Youthful (also known as Youthful Magazines) was an American comic book publisher that operated from 1949 to 1954. The company was owned by attorney Bill Friedman and his wife Sophie. Adrian Lopez (1906–2004) had the title of publisher of the company for most of its existence. Comics editor
Sol Cohen
Sol Cohen (December 16, 1910 – July 28, 1988) was an American publisher who worked mostly in the science fiction field.
Cohen started his long association with Avon Publications in 1947, working as an editor for their comics division from 1947 ...
(possibly with help from financier
Harry Donenfeld
Harry Donenfeld (; October 17, 1893 – February 1, 1965) was an American publisher who is known primarily for being the owner of National Allied Publications, which distributed ''Detective Comics'' and ''Action Comics'', the originator publicatio ...
) helped launch Youthful.Cohen entry , Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999.
The company specialized in non-
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, ...
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 ...
, humor, and
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 ...
. The company only published ten distinct titles, with many series changing their name and continuing the numbering of the previous title (like many comic book publishers of the era, to save money on second-class postage permits, Youthful frequently changed the titles of their comics rather than start new ones at #1). Titles published by Youthful included the Western titles ''Gunsmoke'', ''Indian Fighter'', and ''Redskin'' (later known as ''Famous Western Badmen''); the science fiction/horror series ''Captain Science'' (later known as ''Fantastic'', ''Beware'', and ''Chilling Tales''), and the humor title ''Jackpot''.
Doug Wildey
Douglas S. Wildey He recalled his professional start as freelancing for the magazine and comic book company Street & Smith in 1947. Because comic-book writer and artist credits were not routinely given during this era, the earliest confirmed Wilde ...
was the company's lead cartoonist, with work published in virtually all their titles. Other notable creators associated with Youthful included
Don Perlin
Don Perlin (; born August 27, 1929) is an American comic book artist, writer, and editor. He is best known for Marvel Comics' ''Werewolf by Night'', ''Moon Knight'' (a character he co-created), '' The Defenders'', and ''Ghost Rider''. In the 1990s ...
,
Wally Wood
Wallace Allan Wood (June 17, 1927 – November 2, 1981) was an American comic book writer, artist and independent publisher, widely known for his work on EC Comics's titles such as ''Weird Science (comic), Weird Science'', ''Weird Fantasy'', an ...
,
Graham Ingels
Graham J. Ingels (; June 7, 1915April 4, 1991) was a comic book and magazine illustrator best known for his work in EC Comics during the 1950s, notably on ''The Haunt of Fear'' and ''Tales from the Crypt'', horror titles written and edited by Al ...
, Ed Goldfarb,
Henry C. Kiefer
Henry C. Kiefer (April 15, 1890 – May 10, 1957) was an American artist from the Golden Age of Comic Books. Best remembered for his contributions to the long-running comic book series ''Classics Illustrated'',William B. Jones Jr., ''Classics Illu ...
, and Manny Stallman.
Youthful's first title was ''Gunsmoke,'' which debuted Apr./May 1949 and ran until 1952. Youthful acquired the Pix-Parade title ''Youthful Hearts'' in 1952, continuing its numbering under the new title ''Daring Confessions'' until 1953. The Youthful titles ''Attack'' and ''Beware'' were acquired by Trojan Magazines in 1952, which continued their numbering. Youthful, in turn, renamed the titles ''Atomic Attack'' and ''Chilling Tales'', respectively, also continuing the numbering. The company was mostly finished by 1953, with only ''Jackpot'' continuing until 1954 (its final issue cover-dated May).
Youthful Magazines is not related to the Christian digital magazine and blog with the same name based in
Lagos
Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...
,
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
* ''Attack'' (4 issues, 1952) — acquired by Trojan Magazines
** ''Atomic Attack'' (4 issues, 1953) — continues numbering of ''Attack''
* ''Captain Science'' (7 issues, 1950–1951)
** ''Fantastic'' (2 issues, 1952) — continues numbering of ''Captain Science''
*** ''Beware'' (3 issues, 1952) — continues numbering of ''Fantastic'', then acquired by Trojan Magazines
**** ''Chilling Tales'' (5 issues, 1952–1953) — continues numbering of ''Beware''
* ''Daring Confessions'' (5 issues, 1952–1953) — continues numbering of ''Youthful Hearts'' (acquired from Pix-Parade)
* ''Gunsmoke'' (16 issues, 1949–1952)
* ''Indian Fighter'' (11 issues, 1950–1952)
* ''Jackpot'' (18 issues, 1952–1954)
* ''Redskin'' (12 issues, 1950–1952)
** ''Famous Western Badmen'' (3 issues, 1952–1953) — continues numbering of ''Redskin''
* ''Thrilling Adventures in Stamps Comics'' (8 issues, Oct 1951 – Jan 1953)
* ''Super Western Comics'' (1 issue, 1950)
** ''
Buffalo Bill
William Frederick Cody (February 26, 1846January 10, 1917), known as "Buffalo Bill", was an American soldier, Bison hunting, bison hunter, and showman. He was born in Le Claire, Iowa, Le Claire, Iowa Territory (now the U.S. state of Iowa), but ...
'' (8 issues, 1950–1951) — continues numbering of ''Super Western Comics''
* ''Youthful Love'' (1 issue, 1950)
Notes
References
*
*
Youthful entry Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999.
{{refend