Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: golden age, MLJ

First Appearance of Rang-A-Tang in Blue Ribbon Comics #1, at Auction

Blue Ribbon Comics is the debut comic book title from MLJ Magazines, and Rang-A-Tang the Wonder Dog was its first star.

Published Mon, 24 Apr 2023 07:47:10 -0500

Last updated Mon, 16 Sep 2024 13:40:33 -0500

Article Summary

Blue Ribbon Comics #1 marks the first appearance of Rang-A-Tang, predating other famous dog heroes from the Golden Age.
Created by Norman Danberg and Will Harr, Rang-A-Tang was a wonder dog helping a police detective fight crime.
Blue Ribbon Comics was MLJ Magazines' first title, later leading to the creation of the Archie Comics empire.
Inspired by Rin Tin Tin, Rang-A-Tang became a Hollywood sensation and featured in several subsequent issues.

Blue Ribbon Comics was the debut comic book title from MLJ Magazines, the publisher which would soon become known as Archie Comics. But MLJ's earliest star was a wonder dog named Rang-A-Tang. Created by Norman Danberg and Will Harr, Rang-A-Tang was a German Shepherd who ran away from a small-time carnival after being abused by his trainer. He soon comes to the aid of a police detective being attacked by criminals and helps the detective fight crime afterward. Rang-A-Tang was one of the first dog stars in Golden Age comic books, predating the likes of Green Lantern's Streak and Superboy's Krypto. An important dog star key and the beginning of an important comics publishing empire, there is a CGC FN+ 6.5 copy of Blue Ribbon Comics #1 (MLJ, 1939) up for auction in the 2024 September 26 – 27 Heroes of the Golden Age Comics Showcase Auction #40265 at Heritage Auctions.

Blue Ribbon Comics #1 (MLJ, 1939) featuring Rang-A-Tang.

Blue Ribbon started out as a brand name used by Louis Silberkleit and Maurice Coyne in pulps, as the imprint Blue Ribbon Magazines and the titles Blue Ribbon Western and Blue Ribbon Sports. When Silberkleit and Coyne joined John L. Goldwater to form MLJ Magazines in 1939, Blue Ribbon Comics became their first comic book title. Titles such as Top-Notch Comics and Pep Comics soon followed, leading to the Archie Comics empire. Variety announced the launch of MLJ with, "Blue Ribbon, headed by Louis Silberkleit, which under various brand names issues perhaps the biggest strings of pulps in the country, has organized a new affiliate, MLJ Magazines, for its comic strip mag project. Silberkleit and his associates plan to start off with a half dozen of the comic strip pubs under the name of Blue Ribbon Comics. At least one will feature a dog, 'Rang-A-Tang,' based on the exploits of the late Rin-Tin-Tin."

But Rang-A-Tang the Wonder Dog was one of the stars of the show in that first comic book title. The dog character was clearly inspired by the legendary film dog star Rin Tin Tin, and Rang-A-Tang went Hollywood himself by issue #4, which also introduced the Rang-A-Tang club to promote the character. Blue Ribbon Comics #6 subsequently introduces Richy the Amazing Boy, who became a regular part of the Rang-A-Tang saga's cast.

The very first comic book series from the publisher who would become Archie, there is a there is a CGC FN+ 6.5 copy of Blue Ribbon Comics #1 (MLJ, 1939) up for auction in the 2024 September 26 – 27 Heroes of the Golden Age Comics Showcase Auction #40265 at Heritage Auctions. If you've never bid at Heritage Auctions before, you can get further information, you can check out their FAQ on the bidding process and related matters.