1938 in comics

1938

1937 in comics

1939 in comics

Notable events of 1938 in comics. See also List of years in comics.

Events and publications

This literature-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

European publications

• Italian noir hero Dick Fulmine debuts
• April 21: first issue of Le Journal de Spirou, featuring debuts of the series Spirou by Rob-Vel and Les Aventures de Tif by Fernand Dineur.^[1]
• July 30: first issue of the British comic The Beano, featuring debuts of Lord Snooty, Wee Peem, Tin-Can Tommy, Hairy Dan, Ping the Elastic Man, Helpful Henry and Big Eggo.
• 17 December: The first appearance of Pansy Potter one of the longest running comic strips in The Beano.^[2]

U.S. publications

January

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #10 - David McKay Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #11 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #42 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #4 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #28 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #23 - National Periodical Publications

February

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #11 - David McKay Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #12 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #43 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #5 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #29 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #24 - National Periodical Publications

March

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #12 - David McKay Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #13 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #44 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #6 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #30 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #25 - National Periodical Publications

April

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #13 - David McKay Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #14 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #45 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #7 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

May

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #14 - David McKay Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #15 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #46 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #8 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #26 - National Periodical Publications

June

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #15 - David McKay Publications
• Action Comics (1938 series) #1 - DC Comics: first appearance of Superman^[3]
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #16 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #47 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #9 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• Jumbo Comics #1 — Fiction House
• New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #27 - National Periodical Publications

July

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #16 - David McKay Publications
• Action Comics (1938 series) #2 - DC Comics
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #17 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #48 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #10 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #28 - National Periodical Publications

August

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #17 - David McKay Publications
• Action Comics (1938 series) #3 - DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #1 - Centaur Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #18 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #49 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #11 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #29 - National Periodical Publications

September

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #18 - David McKay Publications
• Action Comics (1938 series) #4 - DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938) #2 - Centaur Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #19 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #50 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #12 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #30 - National Periodical Publications

October

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #19 - David McKay Publications
• Action Comics (1938 series) #5 - DC Comics
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #20 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #51 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #13 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #31 - National Periodical Publications

November

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #20 - David McKay Publications
• Action Comics (1938 series) #6 - DC Comics
• Adventure Comics (previously New Adventure Comics) (1937 series) #32 - DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #3 - Centaur Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #21 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #52 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #14 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

December

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #21 - David McKay Publications
• Action Comics (1938 series) #7 - DC Comics
• Adventure Comics (1938 series) #33 - DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #"4" - Centaur Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #22 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies (1934 series) #53 - Eastern Color Printing
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #15 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

Specials

• New Book of Comics (1937 series) #2 - National Periodical Publications

First issues by title

• Action Comics cover dated June, published by DC Comics.^[3]
• Comics on Parade cover dated April, published by United Features Syndicate.
• Jumbo Comics Cover dated June, published by Fiction House.
• Amazing Mystery Funnies cover dated August, published by Centaur Publications.
• The Beano cover dated July, published by DC Thomson.

Renamed titles

• New Adventure Comics renamed Adventure Comics as of the November cover date.

Initial appearances by character name

• Lois Lane in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC Comics.
• Superman in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC Comics.^[3]
• Zatara in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Fred Guardineer, published by DC Comics
• Jimmy Olsen in Action Comics #6 (November), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, publisher by DC Comics

References

1. BDparadisio. "Le Journal Spirou a 60 ans" (in French).
2. The History of the Beano. Dundee, Scotland: D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. 2008. p. 304. ISBN 978-1-902407-73-9.
3. Wallace, Daniel; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1930s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.