comic book
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...
and
pulp-magazine
Pulp magazines (also referred to as "the pulps") were inexpensive fiction magazines that were published from 1896 to the late 1950s. The term "pulp" derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed. In contrast, magazine ...
publishing company headed by Aaron A. Wyn and his wife Rose Wyn. The Wyns had been publishing pulp fiction under the Periodical House and
A. A. Wyn's Magazine Publishers
Magazine Publishers was a pulp magazine publishing house established by Harold Hersey and later owned by A. A. Wyn in 1929. Under Wyn, it was known as "Ace Magazines", hence titles such as ''Ace Mystery'' and ''Ace Sports''. They also used the n ...
names since 1928, and published comics between 1940 and the end of 1956.
Its most successful and longest-running
superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...
Don Markstein's Toonopedia
Don Markstein's Toonopedia (subtitled A Vast Repository of Toonological Knowledge) is an online encyclopedia of print cartoons, comic strips and animation, initiated February 13, 2001. Donald D. Markstein, the sole writer and editor of Toonopedi ...
Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. who appeared in 28 issues of the title's 48-issue run. Magno is nearly unique among superheroes for having neither an origin for his powers or any apparent secret identity.
Horror comics
Horror comics are comic books, graphic novels, black-and-white comics magazines, and manga focusing on horror fiction. In the US market, horror comic books reached a peak in the late 1940s through the mid-1950s, when concern over content and the ...
included ''Baffling Mysteries'', ''Hand of Fate'' and ''Web of Mystery'', while their contribution to the
crime comics
Crime comics is a genre of American comic book, American comic books and format of crime fiction. The genre was originally popular in the late 1940s and early 1950s and is marked by a moralistic editorial tone and graphic depictions of violence a ...
was ''Crime Must Pay the Penalty'' (the title later shortened to ''Penalty'' for the final two issues). Ace's longest running series were the company's
romance comics
Romance comics is a comics genre depicting strong and close romantic love and its attendant complications such as jealousy, marriage, divorce, betrayal, and heartache. The term is generally associated with an American comic books genre published t ...
''Glamorous Romances'', ''Love At First Sight'', ''Love Experiences'' and ''Real Love'', which began in the late 1940s as the superhero books faded away, and continued until the company ceased publishing comic books in 1956. Other long running romance titles such as ''Complete Love Magazine'' and ''Ten Story Love'' began as pulp-magazine titles before switching to comics format in the early 1950s.
A number of Ace stories were used as examples of violent and gruesome imagery in the 1950s U.S Congressional inquiries into the influence of comic books on juvenile delinquency that led to the
Comics Code Authority
The Comics Code Authority (CCA) was formed in 1954 by the Comics Magazine Association of America as an alternative to government regulation. The CCA allowed the comic publishers to self-regulate the content of comic books in the United States. ...
, namely ''Challenge of the Unknown #6'', ''Crime Must Pay the Penalty #3'' and ''Web of Mystery #19''. ''Western Adventures Comics #3'' was used as an example in
Fredric Wertham
Fredric Wertham (; born Friedrich Ignatz Wertheimer, March 20, 1895 – November 18, 1981) was a German-American psychiatrist and author. Wertham had an early reputation as a progressive psychiatrist who treated poor black patients at his Lafargue ...
's ''
Seduction of the Innocent
''Seduction of the Innocent'' is a book by German-born American psychiatrist Fredric Wertham, published in 1954, that warned that comic books were a negative form of popular literature and a serious cause of juvenile delinquency. The book was tak ...
'', and in the United Kingdom ''Atomic War #4'', ''Beyond #18'' and ''World War III #2'' were cited as examples by Geoffrey Wagner's 1954 book on the same subject, ''Parade of Pleasure — A Study of Popular Iconography in the U.S.A''.
Although characters with the same names as Ace Comics characters have appeared elsewhere (most notably
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg; August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was an American comic book artist, writer and editor, widely regarded as one of the medium's major innovators and one of its most prolific and influential creators. He gr ...
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.
DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...
villains called the
Black Spider
Black Spider is the name of several fictional character, fictional DC Comics supervillains. The first two were both primarily enemies of Batman.
Fictional character biographies Eric Needham
The original Black Spider first appeared in ''Detective ...
), after the early 1950s all their characters remained unused until 2008, when
Lash Lightning
Lash Lightning is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in ''Sure-Fire Comics'' #1 (June 1940) from Ace Comics,Lightning Girl
Lightning is a naturally occurring electrostatic discharge during which two electric charge, electrically charged regions, both in the atmosphere or with one on the land, ground, temporarily neutralize themselves, causing the instantaneous ...
appeared in flashback in
Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite Entertainment is an American comic book publisher founded by Nick Barrucci in 2004 at Mount Laurel, New Jersey. It is best known as the owners of '' The Boys'' franchise across several IP medias. Dynamite primarily publishes adaptation ...
’s ''
Project Superpowers
''Project Superpowers'' is a comic book limited series published by Dynamite Entertainment beginning January 2008. It was co-plotted by Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, with scripts by Jim Krueger, covers by Alex Ross, and interior art by Doug Klaub ...
''. In the one-shot ''Project Superpowers: Chapter Two Prelude'', it was stated that the two of them will appear in this line as part of a team called The Super-Mysterymen (presumably named after the Ace title ''Super-Mystery Comics'').
Comics published
Imprints
Ace Magazine comic-book series were published through at least 17 affiliated entities:
*A. A. Wyn, Inc.
*Ace Books, Inc.
*Ace Magazines, Inc.
*Ace Periodicals, Inc.
*Ace Publications
*Ace Publications, Inc.
*Current Books, Inc.
*Humor Publications, Inc.
*Junior Books, Inc.
*Junior Magazines, Inc.
*L. B. Fischer Publishing Corp.
*Periodical House, Inc.
*Publishers Specialists, Inc.
*RAR Publishing Co., Inc.
*Readers' Research, Inc.
*Red Seal Publications, Inc.
*Unity Publishing Corp.
Titles
* ''All-Love / All Love Romances'' ( #May 26, 1949 - #32 May 1950) ''- under Ace Periodicals / Current Books imprint''
* ''All-Romances'' (#August 1, 1949 - #June 6, 1950) ''- under AA Wyn / Ace Periodicals imprint''
* ''Andy Comics '' (#June 20, 1948 - #August 21, 1948) ''- under Current Publications imprint''
* ''Atomic War!'' (#Nov 1, 1952 - #April 4, 1953)'' - under Ace Periodicals / Junior Books imprint''
* ''Baffling Mysteries'' (#November 5, 1951 - #October 26, 1955) ''- under Periodical House imprint''
* ''Banner Comics'' (#September 3, 1941 - #January 5, 1942)
* ''Beyond, The'' (#November 1, 1950 - #January 30, 1955)
* ''Captain Courageous Comics'' (#6 1942) ''- under Periodical House imprint''
* ''Challenge of the Unknown'' (#September 6, 1950)
* ''Complete Love Magazine'' (v26#2 May 1951 - v32#4 September 1956) ''- under Ace Periodicals / Periodical House imprint''
* ''Crime Must Pay the Penalty'' (#33 February 1948 (issue #1), #June 2, 1948 - #46 1955) ''- under Current Books imprint''
* ''Dotty and Her Boyfriends'' (#35 June 1948 - #40 May 1949) ''- under AA Wyn imprint''
* ''Ernie Comics'' (#September 22, 1948 - #March 25, 1949) ''- under Current Books imprint''
* ''
Four Favorites Four Favorites is a Golden Age American comics series that ran for 32 issues from September, 1941 through December, 1947. It was published by Ace Publications.
Upon cancellation the magazine continued as ''Crime Must Pay the Penalty'' for one i ...
'' (#September 1, 1941 - #32 December 1947)
* ''Four Teeners'' (#34 April 1948)
* ''Fun Time'' (#1 Spring 1953 - #4 Winter 1953/4) ''- under Ace Periodicals imprint''
* ''Glamorous Romances'' (#41 July 1949 - #90 October 1956) ''- under AA Wyn imprint''
* ''Hand of Fate'' (#December 8, 1951 - #December 25, 1954 - includes 2 issue #25's)
* ''Hap Hazard Comics'' (Summer 1944 - #February 24, 1949) ''- under Reader Research imprint''
* ''Heroes of the Wild Frontier'' ( 2 issues - #January 27, 1956 - #April 2, 1956) - ''under Ace Periodicals imprint''
* ''Indian Braves'' (#March 1, 1951 - #September 4, 1951) ''- under Ace Magazines imprint''
* ''Lightning Comics'' (#December 4, 1940 - #June 13, 1942)
* ''Love At First Sight'' (#October 1, 1949 - #43 November 1956) ''- Under RAR Publishing Co / Periodical House imprints''
* ''Love Experiences'' (#October 1, 1949 - #38 June 1956) ''- under AA Wyn / Periodical House imprint''
* ''Men Against Crime'' (#February 3, 1951 - #October 7, 1951) - under Ace Magazines imprint
* ''Monkeyshines Comics'' (#1 Summer 1944 - #July 27, 1949) ''- under Ace / Publishers Specialists / Current Books / Unity Publishing imprints''
* ''Mr Risk'' (#October 7, 1950, #December 2, 1950) ''- under Ace Magazines imprint''
* ''Our Flag Comics'' (#August 1, 1941 - #April 5, 1942)
* ''Penalty'' (#47 November 1955 - #48 January 1956)
* ''Real-Life Secrets'' (#September 1, 1949) ''- under Ace Periodicals imprint''
* ''Real Love'' (#April 25, 1949 - #76 November 1956) ''- under AA Wyn imprint''
* ''Real Secrets'' (#November 2, 1950 - #May 5, 1950) ''- under Ace Periodicals imprint''
* ''Revealing Romances'' (#September 1, 1949 - #August 6, 1950) ''- under Ace Periodicals imprint''
* ''Science Comics'' (#January 1, 1946 - #5 1946) ''- under Humor Publications imprint''
* ''Scream Comics'' (#1 Autumn 1944 - #April 19, 1948) ''- under Humor Publications / Current Books / Ace imprint''
* ''Space Action Comics'' (#June 1, 1952 - #October 3, 1952) ''- under Junior Books imprint''
* ''Super-Mystery Comics'' (#July 1, 1940 - vol 8#6 July 1949) ''- under Periodical House and Ace Periodicals imprints''
* ''Sure-Fire Comics'' (#June 1, 1940 - #October 4, 1940 - includes 2 issues #3's)
* ''Ten-Story Love'' (v29#3 June 1951 - v36#5 September 1956) ''- under Ace Periodicals imprint''
* ''Trapped!'' (#October 1, 1954 - #April 4, 1955) ''- under Periodical House imprint''
* ''Vicky Comics'' (October 1948 - #June 5, 1949) ''- under Ace Magazines imprint''
* ''War Heroes'' (#May 1, 1952 - #April 8, 1953) ''- under Ace Magazines imprint''
* ''Web of Mystery'' (#February 1, 1951 - #February 29, 1955) ''- under AA Wyn imprint''
* ''Western Adventures Comics'' (#October 1, 1948 - #August 6, 1949) ''- under Ace Magazines imprint''
* ''Western Love Trails'' (#November 7, 1949 - #March 9, 1950) ''- under AA Wyn imprint''
* ''World War III'' (#March 1, 1953 - #May 2, 1953) ''- under Ace Periodicals imprint''
Characters
* Ace McCoy (in ''Sure-Fire Comics'')
* The Black Ace (in ''Four Favourites'', ''Super-Mystery Comics'')
* The Black Spider (in ''Super-Mystery Comics'')
* Buckskin (in ''Super-Mystery Comics'')
* Buck Steele (in ''Sure-Fire Comics'')
* The Clown (in ''Super-Mystery Comics'')
* Captain Courageous (in ''Banner Comics'', ''Captain Courageous Comics'', ''Four Favourites'')
* Captain Victory (in ''Our Flag Comics'')
* Corporal Flint of the RCMP (in ''Super-Mystery Comics'')
*
Doctor Nemesis
Doctor Nemesis is the name of three fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics and Ace Magazines.
Publication history
The first version (James Bradley) was a derivative version of the eponymous Golden Age c ...
(in Lightning Comics, ''Super-Mystery Comics''). A version of this character has been adapted to
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
stories.
* The Flag (in ''Four Favourites'', ''Our Favourites'')
* Green Arrowhead (in ''Indian Braves'')
* Hap Hazard (in ''Four Favourites'', ''Hap Hazard Comics'')
* The Lancer (in ''Super-Mystery Comics'')
*
Lash Lightning
Lash Lightning is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in ''Sure-Fire Comics'' #1 (June 1940) from Ace Comics,Magno the Magnetic Man (in ''Four Favourites'', ''Super-Mystery Comics'')
* Marvo the Magician (in ''Sure-Fire Comics'')
* Mr. Risk (in ''Four Favourites'', ''Men Against Crime'', ''Mr. Risk'', ''Our Favourites'', ''Super-Mystery Comics'')
*
The Raven
"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a myste ...
(in ''Sure-Fire Comics'' and ''Lightning Comics'') based on Ace pulp character Moon Man.
* The Sword (in ''Captain Courageous Comics'', ''Lightning Comics'', ''Super-Mystery Comics'')
* The Unknown (in ''Four Favourites'')
* The Unknown Soldier (in ''Our Flag Comics'')
*
Vulcan
Vulcan may refer to:
Mythology
* Vulcan (mythology), the god of fire, volcanoes, metalworking, and the forge in Roman mythology
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* Vulcan (''Star Trek''), name of a fictional race and their home p ...
(in ''Four Favourites'', ''Super-Mystery Comics'')
* Whiz Wilson, Time Traveler (in ''Sure-Fire Comics'')
* X The Phantom Fed (in ''Sure-Fire Comics'' and ''Lightning Comics'') based on Ace pulp character
Secret Agent X
''Secret Agent X'' was the title of a U.S. pulp magazine published by A. A. Wyn's Ace Magazines, and the name of the main character featured in the magazine. The magazine ran for 41 issues between February 1934 and March 1939.
The ''Secret Age ...