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Big Shot Comics (1940) comic books 1959 or before

  • Issue #1
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 1
    • Full length spine split. Cover and centerfold detached and glued to interior pages.
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.
      Other items consigned by humble cow

    Ogden Whitney cover. Gardner Fox stories. First appearances of Skyman, The Face, and The Cloak (as Spy-Master). Contains original features, comic strip reprints, and a text story. In order of appearance: "Skyman" art by Ogden Whitney, reprinted in Skyman (1941) #1 and Men of Mystery Comics (1996- AC Comics) #23; "Joe Palooka" by Ham Fisher; "The Face" art by Mart Bailey, reprinted in Skyman (1941) #1 and What Is...The Face (1986) #1; "Good Deed Dotty" and "Dixie Dugan" by J. P. McEvoy and J. H. Striebel; "Tom Kerry, District Attorney" art by Ken Ernst; "Marvelo, Monarch of Magicians" art by Fred Guardineer; "The Bungle Family" by Harry J. Tuthill; "Offside" by Jo Metzer; "Charlie Chan" by Alfred Andriola; "Jibby Jones" by Vincent "Vin" Sullivan; "Rocky Ryan" art by Ogden Whitney; "Spy-Master" art by Mart Bailey; and "Mortimer the Monk" by Fred Schwab. "Heroes are Born" text story by Terry Keane. 68 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #2
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 2
    • 3" spine split from top of comic. Cover and centerfold detached. Oxidation.
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.
      Other items consigned by humble cow

    Ogden Whitney cover. Gardner Fox stories. Contains original features, comic strip reprints, and a text story. In order of appearance: "Skyman" art by Ogden Whitney; "Joe Palooka" by Ham Fisher; "The Face" art by Mart Bailey; "The Bungle Family" by Harry J. Tuthill; "Tom Kerry, District Attorney" art by Ken Ernst; "Marvelo, Monarch of Magicians" art by Fred Guardineer; "Good Deed Dotty" and "Dixie Dugan" by J. P. McEvoy and J. H. Striebel; "Rocky Ryan" art by Ogden Whitney; "Jibby Jones" by Vincent "Vin" Sullivan; "Charlie Chan" by Alfred Andriola; and "Spy-Master" art by Mart Bailey. "The Revolt that Failed" text story by Jack Anthony. 68 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #3
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 3

    Ogden Whitney cover. Gardner Fox stories. "Spy-Master" feature becomes "Spy-Chief". Contains original features, comic strip reprints, and a text story. In order of appearance: "Skyman" art by Ogden Whitney; "Joe Palooka" by Ham Fisher; "The Face" art by Mart Bailey; "The Bungle Family" by Harry J. Tuthill; "Tom Kerry, District Attorney" art by Ken Ernst; "Marvelo, Monarch of Magicians" art by Fred Guardineer; "Mike the Mascot" by Fred Schwab; "Good Deed Dotty" and "Dixie Dugan" by J. P. McEvoy and J. H. Striebel; "Rocky Ryan" art by Ogden Whitney; "Jibby Jones" by Vincent "Vin" Sullivan; "Mortimer the Monk" by Fred Schwab; "Charlie Chan" by Alfred Andriola; "Off-side!" by Jo Metzer; and "Spy-Chief" art by Mart Bailey. "The Skyman Encounters Kidnappers" text story. 68 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #6
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 6
    • Interior is complete. Full length spine split, back cover missing. Oxidation.
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.
      Other items consigned by humble cow

    Cover by Ogden Whitney. Stories and art by Gardner Fox, Ogden Whitney, Ham Fisher, Fred Guardineer, H. J. Tuthill, Mart Bailey, George Papp, Alfred Andriola, Creig Flessel, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, and Fred Schwab. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Charlie Chan investigates the kidnapping of David Frome. Tom Kerry, District Attorney, seeks the secret behind the Blue Light Murders. Adventurer Rocky Ryan travels to the Valley of the Moon to find Queen Moora and stop her Hill Tribes from invading the Maharajah's kingdom. Skyman; Joe Palooka; Tom Kerry District Attorney; The Bungle Family; Spy-Chief; Amazing Faces; Charlie Chan; Jibby Jones; Rocky Ryan; Dixie Dugan; Mike the Mascot; Marvelo Monarch of Magicians; Mortimer the Monk; The Face. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #7
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 7

    Stories and art by Gardner Fox, Ogden Whitney, Ham Fisher, Fred Guardineer, H. J. Tuthill, Mart Bailey, George Papp, Creig Flessel, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, and Alfred Andriola. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Radio star Tony Trent dons the horror mask of The Face to investigate Zigzag Sondrow's fur robberies. Magician hero Marvelo battles witch doctor Malanga, whose magic is nearly as powerful as his own. Spy-Chief faces a mad scientist's Tornado Weapon. The Face was listed in Jon Morris's 2015 book The League of Regrettable Superheroes. Skyman; Joe Palooka; Tom Kerry District Attorney; The Bungle Family; Spy-Chief; Facts from the Files; Flossie; Charlie Chan; Jibby Jones; Rocky Ryan; Dixie Dugan; Mike the Mascot; Marvelo Monarch of Magicians; Mortimer the Monk; The Face. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #10
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 10
    • 4" cumulative spine split. Cover detached. Cover and interior oxidation. Tape on interior cover.
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.
      Other items consigned by humble cow

    Stories and art by Gardner Fox, Ogden Whitney, Ham Fisher, Fred Guardineer, H. J. Tuthill, Mart Bailey, Jo Metzger, A. W. Nugent, Vin Sullivan, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, and Alfred Andriola. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Joe Palooka's gal Ann Howe is worried about him on the eve of his biggest fight yet. Marvelo the Magician encounters the Troglodytes of Matto Grosso while deep-sea fishing. Radio star Tony Trent dons the horror-mask of The Face to investigate the Dude Ranch Kidnapping. Plus a Hollywood page featuring Dick Powell, Joan Blondell and Mickey Rooney. Skyman; Joe Palooka; Tom Kerry District Attorney; The Bungle Family; Spy-Chief; Film Facts; Off-Side; Oddities from Here 'n' There; Potts the Butler; Charlie Chan; Rocky Ryan; Dixie Dugan; Mike the Mascot; Marvelo; Mortimer the Monk; The Face. 68 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #17
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 17

    Cover by Mart Bailey. Stories and art by Boody Rogers, Ogden Whitney, Ham Fisher, Mart Bailey, Albert Chartier, Ray McGill, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, and Alfred Andriola. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. The cosmic rays that provide Sparky Watts' superpowers run out and he shrinks to microscopic size, right in the middle of a boxing match. Radio star Tony Trent dons the horror-mask of The Face to track The Millionaire Killer. Captain Devildog of the U.S. Marines ("devil dog" being an archaic term for a Marine) faces a fight for Alaska. Skyman; Sparky Watts; Captain Devildog; Joe Palooka; Spy-Chief; Charlie Chan; Rocky Ryan; Dixie Dugan; Mortimer the Monk; Kid Stuff; Jibby Jones' Swimming Pool; Marvelo; The Face; Oliver Drab. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #18
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 18
    • Slight interior edge tears.

    Stories and art by Boody Rogers, Ogden Whitney, Ham Fisher, Ray McGill, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, and Alfred Andriola. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Doc Static's cure for Sparky's sudden microscopic shrinking has the side-effect of giving Slap Happy super-powered feet. Marvelo the Magician and his assistant Zee join Commodore Crank's yacht for a Caribbean cruise, but someone doesn't want them on board. Charlie Chan tries to prove Eric innocent of being the deadly Rockingham Bandit before the real Bandit gets to him. Skyman; Sparky Watts; Captain Devildog; Joe Palooka; Spy-Chief; Charlie Chan; Rocky Ryan; Dixie Dugan; Marvelo; The Face; Oliver Drab. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #21
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 21

    Cover by Ogden Whitney. Stories and art by Boody Rogers, Charles Nicholas, Ham Fisher, Ray McGill, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, and Alfred Andriola. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Skyman battles the Black Lama to save the lives of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Spy Chief, aka The Cloak, tells a story of the original Cloak, a Revolutionary War hero in the service of George Washington. Marvelo the Magician, in his last appearance, returns to his native Brahama, leaving his friend Raja the Arabian Knight to fight for justice in his stead. Skyman; Sparky Watts; Captain Devildog; Joe Palooka; Spy-Chief; Charlie Chan; Rocky Ryan; Dixie Dugan; Jibby Jones; Raja the Arabian Knight; The Face; Oliver Drab. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #29
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 29
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.

    Cover by Ogden Whitney. Stories and art by Boody Rogers, Gardner Fox, Ham Fisher, Frank Tinsley, Frank Beck, Alfred Andriola, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, and Ogden Whitney. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Sparky Watts, the world's strongest man, goes to take his draft physical. Rocky Ryan faces a strange new magnetic menace from Axis Japan. Charlie Chan investigates after the mysterious Hawk kidnaps young Sheila, but it's all a trap for Chan. Mortimer the Monk; Skyman; Sparky Watts; Captain Yank; Joe Palooka; Saboteurs' Finale; Bo; Rocky Ryan; Dixie Dugan; Mortimer the Monk; The Face. 56 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #35
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 35
    • 1.5" Cumulative spine split. Cover and centerfold detached.
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.
      Other items consigned by humble cow

    Stories and art by Boody Rogers, Ham Fisher, Kermit Jadiker and Charles Zerner (credited as Paine), Elmer Wexler, Art Huhta, Frank Beck, Frank Tinsley, Mart Bailey, Alfred Andriola, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, and Ogden Whitney. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Sparky Watts' pal Yoo Hoo invents a "dark" bulb that creates darkness when it's turned on. Joe Palooka struggles to survive in the Everglades after a plane crash. In the final chapter of the Hawk saga, Charlie Chan and Laddie are captured by the ruthless villain known as the Hawk, but Laddie has hidden his father's confession that identifies the Hawk. Vic Jordan; Skyman; Sparky Watts; Somewhere in Africa; Charlie Chan; Captain Yank; Joe Palooka; Bo; Dinky Dinkerton; Dixie Dugan; The Face. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #37
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 37
    • Cover, centerfold, and one stub page detached. 4" cumulative spine split, tape.
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.

    Stories and art by Boody Rogers, Ham Fisher, Kermit Jadiker and Charles Zerner (credited as Paine), Elmer Wexler, Art Huhta, Frank Tinsley, Alfred Andriola, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, Frank Beck and Mart Bailey. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Sparky Watts meets Corporal Treetop, another wacky Boody Rogers character, who is so tall, his head never appears in panel. Treetop is strong enough to pick up Sparky, but Sparky is strong enough to pick up Treetop while he's still holding up Sparky. Unemployed detective Dinky Dinkerton seeks a crime to solve, in a strip with wacky art (by Art Huhta) along the lines of Toonerville Trolley and Basil Wolverton. Vic Jordan and Adrienne work with the French Resistance to help British airmen escape Nazi-held Europe. Vic Jordan; All in a Lifetime; Sparky Watts; Trouble for Tojo; Charlie Chan; Captain Yank; Joe Palooka; Bo; Dinky Dinkerton; Dixie Dugan; The Face; Skyman; V for Valor. 56 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #43
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 43
    • Paper: Off white to white
    • Label #3775755004
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout.

    Cover by Tom DeAngelo. Stories and art by Ham Fisher, Gardner Fox, Ogden Whitney, Kermit Jadiker and Charles Zerner (credited as Paine), Elmer Wexler, Frank Tinsley, Alfred Andriola, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, Frank Beck and Mart Bailey. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. General Powers and Senator Smutherline use Sparky Watts as bait to find and capture a Nazi spy ring. Vic Jordan is correct that Lt. Hawks is actually Nazi spy Major Koenig, but the knowledge almost comes too late. The day before the big pet show, Bo the dog chases cats all night long, leaving him in less-than-stellar form for the show. Vic Jordan; Sparky Watts; Charlie Chan; Captain Yank; Joe Palooka; Bo; Dixie Dugan; The Face; All in a Lifetime; The Coastal Plan. 60 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #52
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 52
    • Sticker on cover. Tape on a few interior pages and cover.
    • .5" Spine split from bottom. Corner margin piece torn out.
    • Interior is complete. 1.5" Cumulative spine split. Cover and first three wraps coming loose at the staple. Cover oxidation. Water damage.
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.
    • Spine roll, cover coming loose at single center staple, water damage, slight mold.
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.

    Stories and art by Ray Krank, Tom DeAngelo, Ogden Whitney, Ham Fisher, Kermit Jadiker and Charles Zerner (credited as Paine), Elmer Wexler, Frank Tinsley, Alfred Andriola, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, Frank Beck and Mart Bailey. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Charlie Chan returns to San Francisco to close the trap on the remaining members of the spy ring. Sparky and company try to help war orphans, and a young Joe Palooka contemplates equality and democracy. While Dixie Dugan is dressed as a nurse for a joke, a doctor takes her along on an urgent call. The cover features a PSA to "Fight Infantile Paralysis," better known as polio. Vic Jordan; Sparky Watts; Charlie Chan; Captain Yank; Joe Palooka; Bo; Dixie Dugan; The Face; Skyman; All in a Lifetime; Happy New Year, Jim!. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #53
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 53
    • Cover detached at single center staple. Water spotting.

    Stories and art by Charles Stern, Tom DeAngelo, Ham Fisher, Frank Tinsley, Alfred Andriola, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, Frank Beck and Mart Bailey. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. In Tunisia, Captain Yank rescues a mysterious veiled woman, who demands to see the U.S. commander. Slap Happy wants to go ice skating to impress beautiful Lana Lucious, but his fantastically large feet require sleds for skates. Dixie Dugan learns that wealthy Ronnie Kinter has only been pretending to be sick to get away from his family. Sparky Watts; Charlie Chan; Captain Yank; Joe Palooka; Bo; Dixie Dugan; The Face; Skyman; Brass Knuckles; Mister Two Heads. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #56
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 56
    • Edge tears to a few interior pages (not fully separated during manufacturing).

    Stories and art by Ham Fisher, Frank Tinsley, Alfred Andriola, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, Frank Beck and Mart Bailey. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Captain Yank and a squad of Italian freedom fighters must evade Nazi tanks to escape with captured fuel trucks, but Yank has a plan. Slap Happy sets out to capture radium thieves for the reward. Dixie Dugan and her friends stumble on a millionaire's deserted cabin in the woods. Sparky Watts; Charlie Chan; Captain Yank; Joe Palooka; Bo; Dixie Dugan; The Face; Skyman; Brass Knuckles; How To Cook a Monkey. 52 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #61
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 61

    Stories and art by Ed Moritz, Ham Fisher, Frank Tinsley, Alfred Andriola, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, Frank Beck and Mart Bailey. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Dixie and Rosamond try to jump-start a middle-aged romance between Mr. Shipley and Rosie's aunt. Sparky Watts tries to help Doc Static capitalize on his "living radio" idea, but a random Frank Sinatra broadcast gets Sparky mobbed with infatuated women who think he sings like Frankie. Skyman seeks the thugs who've purloined a jade necklace from the J. Wadsworth Long art collection. Sparky Watts; Charlie Chan; Captain Yank; Joe Palooka; Bo; Dixie Dugan; The Face; Skyman; Brass Knuckles; Double Date With Deep-Sea. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #72
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 72
    • Centerfold detached.

    Stories and art by Ogden Whitney, Tom DeAngelo, Don Dean, Ham Fisher, Alfred Andriola, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, Frank Beck and Mart Bailey. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. Joe Palooka convinces his trainer Knobby to give another fighter some good advice, even though Knobby's already bet against him. This was the last appearance of Joe Palooka in Big Shot; he next appeared in Joe Palooka (1945 Harvey) #1. Doc Static's new invention puts Sparky Watts into suspended animation, and he is carried off by hungry vultures. After crash-landing his ship on the moon, Skyman encounters a moon-girl and escaped Nazi war criminals, including Hitler himself! Sparky Watts; Charlie Chan; Cranberry Boggs; Joe Palooka; Bo; Dixie Dugan; Tony Trent; Skyman; Brass Knuckles; Good Old Bumpy: Help Wanted. 52 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #93
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 93

    Stories and art by Boody Rogers, Ogden Whitney, Lank Leonard, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, Marion Bailey, and Mart Bailey. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. A photo in the newspaper gives everybody the wrong idea about what Dixie and Bradley were up to in the old vaudeville theater. Doc Static loses his glasses and accidentally shrinks everybody but Sparky Watts with his anti-cosmic ray machine, in another wacky Boody Rogers story. Fawn and Skyman are finally reunited on the Venusian ship, but their troubles aren't over yet. Sparky Watts; Mickey Finn; Dixie Dugan; Tony Trent; Skyman; Brass Knuckles; All's Well. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #97
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 97

    Stories and art by Boody Rogers, Ogden Whitney, Lank Leonard, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, Marion Bailey, and Mart Bailey. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. The Dugans back an off-Broadway show featuring old vaudeville stars, but does it have the potential to be a hit? Sparky Watts is the only survivor of a worldwide alien attack, and to make matters worse, he's lost his superpowers. Through a misunderstanding, an inept correspondence-course detective thinks that Skyman stole Fawn's purse, and sets out to get it back. Sparky Watts; Mickey Finn; Dixie Dugan; Tony Trent; Skyman; Brass Knuckles; Bumpy: One Exciting Night. 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #101
    Big Shot Comics (1940) 101

    Cover by Mart Bailey. Stories and art by Boody Rogers, Ogden Whitney, Lank Leonard, J. P. McEvoy, John Striebel, Marion Bailey, Frank Beck and Mart Bailey. Big Shot featured reprints of McNaught Syndicate humor and adventure strips, alongside original characters like Skyman and The Face. In his final Golden Age appearance, Skyman's ship is hijacked over Scotland. Sparky Watts' wedding to Dotty is marred by the arrival of her jealous sister and a terrible accident. Tony and Babs Trent must help a fugitive princess fleeing with a fortune in jewels. Bo; Sparky Watts; Mickey Finn; Dixie Dugan; Tony Trent; Skyman; Brass Knuckles; Bumpy: Everybody Gets Into the Act. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.