Best remembered for its licensed comics, Dell also ventured into superheroes during the Golden Age, beginning with Phantasmo in The Funnies.
Vintage Paper Archives
Before the Guardian and the Newsboy Legion there was Captain Freedom and the newsboy gang called the Young Defenders in Speed Comics.
It was hard to be unique in the WWII patriotic hero market, but American Eagle's origin gave him "the strength and bouyances of an eagle."
Joe Simon's brief tenure at Fox Feature Syndicate produced a number of memorable covers for the publisher, like Fantastic Comics #8.
Shock Gibson debuted in Speed Comics #1 by going up against a would-be dictator with an army of zombies at his disposal.
The historic Pep Comics #1 introducing the Shield, America's first patriotic hero and launches a legendary comic book series.
Created by Frank Thomas under the guidance of editor Oskar Lebeck, the Owl was Dell Publishing's answer to Batman.
Jackpot Comics was an MLJ anthology series which featured some of the publisher's most popular characters in sometimes horror-themed tales.
The spirit of Prince James, heir to the throne of 18th century England, Mr. Justice was unleashed into the modern world in Blue Ribbon Comics
Artist/writer Charles Quinlan transformed the character Cat-Man with a series launch that is highly regarded by Golden Age collectors today.
Blue Ribbon Comics is the debut comic book title from MLJ Magazines, and Rang-A-Tang the Wonder Dog was its first star.
A funny thing happened to the Black Hood on his way out of the Golden Age. He was unmasked, and decided to keep fighting crime anyway.
It's clear from the cover of Big 3 #1 that this title combining Fox Feature's top heroes was inspired by DC Comics' New York Worlds Fair 1940.
The highest graded copy of the debut of the World's Greatest Comic Magazine, Fantastic Four #1 CGC 9.6, has just set a record at auction.
Whiz Comics #155 is the beginning of the end of an important chapter in American comic book history, the entire Fawcett line would soon end.
The first appearance of Krypto has a unique connection to the mid-1950s era of history during which he made his debut in Adventure Comics 210
V-Comics was inspired by the details of the legendary WWII British propaganda campaign that launched V for Victory symbolism in 1941.
Silver Streak Comics #6 introduced a character who would have an important impact on Golden Age comics and beyond with Daredevil.
Hugo Gernsback's Superworld Comics #2 has a cover by the legendary Frank R. Paul and a story inspired by Gernsback's conflict with Bernarr Macfadden.
Under the editorship of Lloyd Jacquet, Centaur's Keen Detective Funnies introduced a wild range of characters like The Eye and Air Man.
The star of Sure-Fire Comics, Flash Lightning got his powers from an amulet given to him by an ancient Egyptian figure before Dr. Fate.
Headline Comics is a relatively late war-era series inspired by the likes of Simon & Kirby Boy Commandos, but quickly transformed into something else.
Considered the first post-Superman costumed superhero, The Arrow took a proto-Batman approach to fighting crime via fear and intimidation.
A superhero created by Bill Everett and his mom Grace, Amazing Man starred in a series that has become a favorite of Golden Age collectors.
One of Hillman's debut comic book titles, Rocket Comics featured Rocket Riley, a character influenced by Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon.
George Brenner's The Clock, the Golden Age's 1st masked hero, debuted in Funny Picture Stories #1 & Funny Pages V1#6 from Comics Magazine Co.
The historic Jumbo Comics series got one step closer to the iconic title it would become with format changes and a Lou Fine Sheena cover.
Miracle Comics featured Sky Wizard, the "world's greatest scientist" with a headquarters on a floating island in the sky.
The legendary team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby collaborated on comic book covers for the first time on 1940 issues of Champion Comics.
The short-lived Scoop Comics series is unusual even by Chesler standards, and Scoop Comics #3 is the rarest of the bunch by far.