications
- Mutt & Jeff (1939 series) #1 – All-American Comics
Specific date unknown
- The first episode of Arthur Warden's Tuffy and his Magic Tail is published.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Lev Gleason founds the comic book company Lev Gleason Publications.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- A boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Archie Comics, Fawcett Comics, Fox Feature Syndicate, Lev Gleason Publications, Marvel Comics/Timely Comics, Nedor Comics, and Quality Comics all begin publishing.
- The Serbian comic strip Zigomar by writer Branko Vidić and artist Nikola Navojev begins publication.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Births
March
- March 27: Jo Teodorescu, Romanian illustrator and comics artist (Aventurile profesului Parbriz), (d. 2014).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
April
- April 10: Shinji Mizushima, Japanese manga artist (Yakyū-kyō no Uta, Dokaben, Abu-san), (d. 2022).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Deaths
January
- January 18: Carl E. Schultze, American comics artist (Foxy Grandpa), dies at age 72.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- January 20: Victor Bergdahl, Swedish animator and comics artist (Kapten Grogg), dies at age 60.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Bendazzi, p. 45</ref>
June
- June 28: Joz De Swerts, Belgian illustrator, political cartoonist and comics artist (worked for Zonneland), dies at age 49.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July
- July 4: Louis Wain, British painter and illustrator (illustrations starring anthropomorphic cats), dies at age 78.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- July 25: A.E. Hayward, American comics artist (Somebody's Stenog), dies at age 55.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August
- August 14: T.E. Powers, American comics artist (Our Moving Pictures, Mr. Nobody Holme), dies at the age of 69.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
September
- September 8: Elie Smalhout, Dutch graphic artist, illustrator and comics artist (made text comics for De Notenkraker), dies at age 49.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- September 23: Frits Van den Berghe, Belgian painter, illustrator and comic artist (Jan Van Plan, Pikkel en Duim, Edmund Bell), dies at age 56. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- September 29: Luc Lafnet, aka Davine, Visnet, O. Lucas, Pol, Luc, Belgian-French comics artist (Bizouk et Pélik, Zizette, assisted on Spirou et Fantasio, Bibor et Tribar), dies at age 40 from pancreatic cancer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
October
- October 10: Benjamin Rabier, French comics artist, illustrator, animator and advertising artist (Gédéon, Tintin-Lutin, designed La Vache Qui Rit), dies at age 74.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- October 12: Llorenç Brunet i Forroll, Spanish caricaturist, painter and comics artist, dies at age 67.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- October 18: Carl Olof Petersen, Swedish illustrator, painter and comics artist, dies at age 59.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- October 29: Zane Grey, American novelist and comic writer (scripted King of the Royal Mounted), dies at age 67.
November
- November 22: Walter Hoban, American comics artist (Jerry on the Job), dies at age 49.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
December
- December 18: Bruno Liljefors, Swedish painter and comics artist, dies at age 79.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Specific date unknown
- Paul Augros, French illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 58.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Louis de Lajarrige, French illustrator, painter, comics artist and writer, dies at age 66.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- E. Nicolson, French illustrator and comics artist (Les Aventures du Chien Brownie, Bambochard et Trémolo), dies at an unknown age.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
First issues by title
- All-American Comics (April, All-American Publications)
- Amazing Man Comics (September, Centaur Publications) Issues No. 1 through 4 were not published.
- Double Action Comics (December, National Periodical Publications) The first issue was an ashcan copy, published but not distributed or sold.
- Fantastic Comics (December, Fox Feature Syndicate)
- Four Color (Dell Publishing)
- Marvel Comics (October, Timely Comics)
- Movie Comics (April, National Periodical Publications)
- Mutt & Jeff (Summer, All-American Comics)
- Mystery Men Comics (August, Fox Feature Syndicate)
- New York World's Fair (National Periodical Publications)
- Silver Streak Comics (December, Rhoda Publications)
- Smash Comics (August, Quality Comics)
- Star Comics Volume 2 (February, Centaur Publications)
- Star Ranger Funnies Volume 2 (January, Centaur Publications)
- Superman (Summer, National Periodical Publications<ref name="Wallace" />)
- The Magic Comic (July, D. C. Thomson & Co.)
- Wonder Comics (May, Fox Feature Syndicate)
Renamed titles
- Feature Comics renamed Feature Funnies as of the June cover date.
- Marvel Comics renamed Marvel Mystery Comics as of the December cover date.
- Wonder Comics renamed Wonderworld Comics starting with issue #3 with a cover date of July.
Initial appearances by character name
- Batman (Earth-Two) in Detective Comics No. 27 (May), created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, published by National Allied Publications<ref>Wallace "1930s" in Dolan, p. 24: "DC's second superstar debuted in the lead story of this issue, written by Bill Finger and drawn by Bob Kane, though the character was missing many of the elements that would make him a legend."</ref>
- Bozo the Iron Man in Smash Comics No. 1 (August), created by George Brenner, published by Quality Comics.
- Commissioner Gordon in Detective Comics No. 27 (May) created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, published by National Allied Publications
- Dan Garret (Blue Beetle) in Mystery Men Comics No. 1 (August), created by Charles Nicholas, published by Fox Feature Syndicate.
- Doctor Death (character) in Detective Comics No. 29 (July), created by Bob Kane, published by National Periodical Publications
- Doll Girl in Feature Comics No. 27 (December), created by Will Eisner, Published by Quality Comics.
- Doll Man in Feature Comics No. 27 (December), created by Will Eisner, Published by Quality Comics.
- Green Mask (Michael Shelby) in Mystery Men Comics No. 1 (August), created by Walter Frame, Published by Fox Feature Syndicate.
- Human Torch in Marvel Comics No. 1 (October) created by Carl Burgos, published by Timely Comics
- Invisible Hood in Smash Comics No. 1 (August), created by Art Pinajian, published by Quality Comics.
- Joe Chill in Detective Comics No. 33 (November), created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane.
- Monk (comics) in Detective Comics No. 31 (September), created by Gardner Fox and Bob Kane, published by National Periodical Publications
- Namor The Sub-Mariner in Marvel Comics #1 (October) created by Bill Everett, published by Timely Comics
- Samson in Fantastic Comics #1 (December) created by Will Eisner and Alex Blum
- Sandman (Wesley Dodds) in New York World's Fair Comics No. 1, created by Gardner Fox and Bert Christman, published by National Periodical Publications.
- The Flame (Gary Preston) in Wonderworld Comics No. 3 created by Will Eisner and Lou Fine, published by Fox Feature Syndicate.
- Ultra-Humanite in Action Comics No. 13 (June), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by National Periodical Publications.
- Ultra-Man in All-American Comics No. 8 (November), created by Jon L. Blummer, published by National Periodical Publications