1940 in comics

Events and publications

Year overall

• Another boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Ace Comics, Columbia Comics, Farrell Publications, Holyoke Publishing, Novelty Press, and Street & Smith Comics all begin publishing.

  January

• January 13: Charles Addams' classic cartoon Downhill Skier is published in The New Yorker, showing a skier magically passing around a tree with each foot on one side.
• Ace Comics #34 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #20 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #46 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #10 – DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies #17 – Centaur Publications
• Daring Mystery Comics #1 – Timely Comics
• Detective Comics #35 – DC Comics
• Double Action Comics #2 – National Periodical Publications, consisting entirely of black and white reprints from early issues of More Fun Comics.
• Feature Comics #28 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #1 – National Periodical Publications. In this issue Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert's The Flash makes his debut, as well as Fox and Dennis Neville's Hawkman.
• Marvel Mystery Comics #3 – Timely Comics
• More Fun Comics #51 – National Periodical Publications
• Mystery Men Comics #6 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Smash Comics #6 – Quality Comics
• Teen-Age Romances #1 – St. John Publications debuts January 14

  February

• Ace Comics #35 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #21 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #47 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #11 – DC Comics
• Daring Mystery Comics #2 – Timely Comics
• Detective Comics #36 – DC Comics
• Feature Comics #29 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #2 – National Periodical Publications
• Marvel Mystery Comics #4 – Timely Comics
• More Fun Comics #52 – National Periodical Publications
• Mystery Men Comics #7 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Smash Comics #7 – Quality Comics
• Whiz Comics #2, the first appearance of Captain Marvel — Fawcett

  March

• Ace Comics #36 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #22 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #48 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #12 – DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies #18 – Centaur Publications
• Detective Comics #37 – DC Comics
• Feature Comics #30 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #3 – National Periodical Publications
• Marvel Mystery Comics #5 – Timely Comics
• Master Comics #1 – Fawcett Publications
• More Fun Comics #53 – National Periodical Publications
• Mystery Men Comics #8 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Mystic Comics #1 – Timely Comics
• Silver Streak Comics #3 — title acquired by Lev Gleason Publications
• Slam-Bang Comics #1 – Fawcett Comics
• Smash Comics #8 – Quality Comics
• Whiz Comics #3 – Fawcett Comics

  April

• Ace Comics #37 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #23 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #49 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #13 – DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies #19 – Centaur Publications
• Batman #1 – DC Comics, first appearance of Joker, first appearance of Catwoman
• Blue Beetle #2 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Daring Mystery Comics #3 – Timely Comics
• Detective Comics #38 – DC Comics, first appearance of Robin.
• Feature Comics #31 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #4 – National Periodical Publications
• Marvel Mystery Comics #6 – Timely Comics
• Master Comics #2 – Fawcett Publications
• More Fun Comics #54 – National Periodical Publications
• Mystery Men Comics #9 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Mystic Comics #2 – Timely Comics
• Slam-Bang Comics #2 – Fawcett Comics
• Smash Comics #9 – Quality Comics
• Superman #4 – DC Comics
• Whiz Comics #3 – Fawcett Comics

  May

• May 8: As the Nazis invade Belgium several comics magazines are disestablished forever, including Le Petit Vingtième and Kindervriend.
• Ace Comics #38 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #24 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #50 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #14 – DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies #20 – Centaur Publications
• Crack Comics #1 – Quality Comics
• Daring Mystery Comics #4 – Timely Comics
• Detective Comics #39 – DC Comics
• Doc Savage Comics #1 – Street & Smith Publications
• Feature Comics #32 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #5 – National Periodical Publications
• Marvel Mystery Comics #7 – Timely Comics
• Master Comics #3 – Fawcett Comics
• More Fun Comics #55 – National Periodical Publications. In this issue Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman's Doctor Fate makes his debut.
• Mystery Men Comics #10 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Nickel Comics #1 – Fawcett Comics
• Nickel Comics #2 – Fawcett Comics
• Slam-Bang Comics #3 – Fawcett Comics
• Smash Comics #10 – Quality Comics
• Whiz Comics #4 – Fawcett Comics

  June

• June 2: First publication of Will Eisner's "The Spirit Section", featuring debuts of the series The Spirit, Lady Luck and Mr. Mystic.
• June 6: The first issue of the Bulgarian comics magazine Chuden Sviat is published.
• June 17: Walter B. Gibson's character The Shadow makes his debut as a comics character in a syndicated daily newspaper comic, illustrated by Vernon Greene. The series will run until 13 June 1942.
• Ace Comics #39 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #25 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #51 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #15 – DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies #21 – Centaur Publications
• Crack Comics #2 – Quality Comics
• Daring Mystery Comics #5 – Timely Comics
• Detective Comics #40 – DC Comics
• Feature Comics #33 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #6 – National Periodical Publications
• Marvel Mystery Comics #8 – Timely Comics
• More Fun Comics #56 – National Periodical Publications
• Mystery Men Comics #11 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Mystic Comics #3 – Timely Comics
• Nickel Comics #3 – Fawcett Comics
• Nickel Comics #4 – Fawcett Comics
• Slam-Bang Comics #4 – Fawcett Comics
• Smash Comics #11 – Quality Comics
• Whiz Comics #5 – Fawcett Comics

  July

• Ace Comics #40 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #26 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #52 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #16 – DC Comics, first appearance of Green Lantern
• All-Star Comics #1 – DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies #22 – Centaur Publications
• Batman #2 – DC Comics
• Blue Beetle #3 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Crack Comics #3 – Quality Comics
• Detective Comics #41 – DC Comics
• Doc Savage Comics #2 – Street & Smith Publications
• Feature Comics #34 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #7 – National Periodical Publications
• Hit Comics #1 – Quality Comics
• Marvel Mystery Comics #9 – Timely Comics
• Master Comics #4 – Fawcett Publications
• More Fun Comics #57 – National Periodical Publications
• Mystery Men Comics #12 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Nickel Comics #5 – Fawcett Comics
• Nickel Comics #6 – Fawcett Comics
• Slam-Bang Comics #5 – Fawcett Comics
• Smash Comics #12 – Quality Comics
• Superman #5 – DC Comics
• Whiz Comics #6 – Fawcett Comics

  August

• August 11: In Bob Karp and Al Taliaferro's Donald Duck comic strip Grandma Duck makes her debut in a framed picture. She will only appear as a character from 27 July 1943 onwards.
• Ace Comics #41 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #27 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #53 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #17 – DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies #23 – Centaur Publications
• Crack Comics #4 – Quality Comics
• Detective Comics #42 – DC Comics
• Feature Comics #35 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #8 – National Periodical Publications
• Hit Comics #2 – Quality Comics
• Marvel Mystery Comics #10 – Timely Comics
• Master Comics #5 – Fawcett Publications
• More Fun Comics #58 – National Periodical Publications
• Mystery Men Comics #13 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Mystic Comics #4 – Timely Comics
• Nickel Comics #7 – Fawcett Comics
• Nickel Comics #8 – Fawcett Comics
• Red Raven Comics #1 – Timely Comics
• Slam-Bang Comics #6 – Fawcett Comics
• Smash Comics #13 – Quality Comics
• Whiz Comics #7 – Fawcett Comics

  September

• September 21: The final episode of C. M. Payne's S'Matter, Pop? is published, which had run since 1910.
• September 22: Maurice Cuvillier's Perlin et Pinpin makes its debut.
• Ace Comics #42 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #28 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #54 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #18 – DC Comics
• All-Star Comics #2 – DC Comics
• Amazing Mystery Funnies #24, last issue – Centaur Publications
• Batman #3 – DC Comics
• Big 3 #1 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Blue Beetle #4 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Crack Comics #5 – Quality Comics
• Daring Mystery Comics #6 – Timely Comics
• Detective Comics #43 – DC Comics
• Feature Comics #36 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #9 – National Periodical Publications
• Hit Comics #3 - Quality Comics
• Marvel Mystery Comics #11 – Timely Comics
• Master Comics #6 – Fawcett Publications
• More Fun Comics #59 – National Periodical Publications
• Mystery Men Comics #14 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Slam-Bang Comics #7 – Fawcett Comics
• Smash Comics #14 – Quality Comics
• Whiz Comics #8 – Fawcett Comics

  October

• October 17: The first issue of the short-lived Walloon children's comics magazine Le Soir-Jeunesse, a supplement of the Nazi-controlled Le Soir, is published. It will run until 23 September 1941. In its first issue Hergé's Tintin story The Crab with the Golden Claws is prepublished. Halfway the story Allan Thompson and Captain Haddock make their debut.
• The final issue of the Italian Disney comics magazine Paperino is published.
• Ace Comics #43 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #29 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #55 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #19 – DC Comics
• Crack Comics #6 – Quality Comics
• Detective Comics #44 – DC Comics
• Feature Comics #37 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #10 – National Periodical Publications
• Hit Comics #4 – Quality Comics
• Human Torch Comics #2 – Timely Comics
• Marvel Mystery Comics #12 – Timely Comics
• Master Comics #7 – Fawcett Publications
• More Fun Comics #60 – National Periodical Publications
• Mystery Men Comics #15 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Smash Comics #15 – Quality Comics
• Superman #6 – DC Comics
• Whiz Comics #9 – Fawcett Comics

  November

• November 4: In Bob Karp and Al Taliaferro's Donald Duck newspaper comic Daisy Duck makes her debut as a comics character, having made her screen debut in the animated short Don Donald six months earlier.
• Ace Comics #44 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #30 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #56 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #20 – DC Comics
• All-Star Comics #3 – DC Comics. In this issue Gardner Fox and Sheldon Mayer introduce Justice Society.
• Batman #4 – DC Comics
• Blue Beetle #5 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Crack Comics #7 – Quality Comics
• Detective Comics #45 – DC Comics
• Feature Comics #38 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #11 – National Periodical Publications
• Hit Comics #5 – Quality Comics
• Marvel Mystery Comics #13 – Timely Comics
• Master Comics #8 – Fawcett Publications
• More Fun Comics #61 – National Periodical Publications
• Mystery Men Comics #16 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Smash Comics #16 – Quality Comics
• Whiz Comics #10 – Fawcett Comics
• Wow Comics #1 – Fawcett Comics

  December

• December 19: The Flemish comics magazine Bravo! launches a French-language sister magazine. It will run until 17 April 1951.
• Ace Comics #45 – David McKay Publications
• Action Comics #31 – DC Comics
• Adventure Comics #57 – DC Comics
• All-American Comics #21 – DC Comics
• Big 3 #2 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Crack Comics #8 – Quality Comics
• Detective Comics #46 – DC Comics
• Feature Comics #39 – Quality Comics
• Flash Comics #12 – National Periodical Publications
• Hit Comics #6 – Quality Comics
• Marvel Mystery Comics #14 – Timely Comics
• Master Comics #9 – Fawcett Publications°
• More Fun Comics #62 – National Periodical Publications
• Mystery Men Comics #17 – Fox Feature Syndicate
• Smash Comics #17 – Quality Comics
• Spy Smasher #1 – Fawcett Publications
• Superman #7 – DC Comics
• Whiz Comics #11 – Fawcett Comics

  Specials

• Mutt & Jeff #2 – All-American Comics
• New York World's Fair Comics #2 – National Periodical Publications
• Special Edition Comics #1- Fawcett Publications

  Deaths

January

• January 15: Henri Verstijnen, Dutch comics artist and philosopher, dies at age 57.

  February

• February 27: Johan Braakensiek, Dutch illustrator, painter, graphic artist, political cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 81.

  May

• May 25: William Conselman, American screenwriter and comics writer, dies at age 43.

  June

• June 3: Charles R. Snelgrove, Canadian comics artist, dies at age 47.
• June 21: Tjerk Bottema, Dutch caricaturist, political cartoonist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 58.

  July

• July 20: Harry E. Homan, American comics artist, passes away at age 51 from a heart attack.
• July 28: Gerda Wegener, Danish graphic designer, painter, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 47 or 51.

  September

• September 28: Earl Hurd, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 60.

  October

• October 4: Tom Wood, American illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 53 from injuries in a car accident.
• October 15: Georges Léonnec, French comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 59.

  November

• November 9: Nikola Navojev, Yugoslavian comics artist, dies at age 27 from TBC.
• November 16: Albert Engström, Swedish novelist and comics artist, passes away at age 71.

  Specific date unknown

• Lucien Haye, French illustrator and comics artist, died at age 73 or 74.
• Karl Pommerhanz, German-Austrian illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 82 or 83.

  First issues by title

• All Star Comics, cover-dated Summer, published by All-American Publications.
• Batman, cover-dated Spring, published by DC Comics.
• Big 3, cover-dated September, published by Fox Feature Syndicate
• Big Shot Comics, cover-dated May, published by Columbia Comics.
• Crack Comics, cover-dated May, published by Quality Comics
• Daring Mystery Comics, cover-dated January, published by Timely Comics.
• Doc Savage Comics published by Street & Smith Publications.
• Flash Comics cover dated January, published by National Periodical Publications.
• Green Hornet, cover-dated December, published by Helnit.
• Jackpot Comics, cover-dated Spring, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc.
• Master Comics, cover-dated March, published by Fawcett Publications.
• Red Raven Comics, cover-dated August, published by Timely Comics.
• Shield-Wizard Comics, cover-dated Summer, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc.
• Spy Smasher, cover-dated December, published by Fawcett Publications
• Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, cover-dated October, published by Dell Comics.
• Wow Comics, cover-dated Winter, published by Fawcett Comics.
• Zip Comics, cover-dated June, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc.

  Initial appearances by character name

• Atom in All-American Comics #19, created by Ben Flinton and Bill O'Connor, published by National Periodical Publications
• Black Condor in Crack Comics #1, created by Will Eisner and Lou Fine, published by Quality Comics
• Breeze Barton in Daring Mystery Comics #3, created by Jack Binder and E. C. Stoner, published by Timely Comics.
• Bulletman in Nickel Comics #1, created by Bill Parker and Jon Smalle, published by Fawcett Comics
• Bulletgirl in Nickel Comics #1, created by Bill Parker and Jon Smalle, published by Fawcett Comics
• Captain Marvel in Whiz Comics #2, created by C. C. Beck and Bill Parker, published by Fawcett Comics.
• Captain Bob Strong in Daring Mystery Comics #3, created by Jack Alderman, published by Timely Comics.
• Catwoman in Batman #1, created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics.
• Clayface in Detective Comics #40, created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. published by DC Comics.
• Congo Bill in More Fun Comics #56, created by Whitney Ellsworth and George Papp. - DC Comics
• Cyclotron in Action Comics #21, created by Jerry Siegel and joe Shuster, published by DC Comics.
• Dennis Burton in Daring Mystery Comics #2, created by Will Harr, published by Timely Comics.
• Doctor Fate in More Fun Comics #55, created by Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, published by National periodical Publications.
• Doctor Hormone in Popular Comics #54, published by Dell Comics.
• Doctor Sivana in Whiz Comics #2, created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck, published by Fawcett Comics
• Dynaman in Daring Mystery Comics #6, created by Steve Dahlman, published by Timely Comics.
• Falcon in Daring Mystery Comics #5, created by Maurice Gutwirth, published by Timely Comics.
• Fiery Mask in Daring Mystery Comics #1, created by Joe Simon, published by Timely Comics.
• Flash in Flash Comics #1, created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, published by National Periodical Publications.
• Flash Foster in Daring Mystery Comics #1, created by Bob Wood, published by Timely Comics.
• Green Lantern in All-American Comics #16, created by Martin Nodell, published by National Periodical Publications.
• Hawkgirl in Flash Comics #1, Created by Gardner Fox and Denis Neville, published by National Periodical Publications.
• Hawkman in Flash Comics #1, created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville, published by National Periodical Publications.
• Hourman in Adventure Comics #48, created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily, published by DC Comics.
• Hugo Strange in Detective Comics #36, created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics
• Ibis the Invincible in Whiz Comics #2, created by Bob Kingett, published by Fawcett Comics
• Inza Nelson in More Fun Comics #55, created by Gardner Fox, published by DC Comics.
• Jim Corrigan in More Fun Comics #52, created by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily, published by National Periodical Publications.
• John Steele in Daring Mystery Comics #1, created Dean Carr, published by Timely Comics.
• Johnny Thunder in Flash Comics #1, created by John Wentworth and Stan Aschmeier, published by DC Comics.
• Joker in Batman #1, created by Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger, and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics.
• Justice Society of America in All Star Comics #3, created by Sheldon Mayer and Gardner Fox, published by DC Comics.
• King Standish in Flash Comics #3, created by Gardner Fox, published by DC Comics.
• Kulak in All Star Comics #2, created by Gardner Fox, published by DC Comics.
• Lex Luthor in Action Comics #23, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC Comics
• Magno in Smash Comics #13, created by Paul Gustavson, published by Quality Comics
• Marvex the Super-Robot in Daring Mystery Comics #3, created by Hal Sharp, published by Timely Comics.
• Max Mercury in National Comics #5, created by Jack Cole and Chuck Mazoujian, published by Quality Comics.
• Mister E in Daring Mystery Comics #2, created by Joe Cal Cagno, published by Timely Comics.
• Monako in Daring Mystery Comics #1, created Larry Antonette, published by Timely Comics.
• Neon the Unknown in Hit Comics #1, created by Jerry Iger, published by Quality Comics
• Phantom Bullet in Daring Mystery Comics #2, created by Joe Simon, published by Timely Comics.
• Phantom Reporter in Daring Mystery Comics #3, created by Robert O. Erisman, published by Timely Comics.
• Perry White in Superman #7, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC Comics
• Ray in Smash Comics #14, created by Lou Fine, published by Quality Comics
• Red Bee in Hit Comics #1, created by Tony Blum and Charles Nicholas, published by Quality Comics
• Red Tornado in All-American Comics #20, created by Sheldon Mayer, published by DC Comics.
• Red Torpedo in Crack Comics #1, created by Will Eisner, published by Quality Comics
• Robin in Detective Comics #40, created by Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger, and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics.
• Shazam in Whiz Comics #2, created by C. C. Beck and Bill Parker, published by Fawcett Comics.
• Silver Streak in Silver Streak Comics #3, created by Joe Simon, published by Lev Gleason Publications.
• Spider in Crack Comics #1, created by Paul Gustavson, published by Quality Comics
• Spirit in Register and Tribune Syndicate, created by Will Eisner, published by Eisner & Iger.
• Spy Smasher in Whiz Comics #2, created by C.C. Beck and Bill Parker, published by Fawcett Comics
• The Spectre in More Fun Comics #52, created by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily, published by National Periodical Publications.
• Uncle Sam in National Comics #1, created by Will Eisner, published by Quality Comics
• Wotan in More Fun Comics #55, created by Gardiner Fox, Published by DC Comics.
• Zachary Zor in More Fun Comics #55, created by Jerry Siegel, published by DC Comics.