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Have a Cigar! MLJ Publishing and Golden Age Archie only!
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Started by Shield,

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RareHighGrade

RareHighGrade

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Here's my set of the first issues of MLJ's anthology titles.  It's interesting to see the rapid progression the company made within just a few months. 

In November 1939,  MLJ put out its first title, Blue Ribbon Comics, which starred Rang-A-Tang the Wonder Dog instead of any costumed heroes. 

One month later (12/39), it published Top Notch, which starred the Wizard, "the man with the super brain," which came a bit closer to being a super hero, although in the first issue he simply dressed in a dinner jacket.

The month after that (1/40), MLJ presented Pep Comics, its first title with a bona fide super hero, who was also the industry's first patriotic hero.

The following month (2/40), Zip Comics was published, starring Steel Sterling, Man of Steel.

4 months, 4 new titles -- pretty prolific.  Although the first issues of these titles had somewhat pedestrian covers, within a year, MLJ was putting out some of the best covers of the Golden Age.

 

BlueRibbon1.JPG

TopNotch1.JPG

Pep1(9.jpg

Zip1.jpg

Edited by RareHighGrade
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sagii

sagii

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9 hours ago, RareHighGrade said:

Here's my set of the first issues of MLJ's anthology titles.  It's interesting to see the rapid progression the company made within just a few months. 

In November 1939,  MLJ put out its first title, Blue Ribbon Comics, which starred Rang-A-Tang the Wonder Dog instead of any costumed heroes. 

One month later (12/39), it published Top Notch, which starred the Wizard, "the man with the super brain," which came a bit closer to being a super hero, although in the first issue simply he dressed in a dinner jacket.

The month after that (1/40), MLJ presented Pep Comics, its first title with a bona fide super hero, who was also the industry's first patriotic hero.

The following month (2/40), Zip Comics was published, starring Steel Sterling, Man of Steel.

4 months, 4 new titles -- pretty prolific.  Although the first issues of these titles had somewhat pedestrian covers, within a year, MLJ was putting out some of the best covers of the Golden Age.

 

BlueRibbon1.JPG

TopNotch1.JPG

Pep1(9.jpg

Zip1.jpg

:golfclap:Fantastic Four! Biro's early covers look so different from his Gleason house style.

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Larryw7

Larryw7

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On 8/3/2017 at 0:27 PM, sacentaur said:

OK, last one for now - not only is this my favorite MLJ, it's also one of my all-time favorite GA books. 

Pep9AT.png

I've been a big fan of this book since I saw the cover reproduced in the book The Golden Age of Comics by Richard O'Brien. That's a gorgeous copy, Steve.

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sacentaur

sacentaur

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2 hours ago, Larryw7 said:

I've been a big fan of this book since I saw the cover reproduced in the book The Golden Age of Comics by Richard O'Brien. That's a gorgeous copy, Steve.

Thanks - exact same sentiment for me, O'Brien's outstanding book made many lasting impressions on me.

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