''Fightin' Navy'' is a bimonthly

war comic War comics is a genre of comic books that gained popularity in English-speaking countries following World War II. History American war comics Shortly after the birth of the modern comic book in the mid- to late 1930s, comics publishers began inc ...

that was published by

Charlton Comics Charlton Comics was an American comic-book publishing company that existed from 1945 to 1986, having begun under a different name: T. W. O. Charles Company, in 1940. It was based in Derby, Connecticut. The comic-book line (comics), line was a divi ...

from

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan after 57 years. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, E ...

–

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

, and then again from 1983–1984 (though it was then a reprint title). Telling fictional stories of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

, it was a sister title of the other Charlton war comics ''

Fightin' Army ''Fightin' Army'' is a bimonthly war comic that was published by Charlton Comics from 1956–1984 (though it was primarily a reprint title from 1978 to the end of its run). Telling fictional stories of the United States Army, it was a sister title ...

'', '' Fightin' Air Force'', and ''

Fightin' Marines ''Fightin' Marines'' is a bimonthly war comic magazine that was published by St. John Publications from 1951–1953, and Charlton Comics from 1955–1984, although it was primarily a reprint title from 1978 to the end of its run. Telling fiction ...

''. Regular contributors to ''Fightin' Navy'' included penciler Bill Molno and inker

Vince Alascia Vincent Alascia (January 14, 1914 – September 3, 1998),
at the

Ken Battefield,

Sam Glanzman Samuel Joseph Glanzman (December 5, 1924 – July 12, 2017) was an American comics artist and memoirist. Glanzman is best known for his Charlton Comics series ''Hercules'', about the mythological Greek demigod; his autobiographical war stories ab ...

Joe Gill Joseph P. Gill (July 13, 1919 – December 17, 2006)Social Security Death Inde ...

Dick Giordano Richard Joseph Giordano (; July 20, 1932 – March 27, 2010) was an American comics artist and editor whose career included introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes and serving as executive editor of DC Comics. Ear ...

Rocke Mastroserio Rocco A. "Rocke" Mastroserio (June 8, 1927 — early March 1968Dates per Additionamade June 15, 2010. Note: The Social Security Death Index lists Rocco Mastroserioof New York City, born September 15, 1901, died December 1966.) was an American comi ...

Charles Nicholas "Charles Nicholas" is the pseudonymous house name of three early creators of American comic books for the Fox Feature Syndicate and Fox Comics: Chuck Cuidera (1915–2001), Jack Kirby (1917–1994), and Charles Wojtkoski (1921–1985). The name o ...

, and

Tony Tallarico Anthony F. Tallarico (September 20, 1933 – January 6, 2022) was an American comic book artist, and children's book illustrator and author. Often paired in a team with his generally uncredited penciler, Bill Fraccio, Tallarico drew primarily fo ...

. Editor

Pat Masulli Patrick J. Masulli (July 31, 1930 – June 10, 1998) was an American comic book creator. During the Silver Age of Comic Books, he was the executive editor of Charlton Comics from 1955–1966. Besides editing over thirty titles in ten years, Masul ...

helmed the book for most of its run.

Publication history

As with many comic book titles published at the time, ''Fightin' Navy'' did not start with issue number one; it was a renaming of a series called ''

Don Winslow of the Navy ''Don Winslow of the Navy'' is a 1942 Universal Pictures Serial film based on the comic strip '' Don Winslow of the Navy'' by Commander Frank V. Martinek. It was theatrically released in January 1942. Plot Commander Don Winslow is returned to th ...

'', which published four issues, numbered #70–73, from March–September 1955. The ''Don Winslow'' title originated with

Fawcett Comics Fawcett Comics, a division of Fawcett Publications, was one of several successful comic book publishers during the Golden Age of Comic Books in the 1940s. Its most popular character was Captain Marvel, the alter ego of radio reporter Billy Bats ...

, which published 69 issues from 1943 to 1951. The first issue of ''Fightin' Navy'' was #74, published in January 1956. Early issues sported the

tagline In entertainment, a tagline (alternatively spelled tag line) is a short text which serves to clarify a thought for, or is designed with a form of, dramatic effect. Many tagline slogans are reiterated phrases associated with an individual, so ...

"Exciting Sea Battle Stories". The title ceased publication with issue #125, dated May 1966. Nearly twenty years later, in August 1983, Charlton briefly revived ''Fightin' Navy'', publishing reprints from previous issues as well as the former Charlton titles ''Navy War Heroes'' and ''Submarine Attack'', in issues #126–133. Finally, in October 1984, as the entire Charlton line ceased publishing,"Charlton Comics Suspends Publication", ''The Comics Journal'' #94 (Oct. 1984), p. 18. ''Fightin' Navy'' was cancelled. Altogether, the title published 60 issues.

Features

Almost all of the stories in ''Fightin' Navy'' take place during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, telling tales of American ships battling the Japanese and the Germans.

References

Notes

* *

External links

''Don Winslow''/''Fightin' Navy'' cover gallery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fightin' Navy Comics magazines published in the United States War comics Comics set during World War II 1956 comics debuts 1966 comics endings Charlton Comics titles Magazines established in 1956 Magazines disestablished in 1966 Defunct American comics