Star-Spangled Comics

From Hey Kids Comics

Star Spangled Comics
250x450px
Cover to Star Spangled Comics #1 (November 1941).
Art by Hal Sherman.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
Schedule Monthly
Format Ongoing series
Publication date October 1941 – July 1952
Number of issues 130
Main character(s) Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy
Newsboy Legion
Robin, the Boy Wonder
Tomahawk
Creative team
Writer(s) Jack Kirby, Jerry Siegel, Joe Simon
Artist(s) Edmond Good, Hal Sherman, Jack Kirby, Joe Simon

Star Spangled Comics was the title of a comic book series published by DC Comics which ran for 130 issues from 1941 through 1952. At that point it was retitled Star Spangled War Stories and lasted another 200+ issues until 1977.

Publication history[edit | edit source]

Star Spangled Comics debuted with an October 1941 cover date.[1] the series started out as a superhero book, featuring the adventures of the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy.[2] With issue #7 (April 1942), the title starred the Joe Simon and Jack Kirby-created Newsboy Legion.[3] A series of stories featuring Robin, the Boy Wonder began in issue #65 (February 1947)[4] and continued through the end of the title with issue #130, and primarily featured Robin solo adventures, but also included some occasional cameos by Batman. Tomahawk, a western feature, was introduced in #69.[5] In the early 1950s, the title became dominated by horror features, and by the end of its run the book switched to a war format; at which point it was rebooted to become Star Spangled War Stories.[6][7]

The Star Spangled Comics title was used again in 1999 as the title of one issue of the "Justice Society Returns" storyline.[8]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Star Spangled Comics at the Grand Comics Database
  2. Wallace, Daniel; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1940s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Star Spangled Kid had previously appeared in Action Comics #40, but this story by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Hal Sherman introduced his adult sidekick, Stripesy. 
  3. Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 41: "Joe Simon and Jack Kirby took their talents to a second title with Star-Spangled Comics, tackling both the Guardian and the Newsboy Legion in issue #7."
  4. Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 54: "The first solo Robin series began with what the cover promised would be 'a thrilling new series of smash adventures.' Readers seemed to agree, and Robin held this spot for five years until Star Spangled Comics published its last issue."
  5. Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 55: "The historical hero Tomahawk burst onto the scene in the ten-page back-up story 'Flames along the Frontier', illustrated by Edmond Good."
  6. Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 69: "Star Spangled Comics had brought adventure stories to the reading public since October 1941, but its name change to Star Spangled War Stories turned the focus of the title to war-themed characters and stories."
  7. Star Spangled War Stories at the Grand Comics Database
  8. Star Spangled Comics one-shot at the Grand Comics Database

External links[edit | edit source]