Spicy History Stories #2: How a reportedly vicious competition between William M. Clayton and Warner Publications blew up the spicy magazine market.
Mark Seifert Archives
Co-founder and Creative director of Bleeding Cool parent company Avatar Press since 1996. Bleeding Cool Managing Editor, tech and data wrangler, and has been with Bleeding Cool since its 2009 beginnings. Wrote extensively about the comic book industry for Wizard Magazine 1992-1996. At Avatar Press, has helped publish works by Alan Moore, George R.R. Martin, Garth Ennis, and others. Vintage paper collector, advisor to the Overstreet Price Guide Update 1991-1995.
The creation of artist Bill Ward, pre-Code glamour icon Torchy ended her brief but memorable series run at Quality Comics with Torchy #6.
Romantic Adventures #49 features "one of the grimmest little epics to appear in a romance comic" according to historian Michelle Nolan.
Editor William K. Friedman was determined to test the limits in the wake of the 1954 Senate Hearings on comics, and Romantic Hearts #9 is an example.
Popular Teen-Agers was a 1950s romance comic book title from Star Publications, a company formed by L.B. Cole and Jerome A. Kramer.
With Matt Baker and others, Jack Kamen redefined the look of The Fox Feature lineup beginning in 1947, creating some of the most memorable covers of the era.
On the brink of the introduciton of the Comics Code in 1954, Marvel/Atlas expanded into a market segment that Fiction House left behind.
Not to be confused with Patsy Walker's frenemy Hedy Wolfe, Hedy De Vine was a movie star who had her own Marvel series.
Just as Fiction House was ending Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, Marvel launched Lorna, the Jungle Queen by Don Rico and Werner Roth.
Millie the Model's longtime frenemy Chili Seven (later renamed Chili Storm) was introduced in a story in Millie the Model Comics #3.
John Buscema did significant work for publisher Orbit from 1950 to 1953, including several covers for their romance comic book line.
Betty, Archie, and Reggie are featured in what might be the most infamous accidental double entendre cover from vintage comics history.
After their 1947 debut in Marvel's Junior Miss, Cindy Smith, Sandra Lake and the residents of Oakdale got their own series with Cindy Comics.
Iconic Archie Comics frenemies Betty and Veronica got a series of their own for the first time beginning in 1950 from Dan DeCarlo and others.
Cinderella Love #26 contains the inspiration for both that issue's Matt Baker cover as well as his iconic issue #25 cover.
A slapstick comedy title inspired by the likes of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Dizzy Dames features the work of animator Owen Fitzgerald.
The brainchild of writer Aleen Leslie, the A Date With Judy radio show inspired a media franchise that included a popular DC Comics series.
The creation of George Storm for All Funny Comics, Buzzy became DC Comics' first teen humor title, lasting for 77 issues 1944-1958.
Dick Ayers' Magazine Enterprises Ghost Rideris a stand out example of the artist's work, combining western, supernatural and herioic themes.
Patsy Walker & other humor characters presided over a changing of the guard after WW2, as All Winners Comics transformed into All Teen Comics and debuted Mitzi Martin.
The most succesful title from obscure publisher Stanhall Publications, G.I. Jane was the creation of animators Hal Seeger and Bill Williams.
Marvel launched situation comedy Lana Comics in the same month it debuted series featuring Blonde Phantom, Namora, and Venus.
My Friend Irma was the franchise that brought Martin & Lewis to film, but it was also some of the best Dan DeCarlo work outside of Archie.
In 1945, paperback publisher Avon Publications entered the comics with Molly O'Day, including work by George Tuska, Paul Gattuso, and Jack Cole.
Patsy Walker has one of the most fascinating story arcs in Marvel comics history, from teen humor character to Marvel Universe superhero.
St. John's Abbott and Costello Comics featured artwork by the legendary Lily Renée and well-written stories by John Graham.
Wild Bill Hickok became Avon Publications' longest-lived series, but the title character took a back seat to Calamity Jane on his series debut
In 1946, the New York Times reported on tons of missing Uranium ore in Brazil, a historical incident forgotten by everyone, except for The Shadow.
A decade before The Jetsons, Dan DeCarlo's Jetta was a science fiction comedy about normal life in the far future we were promised.
Spicy History #1: William d'Alton Mann is credited by many with the creation of the blind item and blackmailed America's elite, but also left his son with a pulp publishing legacy.