Pep Comics Archives

Pep Comics #1 (MLJ, 1940) introducing the Shield.
The Pep Comics series is remembered by history mostly for introducing Archie Andrews in issue #22, but first, Pep Comics #1 debuted this iconic figure who would be the first among the likes of Captain America and countless others to follow Among other introductions in this issue is the Comet, who later in this series[...]
Pep Comics #16 (MLJ, 1941) featuring Madam Satan.
Madam Satan is something of an oddity from MLJ's Golden Age.  Seductive and macabre in a manner that largely seems coded for mature readers, the character first appeared in the background of the cover of Pep Comics #15, but it was in Pep Comics #16 from 1941 where her story begain, with the MLJ publication[...]
Pep Comics #12 featuring the debut of Fireball (MLJ, 1941)
The character Fireball, who debuted in Pep Comics #12, was MLJ's answer to Marvel's Human Torch The company that became Marvel, Timely Publications, had debuted the Human Torch in its first comic book, Marvel Comics #1, initially cover-dated October 1939 The Human Torch character continued to be cover-featured often on Marvel Mystery Comics and got[...]
Pep Comics #17 (MLJ, 1941) featuring the Hangman.
Debuting in Pep Comics #17, The Hangman's story begins with a tragedy that fuels his mission for vengeance Robert Dickering, the brother of John Dickering — a superhero known as The Comet — witnesses his sibling's death and pledges to avenge the loss In doing so, he adopts his eerie moniker and spectral garb, adopting[...]
Pep Comics #42, Featuring Hitler, Taking Bids At Heritage Auctions
Pep Comics is known for a lot of things Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica They have some pretty iconic issues, covers and characters that have stood the test of time and become some of the most popular characters in the history of comics Issue #42 however features a different real life person, one who is not[...]
Your Patriotic Superhero vs Hooded Cultists in Pep Comics #7 From 1940
Pep Comics was a comic book anthology published by MLJ Comics – later known as Archie Comics – and ran from 1939 to 1987 While it is best known as the comic book series that introduced Archie Andrews, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and the town of Riverdale to America, that only came along a couple of[...]
Archie Caught Between Betty & Veronica At Heritage Auctions
Like most kids grew up buying the digest books off the racks, and chose a side in the eternal Betty or Veronica debate (Betty all day), but as far as having any sense of knowledge about Archie Comics and the various publications over the years, I have next to no experience — so let's dive[...]
Pep Comics featuring the Comet.
The character ran in Pep Comics #1-17 and had a noteworthy death in that last issue, but his look and powers are going to seem similar to most modern comics fans It's nearly impossible to imagine that MLJ's Comet didn't inspire the X-Men's Cyclops The Comet also has a disintegrating ray that shoots from his[...]
Pep Comics #41 featuring Archie (MLJ, 1943)
Pep Comics #41 is a noteworthy moment for Archie because it marks the real beginning of his takeover of the Pep Comics title's covers This move cemented the idea that Archie and the Riverdale gang had become a truly big deal Not only had he gotten his own series, Archie Comics, the previous winter, but[...]
Looking For Early Archie? This Jackpot Comics #4 Could be Yours!
But then in 1941, within the pages of Pep Comics #22, a plucky redhead going by the nickname 'Chic' instead of his real name (Archie) would steal the show, and change history forever While this isn't the holy grail of Archie collectors, this is still a highly sought after book — Jackpot Comics #4, Archie's[...]
The Diving Into The Comic Vault logo. Photo: Baltimore Lauren.
Hello, and welcome back to Diving Into the Comic Vault! Today we'll be looking at Pep Comics #8 This cover prominently features the Shield escaping an Egyptian sarcophagus as he goes to save a woman from men dressed in ancient Egyptian garb Pep Comics #8 came out in 1940 when America was still entranced by[...]
The Diving Into The Comic Vault logo. Photo: Baltimore Lauren.
We're still exploring the early issues of Pep Comics, with today's focus on Pep Comics #6. This cover is yet another impressive WWII themed cover of Pep Comics by Irv Novick, showcasing The Shield fighting the Axis Powers This issue has Shield — in his civilian disguise — watching senators argue within the Senate Chamber located[...]
The Diving Into The Comic Vault logo. Photo: Baltimore Lauren.
Welcome back to another episode of Diving Into the Comics Vault! We're now five issues into MLJ's flagship title, Pep Comics. This issue of Pep Comics features a rather striking cover The Shield is underwater, fighting enemy subs Artist Irv Novick did an exceptional job with making Shield look like he really was fighting underwater[...]
pep4 (1)
Pep Comics #4 has one of my favorite covers Featuring The Shield, we see our hero fighting bad guys in tanks in what we can safely assume is Washington D.C This is a bright, eye-catching cover, and should be considered a Golden Age classic. As with Pep Comics in the past, this issue opens with The[...]
pep3 (1)
Check out our first post here! Today we'll be focusing on Pep Comics #3, with its signature hero — The Shield. In this issue, we open with The Shield in another daring adventure American ships are being attacked by enemy aircraft, who are dropping mines in the water around them The Shield is sent out to[...]
pepcomics2
Pep Comics #2 is an eye catching comic Featuring The Shield going against some bad guys, kids can see immediately that Shield is bulletproof, and ready for a fight. The comic opens with exactly that — a fight The Shield is going after whomever has made 5 American oil tankers vanish near Puerto Rico The FBI[...]
Pep_Comics_1
One of their most popular — and long time standing — anthologies was Pep Comics. Pep Comics #1 has a cover date of January 1940, but came out in November of 1939 Pep Comics #1 introduces The Shield, G-Man Extraordinary The introduction of The Shield is an easy read The FBI needs Shield to stop a[...]
Did Somebody Say Madam Satan? Pep Comics #16 Heats Up At Auction
 Just a few hours before we informed you that Archie Comics had trademarked Madam Satan And Hangman, someone grabbed this Pep Comics #16 CGC 8.5 copy of Madam Satan's first appearance for $11,200.00 at Comic Connect's Jon Berk Collection auction Session 4 Like many of the pre-Archie Pep Comics (the character first appeared in Pep Comics[...]
Will You Be The New Owner Of This Bob Montana Pep Comics Cover?
With under two hours to go on ComicConnect, this stunning Pep Comics #30 original art cover by Archie legend Bob Montana is already at a little under $24K, which is rather impressive for this cover Bob Montana art always fetches a good amount of money I myself own a handful of his daily Archie newspaper[...]
Has Riverdale Had An Impact On The Archie Comic Market?
Archie's Rival Reggie #10 in good shape went for $29.95. I can't fairly tell you what Pep Comics #22, Archie's first appearance is going for after Riverdale, since according to GPA the last one sold was summer of 2016. #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see[...]