1940 in comics

Years in comics
19th Century
1900s
	1900 · 1901 · 1902 · 1903 · 1904 ; 1905 · 1906 · 1907 · 1908 · 1909
1910s
	1910 · 1911 · 1912 · 1913 · 1914 ; 1915 · 1916 · 1917 · 1918 · 1919
1920s
	1920 · 1921 · 1922 · 1923 · 1924 ; 1925 · 1926 · 1927 · 1928 · 1929
1930s
	1930 · 1931 · 1932 · 1933 · 1934 ; 1935 · 1936 · 1937 · 1938 · 1939
1940s
	1940 · 1941 · 1942 · 1943 · 1944 ; 1945 · 1946 · 1947 · 1948 · 1949
1950s
	1950 · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954 ; 1955 · 1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959
1960s
	1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 ; 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969
1970s
	1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 ; 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
1980s
	1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 ; 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989
1990s
	1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 ; 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999
2000s
	2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 ; 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
2010s
	2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 ; 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019

Notable events of 1940 in comics. See also List of years in comics.

Events and publications[edit | edit source]

This literature-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Year overall[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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
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.
Feature Comics (1939 series) #28 - Quality Comics
Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #3 - Timely Comics
More Fun Comics (1936 series) #51 - National Periodical Publications
Smash Comics (1939 series) #6 - Quality Comics

Debuts[edit | edit source]

Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #1 - Timely Comics
Flash Comics (1940 series) #1 - National Periodical Publications
Teen-Age Romances #1 - St. John Publications debuts January 14

February[edit | edit source]

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
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
Smash Comics (1939 series) #7 - Quality Comics
Whiz Comics #2, the first appearance of Captain Marvel — Fawcett

Spring[edit | edit source]

Batman (1940 series) #1 - DC Comics^[1]

March[edit | edit source]

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
Feature Comics (1939 series) #30 - Quality Comics
Flash Comics (1940 series) #3 - National Periodical Publications
Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #5 - Timely Comics
Master Comics (1940 series) #1 - Fawcett Publications
Mystic Comics (1940 series) #1 - Timely Comics
More Fun Comics (1936 series) #53 - National Periodical Publications
Silver Streak Comics (1939 series) #3 — title acquired by Lev Gleason Publications
Smash Comics (1939 series) #8 - Quality Comics
Superman (1939 series) #4 cover dated Spring - National Periodical Publications

April[edit | edit source]

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
Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #3 - Timely Comics
Detective Comics (1937 series) #38 - DC Comics
Feature Comics (1939 series) #31 - Quality Comics
Flash Comics (1940 series) #4 - National Periodical 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
Mystic Comics (1940 series) #2 - Timely Comics
Smash Comics (1939 series) #9 - Quality Comics

May[edit | edit source]

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
Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #4 - Timely Comics
Detective Comics (1937 series) #39 - DC Comics
Doc Savage Comics (1940 series) #1 - Street & Smith Publications
Feature Comics (1939 series) #32 - Quality Comics
Flash Comics (1940 series) #5 - National Periodical Publications
Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #7 - Timely Comics
More Fun Comics (1936 series) #55 - National Periodical Publications
Smash Comics (1939 series) #10 - Quality Comics

Summer[edit | edit source]

All Star Comics (1940 series) #1 - DC Comics
Batman (1940 series) #2 - DC Comics

June[edit | edit source]

June 2: first publication of Will Eisner's "The Spirit Section", featuring debuts of the series The Spirit, Lady Luck and Mr. Mystic.^[2]
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
Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #5 - Timely Comics
Detective Comics (1937 series) #40 - DC Comics
Feature Comics (1939 series) #33 - Quality Comics
Flash Comics (1940 series) #6 - National Periodical Publications
Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #8 - Timely Comics
Master Comics (1940 series) #3 - Fawcett Publications
More Fun Comics (1936 series) #56 - National Periodical Publications
Mystic Comics (1940 series) #3 - Timely Comics
Smash Comics (1939 series) #11 - Quality Comics
Superman (1939 series) #5 cover dated Summer - National Periodical Publications

July[edit | edit source]

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
Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #22 - Centaur Publications
Detective Comics (1937 series) #41 - DC Comics
Doc Savage Comics (1940 series) #2 - Street & Smith Publications
Feature Comics (1939 series) #34 - Quality Comics
Flash Comics (1940 series) #7 - National Periodical Publications
Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #9 - Timely Comics
Master Comics (1940 series) #4 - Fawcett Publications
More Fun Comics (1936 series) #57 - National Periodical Publications
Mystic Comics (1940 series) #4 - Timely Comics
Smash Comics (1939 series) #12 - Quality Comics

August[edit | edit source]

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
Detective Comics (1937 series) #42 - DC Comics
Feature Comics (1939 series) #35 - Quality Comics
Flash Comics (1940 series) #8 - National Periodical Publications
Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #10 - Timely Comics
Master Comics (1940 series) #5 - Fawcett Publications
More Fun Comics (1936 series) #58 - National Periodical Publications
Red Raven Comics (1940 series) #1 - Timely Comics
Smash Comics (1939 series) #13 - Quality Comics

Fall[edit | edit source]

All Star Comics (1940 series) #2 - DC Comics
Batman (1940 series) #3 - DC Comics

September[edit | edit source]

Ace Comics (1937 series) #42 - David McKay Publications
Action Comics (1938 series) #28 - DC Comics
Adventure Comics (1938 series) #54 - DC Comics
All-American Comics (1939 series) #18 - DC Comics
Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #24, last issue - Centaur Publications
Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #6 - Timely Comics
Detective Comics (1937 series) #43 - DC Comics
Feature Comics (1939 series) #36 - Quality Comics
Flash Comics (1940 series) #9 - National Periodical Publications
Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #11 - Timely Comics
Master Comics (1940 series) #6 - Fawcett Publications
More Fun Comics (1936 series) #59 - National Periodical Publications
Smash Comics (1939 series) #14 - Quality Comics
Superman (1939 series) #6 - National Periodical Publications

October[edit | edit source]

Ace Comics (1937 series) #43 - David McKay Publications
Action Comics (1938 series) #29 - DC Comics
Adventure Comics (1938 series) #55 - DC Comics
All-American Comics (1939 series) #19 - DC Comics
Detective Comics (1937 series) #44 - DC Comics
Feature Comics (1939 series) #37 - Quality Comics
Flash Comics (1940 series) #10 - National Periodical Publications
Human Torch (1940 series) #2 - Timely Comics
Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #12 - Timely Comics
Master Comics (1940 series) #7 - Fawcett Publications
More Fun Comics (1936 series) #60 - National Periodical Publications
Smash Comics (1939 series) #15 - Quality Comics

November[edit | edit source]

Ace Comics (1937 series) #44 - David McKay Publications
Action Comics (1938 series) #30 - DC Comics
Adventure Comics (1938 series) #56 - DC Comics
All-American Comics (1939 series) #20 - DC Comics
Detective Comics (1937 series) #45 - DC Comics
Feature Comics (1939 series) #38 - Quality Comics
Flash Comics (1940 series) #11 - National Periodical Publications
Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #13 - Timely Comics
Master Comics (1940 series) #8 - Fawcett Publications
More Fun Comics (1936 series) #61 - National Periodical Publications
Smash Comics (1939 series) #16 - Quality Comics
Superman (1939 series) #7 - National Periodical Publications

Winter[edit | edit source]

All Star Comics (1940 series) #3 - DC Comics
Batman (1940 series) #4 (DC Comics) — first appearance of Gotham City

December[edit | edit source]

Ace Comics (1937 series) #45 - David McKay Publications
Action Comics (1938 series) #31 - DC Comics
Adventure Comics (1938 series) #57 - DC Comics
All-American Comics (1939 series) #21 - DC Comics
Detective Comics (1937 series) #46 - DC Comics
Feature Comics (1939 series) #39 - Quality Comics
Flash Comics (1940 series) #12 - National Periodical Publications
Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #14 - Timely Comics
Master Comics (1940 series) #9 - Fawcett Publications
More Fun Comics (1936 series) #62 - National Periodical Publications
Smash Comics (1939 series) #17 - Quality Comics

Specials[edit | edit source]

Mutt & Jeff (1939 series) #2 - All-American Comics
New York World's Fair Comics (1939 series) #2 - National Periodical Publications

First issues by title[edit | edit source]

All Star Comics, cover-dated Summer, published by All-American Publications.
Batman, cover-dated Spring, published by DC Comics.^[1]
Big Shot Comics, cover-dated May, published by Columbia Comics.
Daring Mystery Comics, cover-dated January, published by Timely Comics.
Doc Savage Comics published by Street & Smith Publications.
Flash Comics cover dated January, published by National Periodical Publications.
Green Hornet, cover-dated December, published by Helnit.
Jackpot Comics, cover-dated Spring, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc.
Master Comics, cover-dated March, published by Fawcett Publications.
Red Raven Comics, cover-dated August, published by Timely Comics.
Shield-Wizard Comics, cover-dated Summer, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc.
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, cover-dated October, published by Dell Comics.
Wow Comics, cover-dated Winter, published by Fawcett Comics.
Zip Comics, cover-dated June, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc.

Initial appearances by character name[edit | edit source]

Catwoman in Batman #1 (Summer),^[1] created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics.
Doctor Hormone in Popular Comics #54 (August), published by Dell Comics.
The Flash (Jay Garrick) in Flash Comics #1 (January), created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, published by National Periodical Publications.
Hawkman (Carter Hall) in Flash Comics #1 (January), created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville, published by National Periodical Publications.
The Joker in Batman #1 (Summer),^[1] created by Jerry Robinson (concept), Bill Finger, and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics.
Justice Society of America in All Star Comics #3 (Winter), created by Sheldon Mayer and Gardner Fox, published by DC Comics.
Robin in Detective Comics #40 (June), created by Jerry Robinson (concept), Bill Finger, and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics.
Silver Streak in Silver Streak Comics #3 (March), created by Joe Simon, published by Lev Gleason Publications.

References[edit | edit source]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Wallace, Daniel; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1940s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. The first issue of Batman's self-titled comic written by Bill Finger and drawn by Bob Kane, represented a milestone in more ways than one. With Robin now a partner to the Caped Crusader, villains needed to rise to the challenge, and this issue introduced two future legends: the Joker and Catwoman.
↑ Markstein, Don. "Lady Luck".

[Wallace-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Wallace, Daniel; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1940s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. The first issue of Batman's self-titled comic written by Bill Finger and drawn by Bob Kane, represented a milestone in more ways than one. With Robin now a partner to the Caped Crusader, villains needed to rise to the challenge, and this issue introduced two future legends: the Joker and Catwoman.

[toonopedia-2] Markstein, Don. "Lady Luck".

[1]

[2]