| Issue | #1 |
| Published | October 1939 [1st Print; November 1939 - 2nd Print] |
| Frequency | monthly |
| Cover Price | 0.10 USD |
| Pages | 68 |
| Editing | Martin Goodman |
| Notes | Indicia (transcription courtesy of Frank Motler): Vol.1, No.1, MARVEL COMICS, Oct., 1939 Published monthly by Timely Publications, publication office, 81 Spring St., Newark, N. J. Executive office, 330 W. 42nd St., New York, N. Y. Art and editorial by Funnies Incorporated, 45 W. 45th St., New York, N. Y. Application for entry as Second Class Matter pending at the Post Office at Newark, N. J. Yearly subscription in U. S. and Canada, $1.50; elsewhere $2.00. No actual person is named or delineated in this magazine. Copyright, 1939 by Timely Publications. Printed in U.S.A. Vol.1, No. 1, MARVEL COMICS, Nov., 1939 [The final repetition of the volume/issue/title number with the Nov. date is present only on the 2nd printing. Some but not all issues of the second printing reportedly had the October information at least partially blacked out.] According to Rip at the collector-society.com boards, the print runs were 80,000 on the October edition and 800,000 on the November edition. |
| Characters | The Human Torch |
| Genre | superhero |
| Pencils | Frank R. Paul [as F. Paul] (signed) |
| Inks | Frank R. Paul [as F. Paul] (signed) |
| Letters | ?; most typeset |
| Reprinted | In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1; in Marvel Milestones: Dr. Strange, Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner & Hulk (Marvel, 2005 series) #[nn]; in Complete Jack Kirby (Pure Imagination, 1997 series) #1; in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn] [reprinted in miniature]; in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] [cover] |
| Genre | humor; gags |
| Script | Fred Schwab |
| Pencils | Fred Schwab |
| Inks | Fred Schwab |
| Letters | Fred Schwab |
| Notes | Inside front cover. Five single panel gag cartoons. Sequence information from Joe Lovece (August 11, 2006). |
| Reprinted | in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] |
| Characters | The Human Torch (Introduction and Origin; an android); Prof. Phineas T. Horton (Introduction); Villains: Tony Sardo (Introduction, Death), Red (Introduction, Death). |
| Synopsis | After the Scientist's Guild convinces inventor Horton to dispose of his new creation, a "human torch", a clever criminal figures out a way to use this creation for his own evil purposes. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Carl Burgos (signed) |
| Pencils | Carl Burgos (signed) |
| Inks | Carl Burgos (signed) |
| Letters | Carl Burgos |
| Notes | The Human Torch wears blue uniform in this story. Synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-2-08. |
| Reprinted | In Fantasy Masterpieces (Marvel, 1966 series) #9; in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1; in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn]; in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] |
| Characters | The Angel [Tom Hallaway] (Introduction); Villains: The Six Big Men (Introduction, Death); Gus Ronson, Mike Malone, John Dillon, Trigger Bolo, Steve Enkel, Dutch Hanson), the Big Boss (Dr. Lang; Introduction), Lil (Introduction). |
| Synopsis | The Angel is called in to handle a group known as the "Six Big Men" and their mysterious leader, who have taken over an entire city. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Ray Gill? |
| Pencils | Paul Gustavson (signed) |
| Inks | Paul Gustavson (signed) |
| Notes | Writer credit revised from Paul Gustavson to Ray Gill?. Gustavson was an artist ONLY. Although the Who's Who lists no writer for 1939, Ray Gill wrote the series in 1940 and this story may have been by him. Notes, some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-2-08. |
| Reprinted | In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1; in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn]; in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] |
| Characters | The Sub-Mariner [Prince Namor] (Introduction; Origin); Anderson; Nelson [Death]; Carley [Death]; Leonard McKenzie (flashback; Introduction); Princess Fen (flashback; Introduction); Emperor Tha-Korr (Introduction); Dorma (Introduction). |
| Synopsis | Prince Namor, having learned of what the race of white men once did to his undersea kingdom, vows, and is encouraged, to make war on the surface dwellers. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Bill Everett (signed) |
| Pencils | Bill Everett (signed) |
| Inks | Bill Everett (signed) |
| Letters | Bill Everett |
| Notes | Synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-2-08. |
| Reprinted | from Motion Picture Funnies Weekly (First Funnies, Inc., 1939 series) #1 [pp. 1-8]; In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1; in Marvel Milestones: Dr. Strange, Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner & Hulk (Marvel, 2005 series) #[nn] [pgs. 1-8 only]; in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn]; in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] |
| Characters | The Masked Raider (Jim Gardley, Introduction & Origin); Villain: Cal Brunder (Introduction). |
| Synopsis | When Cal Brunder, who has been forcing small ranchers in Cactusville to sell out to him at his own price, sends his men to the ranch of Jim Gardley, and he won't sell, he has a phony charge of rustling leveled against him. |
| Genre | western |
| Pencils | Al Anders (signed) |
| Inks | Al Anders (signed) |
| Notes | Writer revision from Al Anders to ? Anders was an artist only, and the Who's Who lists no writer for this strip. Notes and synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-2-08. |
| Reprinted | In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1; in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn]; in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] |
| Characters | Ken Masters; Professor John Roberts; Tim Roberts; Villians: Crafton [Death], Mike [Death], Slug [Death]. |
| Synopsis | Ken and Tim are worried about Professor Roberts, who went into the Amazon jungle three mnths earlier, trying to locate a certain Indian tribe that had in its possession a diamond with hypnotic powers. |
| Genre | jungle |
| Pencils | Art Pinajian [as Tomm Dixon] (signed) |
| Inks | Art Pinajian [as Tomm Dixon] (signed) |
| Notes | Characters and synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-2-08. Art ID by Dr. Michael J. Vassallo of the Timely-Atlas list. Note that the 3rd letter in the signature's first name is a dense smudge- the Masterwork interprets it as an "h" (Tohm) while Dr. Vassallo believes it is an "m" (Tomm). |
| Reprinted | In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1; in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn]; in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] |
| Characters | Bill Williams; Fred Turner; C. G. Clark; Ruth Clerk; Ann |
| Synopsis | Bill has invented a new gas feeder for his race car and is testing it out....at the risk of his own life! |
| Genre | sports |
| Script | Ray Gill [as Raymond Gill] |
| Pencils | Sam Gilman (signed) (illustration) |
| Inks | Sam Gilman (signed) (illustration) |
| Letters | typeset |
| Notes | Artist, characters and synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-2-08. |
| Reprinted | In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1; in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn]; in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] |
| Characters | Ka-Zar I (David Rand, Introduction, Origin); John and Constance Rand (Introduction, both D; Ka-Zar's parents); Zar (a lion, Introduction); Chaka [a gorilla, Introduction]; Trajah [an elephant, Introduction]; N'Jaga [a leopard, Introduction}; Villain: Paul De Kraft (Introduction). |
| Synopsis | A plane crashes into the jungle in the Belgian Congo, and a young boy named David, watches his mother die, and later his father at the hands of Paul De Kraft. The youngster trained in survival tactics by his father, is later re-named Ka-Zar, brother of the mighty Zar, a lion whose life he once saved. |
| Genre | jungle |
| Pencils | Ben Thompson (signed) |
| Inks | Ben Thompson (signed) |
| Notes | Adapted from Bob Byrd's "King of Fang and Claw" (KA-ZAR (pulp magazine) #1). Writer credit revised from Ben Thompson to ?. Thompson was an artist only and the Who's Who does not list a writer for the strip. Last note, some characters & synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-2-08. |
| Reprinted | In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1; in Marvel Comics #1 (Marvel, 1990 series) #[nn]; in Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition (Marvel, 2009 series) #[nn] |