Marvel Comics #1 [1st printing]

(October 1939)

Now I'll Tell One (Table of Contents)

Now I'll Tell One / filler / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Fred Schwab

Pencils:

Fred Schwab

Inks:

Fred Schwab

Letters:

Fred Schwab

Content Information

Genre:

humor

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] (2009)

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover. Five single panel gag cartoons. Sequence information from Joe Lovece (August 11, 2006).

[Origin of the Human Torch] (Table of Contents)

The Human Torch / comic story / 16 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Carl Burgos (signed)

Pencils:

Carl Burgos (signed)

Inks:

Carl Burgos (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

Carl Burgos

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

The Human Torch (introduction and origin, an android); Prof. Phineas T. Horton (introduction); Mr. Harris (businessman); Tony Sardo (villain, introduction, death), Red (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis:

After the Scientist's Guild convinces inventor Horton to dispose of his new creation, a "human torch", a clever criminal figures out a way to use this creation for his own evil purposes.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Fantasy Masterpieces (Marvel, 1966 series) #9 (June 1967)
• in Golden Age of Marvel (Marvel, 1997 series) #2 (1999)
• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1 ([October] 2004)
• in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] (2009) [recolored]
• in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn] (1990)

Indexer Notes

The Human Torch wears a blue uniform in this story. He doesn't adopt the Jim Hammond identity until issue #4.

[The Six Big Men] (Table of Contents)

The Angel / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Ray Gill ?

Pencils:

Paul Gustavson (signed)

Inks:

Paul Gustavson (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

The Angel [Tom Halloway] (introduction); The Six Big Men [Gus Ronson; Mike Malone; John Dillon; Trigger Bolo; Steve Enkel; Dutch Hanson] (villains,introduction for all, all die); the Big Boss (Dr. Lang, introduction); Lil (introduction)

Synopsis:

The Angel is called in to handle a group known as the "Six Big Men" and their mysterious leader, who have taken over an entire city.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1 [Regular Edition] ([October] 2004)
• in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] (2009) [recolored]
• in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn] (1990)

Indexer Notes

Writer credit revised from Paul Gustavson to Ray Gill ?. Gustavson was an artist ONLY. Although the Who's Who lists no writer for 1939, Ray Gill wrote the series in 1940 and this story may have been by him. Notes added by Craig Delich 2008-11-2.

[Origin of the Sub-Mariner ["Here is the Sub-Mariner!"]] (Table of Contents)

The Sub-Mariner / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Bill Everett (signed)

Pencils:

Bill Everett (signed)

Inks:

Bill Everett (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

Bill Everett

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

The Sub-Mariner [Prince Namor] (introduction and origin); Anderson; Nelson (death); Carley (death); Princess Fen (flashback, introduction); Emperor Tha-Korr (introduction, un-named in story); Dorma (introduction)

Synopsis:

Prince Namor, having learned of what the race of white men once did to his undersea kingdom, vows, and is encouraged, to make war on the surface dwellers.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• from Motion Picture Funnies Weekly (First Funnies, Inc., 1939 series) #1 (1939) [as the first 8 pages of that 12-page story; pages 1-8 only]
• in Marvel Masterworks: The Sub-Mariner (Marvel, 2002 series) #1 (April 2002)
• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1 ([October] 2004)
• in Marvel Milestones: Dr. Strange, Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner & Hulk (Marvel, 2005 series) #[nn] (2005)
• in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] (2009) [recolored]
• in Sub-Mariner Comics 70th Anniversary Special (Marvel, 2009 series) #1 (June 2009) [pages 1-8 only; without pages 9-12]
• in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn] (1990)

[Origin of the Masked Raider] (Table of Contents)

The Masked Raider / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Al Anders [as Anders] (signed)

Inks:

Al Anders [as Anders] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

western-frontier

Characters:

The Masked Raider [Jim Gardley] (introduction and origin); Lightning (Raider's horse); Steve (Sheriff); Lordin (rancher); Mr. Bleck (rancher, death); Mrs. Bleck (death); Cal Brunder (villain, introduction); Slick (villain); Rowdy (villain)

Synopsis:

When Cal Brunder, who has been forcing small ranchers in Cactusville to sell out to him at his own price, sends his men to the ranch of Jim Gardley, and he won't sell, he has a phony charge of rustling leveled against him.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1 ([October] 2004)
• in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] (2009) [recolored]
• in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn] (1990)

Indexer Notes

Writer revision from Al Anders to ? Anders was an artist only, and the Who's Who lists no writer for this strip. Note added by Craig Delich 2008-11-2.

Jungle Terror: A Complete Adventure Story (Table of Contents)

comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Art Pinajian [as Tomm Dixon] (signed)

Inks:

Art Pinajian [as Tomm Dixon] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

jungle

Characters:

Ken Masters; Professor John Roberts; Tim Roberts; Crafton (villain, death); Mike (villain, death); Slug (villain, death)

Synopsis:

Ken and Tim are worried about Professor Roberts, who went into the Amazon jungle three months earlier, trying to locate a certain Indian tribe that had in its possession a diamond with hypnotic powers.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1 ([October] 2004)
• in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] (2009) [recolored]
• in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn] (1990)

Indexer Notes

Art identification by Dr. Michael J. Vassallo of the Timely-Atlas list. Note that the 3rd letter in the signature's first name is a dense smudge. The Masterwork edition and Craig Delich interprets it as an "h" (Tohm), while Dr. Vassallo believes it is an "m" (Tomm).

Burning Rubber (Table of Contents)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Ray Gill [as Raymond Gill] (signed)

Pencils:

Sam Gilman [as Gilman] (signed) (illustration)

Inks:

Sam Gilman [as Gilman] (signed) (illustration)

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

sports

Characters:

Bill Williams; Fred Turner; C. G. Clark; Ruth Clerk; Ann

Synopsis:

Bill has invented a new gas feeder for his race car and is testing it out....at the risk of his own life!

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1 ([October] 2004)
• in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] (2009) [recolored]
• in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn] (1990)

Indexer Notes

Artist name added by Craig Delich 2008-11-2.

[Origin of Ka-Zar] (Table of Contents)

Adventures of Ka-Zar the Great / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Ben Thompson (signed)

Inks:

Ben Thompson (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

jungle

Characters:

Ka-Zar I (David Rand, introduction, origin); John and Constance Rand (introduction for both, both die, Ka-Zar's parents); Zar (a lion, introduction); Chaka [a gorilla, introduction]; Trajah [an elephant, introduction]; N'Jaga [a leopard, introduction}; Paul De Kraft (villain, introduction)

Synopsis:

A plane crashes into the jungle in the Belgian Congo, and a young boy named David, watches his mother die, and later his father at the hands of Paul De Kraft. The youngster trained in survival tactics by his father, is later re-named Ka-Zar, brother of the mighty Zar, a lion whose life he once saved.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1 [Regular Edition] ([October] 2004)
• in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] (2009) [recolored]
• in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn] (1990)

Indexer Notes

Adapted from Bob Byrd's "King of Fang and Claw" (KA-ZAR pulp magazine) #1). Writer credit revised from Ben Thompson to ?. Thompson was an artist only and the Who's Who does not list a writer for the strip. Last note added by Craig Delich 2008-11-2.