''Marvel Mystery Comics'' (first issue titled simply ''Marvel Comics'') is an American comic book series published during the 1930s–1940s period known to fans and historians as 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 chara ...

. It was the first publication of

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book 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 Comics'' in ...

' predecessor,

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 division of Timely Publications. In 1949, with the popularity of superheroes having waned, the book was converted into the horror anthology ''Marvel Tales'' from issue #93–159 (Aug. 1949 – Aug. 1957), when it ceased publication. Marvel published a different series of the same name in the 1960s, primarily reprinting

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 Si ...

stories.

Publication history

Premiere issue: ''Marvel Comics'' #1

In 1939,

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 ...

publisher Martin Goodman expanded into the newly emerging comic book field by buying content from comics packager Funnies, Inc. On August 31, 1939, his first effort, ''Marvel Comics'' #1 (

cover-date The cover date of a periodical publication is the date displayed on the cover, which is not necessarily the true date of publication (the on-sale date or release date); later cover dates are common in magazine and comic book publishing. More unu ...

d Oct. 1939), from his company Timely Publications, was published. This featured the first appearances of writer-artist

Carl Burgos Carl Burgos (; born Max Finkelstein ; April 18, 1916 – March 1, 1984) Note: Gives only month and year of death. was an American comic book and advertising artist best known for creating the original Human Torch in ''Marvel Comics'' #1 (Oct. 1 ...

' android

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, ...

the

Human Torch The Human Torch (Jonathan "Johnny" Storm) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is a founding member of the Fantastic Four. He is writer Stan Lee's and artist Jack Kirby's reinvention of a si ...

, Paul Gustavson's costumed detective the

Angel In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles ...

, and the first generally available appearance of

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 alleg ...

mutant In biology, and especially in genetics, a mutant is an organism or a new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is generally an alteration of the DNA sequence of the genome or chromosome of an organism. It ...

anti-hero An antihero (sometimes spelled as anti-hero) or antiheroine is a main character in a story who may lack conventional heroic qualities and attributes, such as idealism, courage, and morality. Although antiheroes may sometimes perform actio ...

Namor Namor (), also known as the Sub-Mariner, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Debuting in early 1939, the character was created by writer-artist Bill Everett for comic book packager Funnies Inc ...

the Sub-Mariner.''Marvel Comics'' #1
at the

Grand Comics Database The Grand Comics Database (GCD) is an Internet-based project to build a database of comic book information through user contributions. The GCD project catalogues information on creator credits, story details, reprints, and other information useful ...

The Sub-Mariner was created for the unpublished movie-theater giveaway comic ''

Motion Picture Funnies Weekly ''Motion Picture Funnies Weekly'' is a 36-page American comic book created in 1939, and designed to be a promotional giveaway in movie theaters. While the idea proved unsuccessful, and only a handful of sample copies of issue #1 were printed, the ...

'' earlier that year, with the eight-page original story now expanded by four pages. Also included were Al Anders' Western hero the

Masked Raider The Masked Raider is an alias of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The original character went by the name of Jim Gardley and appeared in comic books published during the 1930s and 1940s per ...

(Jim Gardley), canceled after appearing in the first twelve issues; the jungle lord feature "The Adventures of Ka-Zar the Great", with Ben Thompson beginning a five-issue adaptation of the story "King of Fang and Claw" by Bob Byrd (pseudonym of Martin Goodman) in Goodman's pulp magazine ''Ka-Zar'' #1 (Oct. 1936); the non-continuing-character story "Jungle Terror", featuring an adventurer named Ken Masters and Professor John Roberts, written by the quirkily named Tohm Dixon; "Now I'll Tell One", five single-panel, black-and-white gag cartoons by Fred Schwab, on the inside front cover; and "Burning Rubber", a two-page prose story by Ray Gill about

auto racing Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organise ...

. A painted cover by veteran science fiction pulp artist Frank R. Paul featured the Human Torch, looking much different than in the interior story. That initial magazine quickly sold out 80,000 copies, prompting Goodman to produce a second printing, cover-dated November 1939 and identical except for a black bar in the inside-front-cover indicia over the October date and the November date added at the end. That sold approximately 800,000 copies. With a hit on his hands, Goodman began assembling an in-house staff, hiring Funnies, Inc. 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 ...

as editor. Simon brought along his collaborator, artist

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 gre ...

, followed by artist Syd Shores.

As ''Marvel Mystery Comics''

The Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner would continue to star in the long-running title even after receiving their own solo comic-book series shortly afterward. The Angel, who was featured on the covers of issues #2–3, would appear in every issue through #79 (Dec. 1946).''Marvel Mystery Comics''
at the Grand Comics Database Other characters introduced in the title include the aviator the

American Ace Abomination Absorbing Man Abraxas Abraxas, sometimes called the Dark Man, is a cosmic entity who embodies the destruction of the Marvel multiverse. The existence of Galactus prevents him from emerging. The character, created by Carlos Pach ...

(#2, Dec. 1939), with part one of his origin reprinted, like the first part of the Sub-Mariner's, from ''Motion Picture Funnies Weekly'' #1; the private detective the

Ferret The ferret (''Mustela furo'') is a small, domesticated species belonging to the family Mustelidae. The ferret is most likely a domesticated form of the wild European polecat (''Mustela putorius''), evidenced by their interfertility. Other mus ...

(Leslie Lenrow) by writer Stockbridge Winslow and artist Irwin Hasen (issues 4-9, February 1940-July 1940); and writer-artist Steve Dahlman's robot hero Electro, the Marvel of the Age (appearing in every issue from #4–19, Feb. 1940 – May 1941). Issue #13 saw the first appearance of the Vision, the inspiration for the same-name Marvel Comics superhero created in 1968. The original Vision appeared in solo stories through ''Marvel Mystery Comics'' #48. Also featured in the title was Terry Vance, The School Boy Sleuth by Ray Gill and

Bob Oksner Bob Oksner (October 14, 1916 in Paterson, New Jersey – February 18, 2007) was an American comics artist known for both adventure comic strips and for superhero and humor comic books, primarily at DC Comics. Biography Oksner's early work ...

(debuting in issue #10, August 1940 until #57, July 1944, as well as appearing in the first two issues of the revived '' Mystic Comics'' shortly thereafter).

Serials included in ''Marvel Mystery Comics''

(in order of appearance) The Human Torch (October 1939 – June 1949) The Angel (October 1939 – December 1946) The Sub-Mariner (October 1939 – April 1949) The Masked Raider (October 1939 – October 1940) Ken Masters/Professor John Roberts (October 1939) The Adventures of Ka-Zar the Great (October 1939 – January 1942) American Ace (December 1939 – January 1940) Electro, the Marvel of the Age (February 1940 – May 1941) Ferret, Mystery Detective (February 1940 – July 1940) Terry Vance, The School Boy Sleuth (August 1940 – July 1944) The Vision (November 1940 – October 1943)

''Marvel Tales'' (1949–1957)

The first ''Marvel Tales'' was the direct continuation of the superhero anthology ''Marvel Mystery Comics'', published by

' initial iteration,

. This series ran through issue #92 (cover-dated June 1949). Beginning with issue #93 (Aug. 1949), it became ''Marvel Tales'', an anthology of horror, fantasy, and science fiction stories. The bulk of this series was published under the company name

Atlas Comics Atlas Comics may refer to * Atlas Comics (1950s) Atlas Comics is the 1950s comic-book publishing label that evolved into Marvel Comics. Magazine and paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitud ...

. ''Marvel Tales'' included among its contributors writer and editor-in-chief

Stan Lee Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber ; December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018) was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Publications which ...

and such comics artists as Golden Age veterans Harry Anderson,

, Fred Kida, Mike Sekowsky, Syd Shores, and

Ogden Whitney John Ogden Whitney (May 1, 1919 – August 13, 1975) was an American comic-book artist and sometime writer active from the 1930s–1940s Golden Age of comics through the 1960s Silver Age. He is best known as co-creator of the aviator hero Sk ...

, and, early in their careers, Dick Ayers, Gene Colan, Tony DiPreta, Mort Drucker, Russ Heath,

Bernard Krigstein Bernard Krigstein (; March 22, 1919 – January 8, 1990), was an American illustrator and gallery artist who received acclaim for his innovative and influential approach to comic book art, notably in EC Comics. His artwork usually displayed the s ...

, Joe Maneely, Joe Sinnott, and Basil Wolverton, among others. Issue #147 featured one of

Steve Ditko Stephen John Ditko Page contains two reproductions from school yearbooks. A 1943 Garfield Junior High School yearbook excerpt lists "Stephen Ditko". A 1945 Johnstown High School yearbook excerpt lists "Stephen J. Ditko" under extracurricular act ...

's first stories for Marvel, "The Vanishing Martians". The series ran 67 issues under the new title, through #159 (Aug. 1957). It ended because of the collapse of Atlas's distributor,

American News Company American News Company (ANC) was a magazine, newspaper, book, and comic book distribution company founded in 1864 by Sinclair Tousey, which dominated the distribution market in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th ce ...

, and the subsequent restructuring that limited the number of comics the company could publish in a month. An issue of ''Marvel Tales'' was included in a display of covers representative of the "Crime, Horror & Weird Variety" at the April 1954 hearings of the United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency.

Reprints

* ''Marvel Comics #1'' (50th anniversary edition; reprints #1, 1990; ) * ''Marvel Comics #1: 70th Anniversary Edition'' (reprints #1 with modern coloring, 2009) * ''Golden Age Marvel Comics Omnibus'' (Marvel Comics #1; Marvel Mystery Comics #2–12) * ''Golden Age Marvel Comics Omnibus Vol. 2'' (Marvel Mystery Comics #13-24) * ''Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 1'' (Marvel Comics #1, Marvel Mystery Comics #2–4) * ''Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 2'' (Marvel Mystery Comics #5–8) * ''Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 3'' (Marvel Mystery Comics #9–12) * ''Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 4'' (Marvel Mystery Comics #13–16) * ''Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 5'' (Marvel Mystery Comics #17–20) * ''Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 6'' (Marvel Mystery Comics #21–24) * ''Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 7'' (Marvel Mystery Comics #25-28)

References

External links

''Marvel Mystery Comics'' cover gallery
{{Namor Comics magazines published in the United States Timely Comics titles Marvel Comics titles Atlas Comics titles 1939 comics debuts 1957 comics endings Golden Age comics titles