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''Daring Mystery Comics'' is an American
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 ...
series published by
Timely Comics Timely Comics is the common name for the group of corporations that was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics. "Timely Publications became the name ...
, a predecessor of
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 ...
, during the 1930-1940s period fans and historians call the
Golden Age of Comic Books The Golden Age of Comic Books describes an era of American comic books from 1938 to 1956. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. The superhero archetype was created and many well-known char ...
. Primarily a
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, ...
anthology In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors. In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically categ ...
, it ran eight issues from 1940 to 1942, and is notable for work by Carl Burgos,
Bill Everett William Blake Everett (; May 18, 1917 – February 27, 1973) was an American comic book writer-artist best known for creating Namor the Sub-Mariner as well as co-creating Zombie and Daredevil with writer Stan Lee for Marvel Comics. He was alle ...
,
Alex Schomburg Alexander A. Schomburg, born Alejandro Schomburg y Rosa (; May 10, 1905Alejandro Schomburg Y Rosa
, and the team of
Joe Simon Joseph Henry Simon (October 11, 1913 – December 14, 2011) was an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s–1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the ...
&
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 ...
. ''Daring Mystery Comics'' #8 (Jan. 1942) features the
first appearance In American comic books and other stories with a long history, first appearance refers to the first issue to feature a fictional character. These issues are often highly valued by collectors due to their rarity and iconic status. Reader intere ...
of the Golden Age superhero
Citizen V Citizen Vee is the codename of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Publication history The original incarnation (John Watkins) first appeared in ''Daring Mystery Comics'' (Jan 1942), during the Golden ...
, who decades later appears in flashback in the Marvel series '' Thunderbolts'', where his family and the Citizen V identity play a major part. A small handful of other ''Daring Mystery'' superheroes have been revived or have made guest appearances in modern-day titles, such as the
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
-set flashback series ''
The Invaders ''The Invaders'' is an American science-fiction television series created by Larry Cohen that aired on ABC for two seasons, from 1967 to 1968. Roy Thinnes stars as David Vincent, who after stumbling across evidence of an in-progress invasion ...
'' and the feature "
Liberty Legion The Liberty Legion is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team was first created in 1976 and set during World War II. Composed of existing heroes from Marvel's 1940s Golden Age of Comic ...
" in ''
Marvel Premiere ''Marvel Premiere'' is an American comic book anthology series that was published by Marvel Comics. In concept it was a tryout book, intended to determine if a character or concept could attract enough readers to justify launching their own seri ...
''.


Publication history

''Daring Mystery Comics'' came from publisher Martin Goodman's
Timely Comics Timely Comics is the common name for the group of corporations that was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics. "Timely Publications became the name ...
, which by the early 1960s would evolve into
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 ...
. The first five issues were nominally edited by Goodman, but were in fact mixtures of material bought from Funnies, Inc. or the
Harry "A" Chesler Harry Chesler (January 12, 1897, or January 12, 1898 (sources differ) – December 1981),Harr ...
studio, both prominent comic-book "packagers" who produced stories or even complete, outsourced comics on demand for publishers entering the fledgling
medium Medium may refer to: Science and technology Aviation *Medium bomber, a class of war plane *Tecma Medium, a French hang glider design Communication * Media (communication), tools used to store and deliver information or data * Medium of ...
. Timely's first in-house editor,
Joe Simon Joseph Henry Simon (October 11, 1913 – December 14, 2011) was an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s–1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the ...
, relaunched the series with issue #6 as his second project for Goodman and remained for the last few issues. Following ''Daring Mystery Comics'' #1-8 (Jan. 1940 - Jan. 1942) and a publishing hiatus, the series' numbering continued under different titles. In a quirk of publishing involving
U.S. Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U. ...
regulations and mailing costs, and a
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, paper-supply-related moratorium on launching new series, publisher Goodman somehow continued the series numbering as both ''Daring Comics'' for four issues from 1944 to 1945,''Daring Comics'' (1944-1945)
at The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
and as ''Comedy Comics'' for 26 issues from 1942-1946, both of which launched with an issue #9.


Characters

An anthology with no regular star, the series included a number of obscure, mostly single-appearance features. Due to Golden Age comics work often going unsigned, comprehensive credits are difficult if not impossible to ascertain, and in many early cases, a feature's artist is also the uncredited writer. The best known superheroes to debut in its pages were the
Blue Diamond Blue diamond is a type of diamond which exhibits all of the same inherent properties of the mineral except with the additional element of blue color in the stone. They are colored blue by trace amounts of boron that contaminate the crystalline l ...
, by artist co-creator Ben Thompson; writer-artist
Bill Everett William Blake Everett (; May 18, 1917 – February 27, 1973) was an American comic book writer-artist best known for creating Namor the Sub-Mariner as well as co-creating Zombie and Daredevil with writer Stan Lee for Marvel Comics. He was alle ...
's the
Fin A fin is a thin component or appendage attached to a larger body or structure. Fins typically function as foils that produce lift or thrust, or provide the ability to steer or stabilize motion while traveling in water, air, or other fluids. Fin ...
; and the Thunderer, created by writer John H. Compton and notable for artist co-creator Carl Burgos. All three heroes were introduced in issue #7 (April 1941). In the 1970s, the Blue Diamond resurfaced in period stories in ''
Marvel Premiere ''Marvel Premiere'' is an American comic book anthology series that was published by Marvel Comics. In concept it was a tryout book, intended to determine if a character or concept could attract enough readers to justify launching their own seri ...
'', as a member of the homefront
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
team the
Liberty Legion The Liberty Legion is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team was first created in 1976 and set during World War II. Composed of existing heroes from Marvel's 1940s Golden Age of Comic ...
. He also appeared in writer Paul Jenkins' 2011
miniseries A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format h ...
''All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes'' (2011). Two characters introduced here, writer-artist
Joe Simon Joseph Henry Simon (October 11, 1913 – December 14, 2011) was an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s–1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the ...
's
Fiery Mask Fafnir Falcon Sam Wilson Joaquin Torres Falcona Falligar the Behemoth Falligar the Behemoth, also known simply as Falligar, is a fictional deity who makes a single appearance in ''Thor: God of Thunder (comics), Thor: God of Thunder'' #3 ( ...
, and writer Will Harr and artist Maurice Gutwirth's Laughing Mask, who became the Purple Mask, appeared in present-day stories after awakening from
suspended animation Suspended animation is the temporary (short- or long-term) slowing or stopping of biological function so that physiological capabilities are preserved. It may be either hypometabolic or ametabolic in nature. It may be induced by either endogen ...
alongside 10 other Timely heroes in
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 ...
' 2007-2008 and 2012 miniseries '' The Twelve''. Other heroes included the Challenger, drawn by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski under the
pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...
Nick Karlton; Dynaman, by artist and possibly writer Steve Dahlman; and the superheroine the
Silver Scorpion Sabra Sabreclaw Sabreclaw is a character in the MC2 universe who first appeared in '' J2'' #8 (May 1999). He is the half-brother of Wild Thing and the son of Wolverine. The character has claws (similar to Sabretooth), a healing factor, enh ...
, created or co-created by artist and sometime-writer
Harry Sahle Harry Frank Sahle (April 18, 1912 – September 22, 1950) was an American comic book artist who drew for such publishers as Archie Comics—helping create the defined look of Archie Comics' breakout character, Archie Andrews—Quality Comics and th ...
using the
pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...
Jewell, which comics historian Michael J. Vassallo believes marked a collaboration with another, unknown artist. The final three issues contained work by the commercially popular team of writer-
inker The inker (sometimes credited as the finisher or embellisher) is one of the two line artists in traditional comic book production. The penciller creates a drawing, the inker outlines, interprets, finalizes, retraces this drawing by using a pencil ...
Joe Simon and
penciler A penciller (or penciler) is an artist who works on the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms, with a focus on the initial pencil illustrations, usually in collaboration with other artists, who provide inks, colors ...
and sometimes co-scripter
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 ...
. They collaborated on the covers of #6 (July 1940) and #8 (Jan. 1942), the former of which also featured a 10-page Simon & Kirby story introducing the single-appearance superhero
Marvel Boy M-11 Originally known as the Human Robot, the character was given the name "M-11" in the 2006 to 2007 ''Agents of Atlas'' miniseries as an allusion to its first appearance in '' Menace'' #11 from Marvel Comics' 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics. ...
(the first of several
Marvel Universe The Marvel Universe is a fictional shared universe where the stories in most American comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Comics take place. Super-teams such as the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Guardians of ...
characters to take that name), and 10-page story starring the previously introduced Fiery Mask. Issue #7 (April 1941) contained an eight-page Simon & Kirby story introducing the obscure Captain Daring (taken over for the next and last issue by artist
Frank Borth Frank M. Borth III (April 1, 1918 – August 9, 2009) was an American comic book artist. Biography Borth was born and raised in Cleveland, eventually graduating in 1940 from the Cleveland School of Art, where he majored in illustration."New Sea A ...
, and continuing as Captain Dash in ''Comedy Comics'' #9). One of the first superhero
parodies A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its sub ...
— Stuporman, by Harry Douglas who signed his name "Harry / Douglas" leading to much confusion and many theories over the possibility of two creators — debuted in issue #6 (Sept. 1940). Non-superhero features included "G-Man, Don Gorman", a single-issue cover character by unknown creators, though inked by future notable
Dick Briefer Richard Briefer (January 9, 1915 – December 1980)Richard Briefer
(
Larry Antonette Larry is a masculine given name in English, derived from Lawrence or Laurence. It can be a shortened form of those names. Larry may refer to the following: People Arts and entertainment *Larry D. Alexander, American artist/writer *Larry Boone ...
(under the pseudonym Dean Carr for "John Steele");''Daring Mystery Comics'' #1
at the Grand Comics Database
"K-4 and the Sky Devils", by uncertain creators; "Whirlwind Carter of the Interplanetary Secret Service", by writer-artist
Fletcher Hanks Fletcher Hanks, Sr. (December 1, 1889 – January 22, 1976) was an American cartoonist from the Golden Age of Comic Books, who wrote and drew stories detailing the adventures of all-powerful, supernatural heroes and their elaborate punishments of ...
; the jungle-lord adventure "Trojak the Tiger Man", by artist co-creator Joe Simon using the byline
Gregory Sykes Joseph Henry Simon (October 11, 1913 – December 14, 2011) was an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s–1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the ...
; artist co-creator Ben Thompson's single-appearance
Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
"Robin Hood of the Range", featuring the first of two Marvel characters called the
Texas Kid Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
; and the
college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...
-set ''Flash Foster at Midwestern'', by writer and artist Bob Wood."The Football Fixing Scheme", ''Daring Mystery Comics'' #1
at the Grand Comics Database
The comic's first five covers were by artist
Alex Schomburg Alexander A. Schomburg, born Alejandro Schomburg y Rosa (; May 10, 1905Alejandro Schomburg Y Rosa
.


Complete List of Features

*The Fiery Mask (January 1940; June 1940; September 1940) *John Steele, Soldier of Fortune (January 1940) inal*The Texas Kid (January 1940) inal*Monako, Prince of Magic (January 1940; May 1940-September 1940) inal*Flash Foster at Midwestern (January 1940) inal*Doyl Denton, Phantom of the Underworld (January 1940) inal*Barney Mullen – Sea Rover (January 1940) inal*Zephyr Jones and His Rocket Ship (February 1940) *The Phantom Bullet, Scourge of the Underworld (February 1940) inal*Trojak, the Tiger-Man (February 1940-June 1940) inal*K-4 and His Sky Devils (February 1940-June 1940) inal*Mr. E. (February 1940) inal*The Laughing Mask/The Purple Mask (February 1940-May 1940) inal*Dale of the FBI (April 1940) inal*Breeze Barton (April 1940-June 1940) inal*The Phantom Reporter (April 1940) inal*Marvex the Super Robot (April 1940-June 1940) inal*Captain Strong of the Foreign Legion (April 1940) inal*Whirlwind Carter of the Interplanetary Secret Service (May 1940-June 1940) inal*G-Man Don Gorman (May 1940) inal*Little Hercules (June 1940) inal*The Falcon (June 1940-September 1940) inal*Marvel Boy (September 1940) inal*Stuporman (September 1940) *The Flying Flame (September 1940) *Dynaman (September 1940) inal*Tigerman (September 1940) inal*The Thunderer (April 1941; January 1942) inal; revamped as Black Avenger*The Fin (April 1941; January 1942) *Blue Diamond (April 1941; January 1942) inal*Officer O’Krime (April 1941; January 1942) *The Silver Scorpion (April 1941; January 1942) *The Challenger (April 1941) *Mr. Million (April 1941) inal*Captain Daring (April 1941; January 1942) inal; revamped as Captain Dash*Citizen V (January 1942) *The Li’l Professor and the Robot (January 1942) *Tubby an’ Tack (January 1942)


Collected editions

* ''
Marvel Masterworks ''Marvel Masterworks'' is an American collection of hardcover and trade paperback comic book reprints published by Marvel Comics, with the main goal of republishing classic ''Marvel Comics'' storylines in a hardcover, premium edition, often with ...
: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 1'' (collects ''Daring Mystery Comics'' #1-4) * ''Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 2'' (collects ''Daring Mystery Comics'' #5-8)


In other media

The Thunderer appeared in the "Six Forgotten Warriors" episode of one of the
Spider-Man Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in the anthology comic book '' Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in the ...
animated television series An animated series is a set of Animation, animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can ...
.


References


Further reading

* Steranko, Jim. ''The Steranko History of Comics 1'' (Supergraphics, 1970, )


External links

*{{comicbookdb, type=title, id=12671, title=''Daring Mystery Comics'' Comics magazines published in the United States Timely Comics titles 1940 comics debuts 1942 comics endings Magazines established in 1940 Magazines disestablished in 1942 Defunct magazines published in the United States Magazines about comics Golden Age comics titles