Dell Comics
| Parent company | Dell Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1929 |
| Founder | George T. Delacorte, Jr. |
| Defunct | 1973 |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | New York City |
| Key people | Helen Meyer |
| Publication types | Comic books |
| Fiction genres | Licensed material |
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium.[1] In 1953, Dell claimed to be the world's largest comics publisher, selling 26 million copies each month.[2]
History
[edit]Origins
[edit]Its first title was The Funnies (1929), described by the Library of Congress as "a short-lived newspaper tabloid insert" rather than a comic book.[3] Comics historian Ron Goulart describes the 16-page, four-color, newsprint periodical as "more a Sunday comic section without the rest of the newspaper than a true comic book. But it did offer all original material and was sold on newsstands".[4] It ran 36 weekly issues, published Saturdays from January 16, 1929, to October 16, 1930.[5] The cover price rose from 10¢ to 30¢ with issue #3.[6] This was reduced to a nickel from issue #22 to the end.[6]
In 1933, Dell collaborated with Eastern Color Printing to publish the 36-page Famous Funnies: A Carnival of Comics, considered by historians the first true American comic book; Goulart, for example, calls it "the cornerstone for one of the most lucrative branches of magazine publishing".[7][8] It was distributed through the Woolworth's department store chain, though it is unclear whether it was sold or given away; the cover displays no price, but Goulart refers, either metaphorically or literally, to the publisher "sticking a ten-cent pricetag [sic] on the comic books".[9]
In early 1934, Dell published the single-issue Famous Funnies: Series 1, also printed by Eastern Color. Unlike its predecessor, it was intended from the start to be sold rather than given away.[10][11]
In 1936, the company partnered with McClure Syndicate in which Dell would finance and distribute publications that McClure would produce and edit on behalf of then-company executive Max Gaines and editor Sheldon Mayer. Among the titles Gaines oversaw were The Comics, Popular Comics and The Funnies.[12][13] Gaines would leave McClure, and by extension, Dell in 1939, in order to set up All-American Publications with a distribution/partnership agreement at DC.[14]
Western Publishing
[edit]The company formed a partnership in 1938 with Western Publishing, in which Dell would finance and distribute publications that Western would produce. While this diverged from the regular practice in the medium of one company handling finance and production and outsourcing distribution, it was a highly successful enterprise with titles selling in the millions. Most of the Dell-produced comics done for Western Publishing during this period were under the Whitman Comics banner (later also used by Gold Key Comics); notable titles included Crackajack Funnies (1938â1942) and Super Comics (1938â1949).
Comic book historian Mark Carlson has stated that at its peak in the mid-1950s, "while Dell's total number of comic book titles [was] only 15% of those published, it control[ed] nearly a third of the total market. Dell [had] more million-plus sellers than any other company before or since".[15]
In 1957, Dell ended its distribution deal with American News Company, which went out of business that year.[16]
Western partnership ends, Dell declines
[edit]In 1961, Dell became the first comic book company to increase its cover prices, raising the prices to fifteen cents; this was soon lowered to twelve cents.[17] In 1962 the partnership with Western ended, with Western taking most of its licensed properties and its original material and creating its own imprint, Gold Key Comics.[1]
While most of the talent who had worked on the Dell line continued at Gold Key, a few creators like John Stanley stuck with Dell and its new line. Dell also drew new talent to its fold, such as Frank Springer, Don Arneson, and Lionel Ziprin.
Dell Comics continued for another 11 years with licensed television and motion picture adaptations (including Mission: Impossible, Ben Casey, Burke's Law, Dr. Kildare, Beach Blanket Bingo) and a few generally poorly received original titles. Among the few long lasting series from this time include the teen-comic Thirteen Going on Eighteen (29 issues, written by John Stanley), Ghost Stories (37 issues, #1 only written by John Stanley), Combat (40 issues), Ponytail (20 issues), Kona Monarch of Monster Isle (20 issues), Toka the Jungle King (10 issues), and Naza Stone Age Warrior (9 issues).[18] Dell additionally attempted to do superhero titles, including Nukla, Superheroes (starring the Fab 4, as the group's name was spelled on covers),[19][20] Brain Boy, and a critically ridiculed[citation needed] trio of titles based on the Universal Pictures monsters Frankenstein, Dracula and Werewolf that recast the characters as superheroes.
Dell Comics ceased publication in 1973,[21] with a few of its former titles moving to Gold Key Comics.[citation needed]
Materials
[edit]Licensed material
[edit]Dell Comics acquired the rights to make comics based on the characters of Walt Disney Productions in 1940.[22] It later gained the rights to Warner Bros., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Walter Lantz Studio, along with many movie and television properties such as the Lone Ranger, Tarzan, Felix the Cat, Howdy Doody, Yogi Bear and other Hanna-Barbera characters.
The comics industry financially declined in the 1950s, but Dell benefited from its licensed comics. One-third of all comic sales in 1957 were from Dell.[23]
Four Color
[edit]From 1938 to 1962, Dell's most notable and prolific title was the anthology Four Color.[24] Published several times a month, the title (which primarily consisted of standalone issues featuring various licensed properties) saw more than 1,300 issues published in its 23-year history. It often served as a try-out title (much like DC's Showcase) and thus the launching pad for many long-running series, a number of which (such as The Twilight Zone) were continued not by Dell, but Gold Key Comics, the competing company formed when Western ended its partnership (see below).
Lil' Eightball
[edit]Responding to pressure from the African-American community, the character Lil' Eightball (who appeared in a handful of Walter Lantz cartoons in the late 1930s and in those initial appearances constituted what animation and comics historian Michael Barrier described as being a "grotesquely stereotypical black boy") was discontinued as one of the featured characters in the Lantz anthology comic book New Funnies; the last appearance of the character was in the August 1947 issue.[25]
Fredric Wertham
[edit]In 1948, Dell refused an invitation of membership in the nascent Association of Comics Magazine Publishers. The association had been formed to pre-empt government intervention in the face of mounting public criticism of comic books. Dell vice-president Helen Meyer told Congress that Dell had opted out of the association because they didn't want their less controversial offerings to serve as "an umbrella for the crime comic publishers".[26] When the Comics Code was formed in 1954 in reaction to Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent, Dell again refused to join and instead began publishing in its comics a "Pledge to Parents" that promised their editorial process "eliminates, rather than regulates, objectional [sic] material" and concluded with the now classic credo "Dell Comics Are Good Comics."[27]
Bart Beaty in his book Fredric Wertham and the Critique of Mass Culture describes a concerted campaign by Dell against publication of Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent to the extent of recruiting several of the companies that it licensed characters from (including Warner Brother Cartoons, the Lone Ranger Inc. and Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc.) to send letters of protest to Wertham's publisher Stanley Rinehart.[28]
Dell in this period even burnished its image by taking out full-page ads in the Saturday Evening Post in late 1952 and early 1953 that emphasized the wholesomeness of its comics.[2]
Dell Comics Club and subscription promotions
[edit]From mid-1950 to Spring 1959 Dell promoted subscriptions to its non-Disney titles with what it called the Dell Comics Club. Membership was automatic with any one year subscription to such titles and came with a certificate of membership plus a group portrait of the most prominent non-Disney characters published by Dell. Dell also offered various subscription premiums during the 1940s and 1950s (in some cases these were prints of covers or other character artwork and in one instance a cel from a Warner Brothers cartoon) in what Mark Evanier has dubbed a coordinated concerted "aggressive subscription push"[29] and offered the option of an illustrated note or card be sent to the recipients of a gift subscription for birthdays or Christmas.[30]
Multi-year subscriptions were also available (in the case of Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, at one point in the 1940s subscriptions for up to five years were offered).[31][32]
Alternate format
[edit]In 1961, Dell issued two atypical, comic-book like paperbacks without coloring, with cardboard covers and heavier-weight paper than standard comics, and selling for one dollar when most comic books were 12 cents: the 116-page The Flintstones on the Rocks[33] and the 117-page Huck & Yogi Jamboree[34][35] One historian describes the latter as "a collection of drawings with text (there's not a word balloon to be found). But there are drawings that are sequential which tell stories.... [T]his was intended for Huck and Yogi's adult fans. Of which there apparently were more than a few, given the format and high price â $1!"[36]
Corporate acquisitions
[edit]Dell was acquired by Doubleday in 1976.[37] Doubleday was acquired by Bertelsmann in 1986, who formed Bantam Doubleday Dell as its US subsidiary.[38] Bertelsmann acquired Random House in 1998 and renamed its US business after the acquisition.[39] After the merger, Bantam was merged with Dell Publishing.[40] In 2001, Random House purchased Golden Books' book publishing properties[41] effectively reuniting the remnants of Dell and Western Publishing. Bantam Dell became part of the Random House publishing group in 2008.[42] Ballantine Books was merged with Bantam Dell in 2010.[43] In 2013, Random House merged with Penguin to form Penguin Random House.[44]
Fan revivals
[edit]After Dell ceased publication, a number of its obscure characters were brought back in independent comics. In August 2016, InDELLible Comics was formed in tribute to the public domain characters orphaned by Dell. In July 2017, All-New Popular Comics #1 was published, and was #1 in its category on Amazon upon release. Founded and edited by the team of Jim Ludwig, David Noe and DĂŚrick GrĂśss Sr., the first issue featured some original characters as well as stories and cameos with many Dell characters.
Publications
[edit]#
[edit]- 1000 Jokes #14â129 (1938âMay 1969)
- 12 O'Clock High #1â2 (MarchâApril 1965)
- 6 Black Horses (January 1963)
- 87th Precinct #2 (July-September 1962)
A
[edit]- Abraham Lincoln Life Story #1 (March 1958)
- Adlai Stevenson (1900â1965) (December 1966)
- Adventures of Mighty Mouse #144â155 (OctoberâDecember 1959âJuly-September 1962)
- Air War Stories #1â8 (November 1964âAugust 1966)
- Alley Oop #1â2 (December 1962-February 1963âSeptember-November 1963)
- Alvin #1â28 (October 1962âOctober 1973)
- Alvin and His Pals in Merry Christmas with Clyde Crashup and Leonardo (December 1963-February 1964)
- Alvin for President #1 (August-October 1964)
- America in Action #1 (Winter 1945)
- Animal Comics #1â30 (1942âDecember 1947)
- Around the Block with Dunc and Loo #1â3 (October-December 1961âApril-June 1962)[N 1]
- Around the World Under the Sea (December 1966)
B
[edit]- Bachelor Father #2 (September-November 1962)
- Barbie and Ken #1â5 (May 1962âNovember 1963)
- Barry M. Goldwater (March 1965)
- Bat Masterson #2â9 (February 1960âJanuary 1962)
- Battle of the Bulge (June 1966)
- Beach Blanket Bingo (September 1965)
- Beany and Cecil #1â5 (July 1962âSeptember 1963)
- The Beatles (September-November 1964)
- Beep Beep â The Road Runner #4â14 (February-April 1960âAugust-October 1962)[N 2]
- Ben Casey #1â10 (July 1962âAugust 1965)
- Beetle Bailey #5â38 (February-April 1956âMay-July 1962)[N 3]
- The Beverly Hillbillies #1â21 (April 1963âOctober 1971)
- Bewitched #1â14 (April 1965âOctober 1969)
- The Big Valley #1â6 (June 1966âOctober 1969)
- The Blue Phantom (June-August 1962)
- Bon Voyage! (December 1962)
- Bonanza (2 issues, May-July 1962âAugust-October 1962)[N 2]
- Bozo the Clown #2â7 (July-September 1951âOctoberâDecember 1962)
- Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown #1â4 (May-July 1962âOctober-December 1963)
- The Brady Bunch #1â2 (FebruaryâMay 1970)
- Brain Boy #2â6 (September 1962âNovember 1963)
- Brenda Starr, Reporter #1 (October 1963)
- Buck Jones #2â8 (April-June 1951âOctober-December 1952)
- Buffalo Bill, Jr. #7â13 (April 1958âOctober 1959)
- Bugs Bunny #28â85 (December 1952-January 1953âJuly-September 1962)[N 4]
- Bugs Bunny's Christmas Funnies #1â9 (November 1950âDecember 1958)
- Bugs Bunny's Christmas Party #6 (November 1955)
- Bugs Bunny's County Fair #1 (September 1957)
- Bugs Bunny's Halloween Parade #1â2 (October 1953âOctober 1954)
- Bugs Bunny's Trick 'N' Treat Halloween Fun #3â4 (October 1955âOctober 1956)
- Bugs Bunny's Vacation Funnies #1â9 (July 1951â1959)
- Bullwinkle (July-September 1962)
- The Bullwinkle Mother Moose Nursery Pomes (May-July 1962)
- Burke's Law #1â3 (May 1964âMarch 1965)
C
[edit]- Cadet Gray of West Point #1 (April 1958)
- Cain's Hundred #1â2 (MayâSeptember 1962)
- Calvin and the Colonel #2 (JulyâSeptember 1962)
- Camp Runamuck #1 (April 1966)
- Car 54, Where Are You? #2â7 (August 1962âNovember 1963)
- The Castilian (January 1964)
- The Cat (December 1966)
- Charlie Chan #1â2 (October-December 1965âMarch 1966)
- Charlie McCarthy #1â9 (March-May 1949âJuly 1952)
- Cheyenne #4â25 (October 1957âJanuary 1962)
- Cheyenne Autumn (June 1965)
- The Chief #2 (April-June 1951)[N 5]
- Chip 'n' Dale #4â30 (December 1955-February 1956âJune-August 1962)[N 2]
- Christmas in Disneyland #1 (December 1957)
- A Christmas Treasury #1 (November 1954)
- Cicero's Cat #1â2 (July-August 1959âSeptember-October 1959)
- Cimarron Strip #1 (January 1968)
- Circus World (September 1964)
- The Cisco Kid #2â41 (January 1951âOctober 1958)
- Clyde Crashcup #1â5 (August 1963âNovember 1964)
- Colt .45 #4â9 (February 1963âJune 1961)
- Combat #1â40 (October-November 1961âOctober 1973)
- Comic Album #1â18 (March-May 1958âJune-August 1962)
- The Comics #1â11 (March 1937âNovember 1938)
- Countdown (October 1967)
- The Courtship of Eddie's Father #1â2 (JanuaryâMay 1970)
- Crackajack Funnies #1â43 (June 1938âJanuary 1942)
- The Creature (February 1963)
D
[edit]- Daffy Duck #4â30 (January-March 1956âJuly-September 1962)[N 6]
- Daktari #1â4 (July 1967âOctober 1969)
- David Ladd's Life Story (October-December 1962)
- Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier #1 (September 1955)
- Dazey's Diary #1 (June-August 1962)
- The Defenders #1â2 (November 1962âApril 1963)
- Dell Giant #21â55 (September 1959âSeptember 1962)
- Dell Junior Treasury #1â10 (January 1955âOctober 1957)
- Die, Monster, Die! (March 1966)
- The Dirty Dozen (October 1967)
- Disneyland Birthday Party #1 (October 1958)
- Diver Dan #2 (JuneâAugust 1962)
- Donald and Mickey in Disneyland #1 (May 1958)
- Donald Duck #26â84 (November 1952âSeptember-November 1962)[N 7]
- Donald Duck Album #1 (May-July 1962)
- Donald Duck Beach Party #1â6 (July 1954âAugust 1959)
- Donald Duck Fun Book (1953âOctober 1954)
- Donald Duck in Disneyland #1 (September 1955)
- Dr. Kildare #2â9 (July-September 1962âApril-June 1965)
- Dr. Who and the Daleks (December 1966)
- Dracula (October-December 1962)
- Dracula #2â4 (November 1966âMarch 1967)
- Drift Marlo #1â2 (JuneâDecember 1962)
- Dunc and Loo #4â8 (July-August 1962âOctober-December 1963)
- Dwight D. Eisenhower #1 (December 1969)
E
[edit]- El Dorado (October 1967)
- Ensign O'Toole #1â2 (August-October 1963â1964)
- Ensign Pulver (October 1964)
- Espionage #1â2 (May-July 1964âOctober 1964)
F
[edit]- F-Troop #1â7 (August 1966âAugust 1967)
- The F.B.I. (April-June 1965)
- Fairy Tale Parade #1â9 (June-July 1942âNovember 1943-January 1944)
- Famous Feature Stories #1 (1938)
- Famous Indian Tribes #1â2 (September 1962âJuly 1972)
- Famous Stories #1â2 (1942)
- Felix the Cat (series 1) #1â19 (February-March 1948âFebruary-March 1951)[N 8]
- Felix the Cat (series 2) #1â12 (September-November 1962âJuly-September 1965)
- Flash Gordon #2 (May-July 1953)
- The Flintstones #2â6 (December 1961âJuly 1962)[N 9]
- The Flintstones on the Rocks (1961)
- The Flying A's Range Rider #2â24 (June 1953âDecember 1958)
- The Flying Nun #1â4 (FebruaryâNovember 1968)
- Flying Saucers Comics #1â5 (April 1967âOctober 1969)
- Follow the Sun #1â2 (JulyâNovember 1962)
- Four Color (series 1) #1â25 (JulyâSeptember 1939â1942)
- Four Color (series 2) #1â1354 (June 1942âAprilâJune 1962)
- Frankenstein (March-May 1963)
- Frankenstein 2â4 (September 1966âMarch 1967)
- Freddy #1â3 (May-July 1963âOctoberâDecember 1964)
- Friday Foster #1 (October 1972)
- The Frogmen #2â11 (May-July 1962âNovember 1964-January 1965)
- The Funnies (series 1) #1â36 (April 1929âOctober 1930)
- The Funnies (series 2) #1â64 (October 1936âMay 1942)
- Fury (JuneâAugust 1962)
G
[edit]- Gang Busters #10, #17 (1939â1941)
- Garrison's Gorillas #1â5 (January 1968âOctober 1969)
- Gene Autry Comics #1â121 issues (May 1946âMarch 1959)[N 10]
- Gene Autry's Champion #3â19 (October 1951âOctober 1955)
- Gentle Ben #1â5 (February 1968âOctober 1969)
- Gerald McBoing Boing and the Nearsighted Mr. Magoo #1â6 (5 issues, October 1952-October 1953)[N 11]
- Get Smart #1â8 (June 1966-September 1967)
- Ghost Stories #1â37 (November 1962âOctober 1973)[N 12]
- Gidget #1â2 (AprilâDecember 1966)
- Gil Thorp #1 (May-July 1963)
- Golden West Rodeo Treasury #1 (October 1957)
- Goofy (September-November 1962)
- The Great Race (March 1966)
- Guerrilla War #12â14 (July-December 1965âMarch 1966)
- Gulliver's Travels #1 (September-November 1965)
- Gunsmoke #6â27 (November 1957-January 1958âJune-July 1961)[N 2]
- Gyro Gearloose #1 (MayâJuly 1962)
H
[edit]- The Hallelujah Trail (February 1966)
- Hatari! (January 1963)
- Have Gun, Will Travel #4â14 (January 1960âSeptember 1962)
- Heckle and Jeckle #1â3 (MayâNovember 1966)
- Henry #1â65 (January-March 1948âJune 1961)
- Henry Aldrich #1â22 (August 1950âSeptember-November 1954)
- Hogan's Heroes #1â9 (June 1966âOctober 1969)
- Hope Ship (June-August 1963)
- The Horizontal Lieutenant (October 1962)
- Howdy Doody #1â38 (January 1950âJuly-September 1956)
- Huck and Yogi Jamboree (March 1961)
- Huckleberry Hound #3â17 (January-February 1960âJune-August 1962)[N 13]
- Huey, Dewey and Louie Back to School #1 (September 1958)
I
[edit]- I Dream of Jeannie #1â2 (AprilâDecember 1966)
- I Love Lucy #3â35 (August 1954âApril 1962)
- I'm Dickens, He's Fenster #1â2 (JulyâOctober 1963)
- Idaho #1â8 (July 1963âSeptember 1965)
- The Incredible Mr. Limpet (August 1964)
- Indian Chief #3â33 (September 1951âJanuary 1959)
- Iron Horse #1â2 (MarchâJune 1967)
- Ivanhoe #1 (September 1963)
J
[edit]- Jace Pearson of the Texas Rangers #2â9 (July 1953-April 1955)
- Jace Pearson's Tales of the Texas Rangers #11â20 (May 1956-August 1958)
- Jack the Giant Killer (January 1963)
- Jason and the Argonauts (October 1963)
- John F. Kennedy (1917â1963) (August-October 1964)
- Johnny Jason, Teen Reporter (June-August 1962)
- Johnny Mack Brown #2â10 (December 1950-November 1952)
- Jungle Jim #3â19 (December 1954âMarch 1959)
- Jungle War Stories #1â11 (September 1962âAugust 1965)[N 14]
K
[edit]- King Leonardo and His Short Subjects (May-June 1962)
- King of Diamonds #1 (July-September 1962)
- King of the Royal Mounted #8â28 (June-August 1952âMarch-May 1958)
- Kit Karter #1 (May-July 1962)
- Knights of the Round Table #1 (November 1963-January 1964)
- Kona, Monarch of Monster Isle #2â21 (July 1962âMarch 1967)
- Kookie #1â2 (February-April 1962âMay-July 1962)
- Krazy Kat #1â5 (May-June 1951âAugust-October 1952)
L
[edit]- Lady and the Tramp #1 (June 1955)
- Lancelot and Guinevere (October 1963)
- Large Feature Comics #1â27 (March 1942â1943)
- Lassie #1â58 (October 1950âJuly 1962)
- Laurel and Hardy (August-October 1962)
- Laurel and Hardy #2â4 (March-May 1963âSeptember-November 1963)
- Lawman #3â11 (February 1960âApril 1962)
- Lawrence of Arabia (August 1963)
- Leave It to Beaver (May-July 1962)
- The Legend of Custer #1 (January 1968)
- The Lieutenant #1 (April-June 1964)
- Life Stories of American Presidents #1 (November 1957)
- Linda Lark #1â8 (October-December 1961âAugust-October 1963)
- Lion of Sparta (January 1963)
- Little Beaver #3â8 (October-December 1951âJanuary-March 1953)
- Little Iodine #1â50 (March-May 1950âOctober-December 1960)
- Little Lulu #1â164 (January-February 1948âJuly-September 1962) â later continued by Western, et al.
- Little Lulu and Her Friends #4 (March 1956)
- Little Lulu and Her Special Friends #3 (March 1955)
- Little Lulu and Tubby at Summer Camp #2, #5 (October 1957 October 1958)
- Little Lulu on Vacation #1 (July 1954)
- Little Lulu Tubby Annual #1â2 (March 1953âMarch 1954)
- Little Orphan Annie #1â3 (March-May 1948âSeptember-November 1948)
- The Little Scouts #2â6 (October-December 1951âOctober-December 1952)
- The Littlest Snowman (December 1963-February 1964)
- Lobo #1â2 (December 1965âOctober 1966)
- Lolly and Pepper #1 (May-July 1962)
- The Lone Ranger #1â145 (January-February 1948âMay-July 1962)[N 2]
- The Lone Ranger Movie Story (March 1956)
- The Lone Ranger's Companion Tonto #1â33 (August-October 1951âNovember 1958-January 1959)
- The Lone Ranger's Famous Horse Hi-Yo Silver #3â36 (July 1952âOctober-December 1960)
- The Lone Ranger's Golden West #3 (August 1955)
- The Lone Ranger's Western Treasury #1â2 (September 1953âAugust 1954)[N 15]
- Looney Tunes #166â246 (August 1955âJuly-September 1962)[N 16]
- Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics #1â165 (1941âJuly 1955)[N 17]
- Ludwig Von Drake #1â4 (November 1963-June 1962)
- Lulu and Alvin Storytelling Time #1 (March 1959)
- Lulu and Tubby Halloween Fun #2, #6 (October 1957âOctober 1958)
- Lulu and Tubby in Alaska #1 (July 1959)
- Lulu and Tubby in Japan (May-July 1962)
- Lyndon B. Johnson #1 (March 1965)
M
[edit]- Mad Monster Party? (September 1967)
- The Magic Sword (September 1962)
- Man from Wells Fargo (May-July 1962)
- Margie #2 (July-September 1962)
- The Masque of the Red Death (October 1964)
- Maverick #7â19 (October 1959-June 1962)
- Maya (December 1966)
- McHale's Navy #1â3 (May 1963âNovember 1963)
- McHale's Navy (film adaptation) (October 1964)
- McKeever and the Colonel #1â3 (FebruaryâOctober 1963)
- Melvin Monster #1â10 (April 1963âOctober 1969)
- Merrill's Marauders (January 1963)
- Mickey Mouse #28â84 (December 1952âJuly-September 1962)[N 18]
- Mickey Mouse Album (August-October 1962)
- Mickey Mouse Almanac #1 (December 1957)
- Mickey Mouse Birthday Party #1 (September 1953)
- Mickey Mouse Club Parade #1 (December 1955)
- Mickey Mouse in Fantasyland #1 (May 1957)
- Mickey Mouse Summer Fun #1 (August 1958)[N 19]
- Mike Shayne, Private Eye #1â3 (November 1962âMay 1963)
- The Mighty Heroes #1â4 (MarchâJuly 1967)
- Mighty Mouse #161â172 (March 1966âOctober 1968)
- Miss Peach #1 (October-December 1963)
- Mission: Impossible #1â5 (May 1967âOctober 1969)
- Millie the Lovable Monster #1â6 (September-November 1962âJanuary 1973)
- Mister Magoo #3â5 (MarchâSeptember 1963)
- The Mod Squad #1â8 (January 1969âApril 1971)
- The Monkees #1â17 (March 1967âOctober 1969)
- The Monroes #1 (April 1967)
- Monsterville #1 (1962)
- Moon Mullins #29 (1942)
- Moses and the Ten Commandments (August 1957)
- Mouse Musketeers #8â21 (June 1957âMay 1960)
- The Mouse on the Moon (October 1963)
- Mr. Magoo and Gerald McBoing Boing #6 (June 1954)
- The Mummy (November 1962)
- The Music Man (January 1963)
- Mysterious Isle #1 (November 1963-January 1964)
N
[edit]- The Naked Prey (December 1966)
- Nancy and Sluggo #146â187 (September 1957âApril 1962)[N 20]
- Nancy and Sluggo Travel Time #1 (September 1958)
- Nanny and the Professor #1â2 (AugustâOctober 1970)
- National Velvet (2 issues, May-July 1962âAugust-October 1962)
- Naza, Stone Age Warrior #1â9 (November 1963âMarch 1966)
- Neutro #1 (January 1967)
- New Funnies #65â288 (July 1942âApril 1962)
- The New People #1â2 (JanuaryâMay 1970)
- New Terrytoons #1â8 (August 1960âMay 1962)
- Nickel Comics #1 (1938)
- The Night of the Grizzly (December 1966)
- No Time for Sergeants #1â3 (February-April 1965âAugust-October 1965)
- None but the Brave (June 1965)
- Nukla #1â4 (October 1965âSeptember 1966)
O
[edit]- Operation Bikini (October 1963)
- Operation Crossbow (December 1965)
- Our Gang Comics #1â59 (October 1942âJune 1949)
- The Outer Limits #1â18 (March 1963âOctober 1969)
P
[edit]- Peanuts #4â13 (February 1960âMay 1962)
- Perry Mason #1â2 (June-August 1964âOctober-December 1964)
- Peter Pan Treasure Chest #1 (January 1953)
- Petticoat Junction #1â5 (December 1964âOctober 1965)
- Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks #1 (May-July 1962)
- Pogo Possum #1â16 (December 1949âJune 1954)
- Pogo Parade #1 (September 1953)
- Ponytail #1â12 (September 1962âDecember 1965)[N 21]
- Popeye #1â65 (February-April 1948âJuly-September 1962)[N 22]
- Popular Comics #1â145 (February 1936âSeptember 1948)
- Porky Pig #25â81 (December 1952âApril 1962)[N 2]
- The Prince and the Pauper (May-July 1962)
- Private Secretary #1â2 (December-February 1963âMarch-May 1963)
Q
[edit]- Queen of the West â Dale Evans #3â22 (July 1954âMarch 1959)
- Quick Draw McGraw #2â11 (April-June 1960âJuly 1962)[N 23]
R
[edit]- Raggedy Ann and Andy (series 1) #1â39 (June 1946âAugust 1949)
- Raggedy Ann and Andy (series 2) #1â4 (December 1964âMarch 1966)
- Raggedy Ann and Andy #1 (February 1955)
- Rango #1 (August 1967)
- The Rat Patrol #1â6 (March 1967âOctober 1969)
- The Raven (September 1963)
- Rawhide (June-August 1962)
- The Real McCoys (May 1962)
- Red Ryder #1â151 (September 1940âJune 1957)
- Rex Allen #2â31 (September-November 1951âDecember 1958-February 1959)
- The Rifleman #2â12 (January 1960âJuly 1962)[N 24]
- Rin Tin Tin #4â38 (May 1953âJuly 1961)
- Ring of Bright Water (October 1969)
- Robin Hood #1 (May-July 1963)
- Robinson Crusoe #1 (November 1963-January 1964)
- Room 222 #1â4 (January 1970-January 1971)
- Rootie Kazootie #4â6 (JuneâDecember 1954)
- Roy Rogers and Trigger #92â145 (August 1955âSeptember-October 1961)
- Roy Rogers Comics #1â91 (January 1948âJuly 1955)[N 25]
- Roy Rogers' Trigger #2â17 (September-November 1951âJune-August 1955)
- Ruff and Reddy #4â12 (January-March 1960âJanuary-March 1962)
- The Runaway (December 1964)
S
[edit]- Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (March 1966)
- Santa Claus Funnies #1 (November 1952)
- Scamp #5â16 (March-May 1958âDecember 1960-February 1961)
- Sea Hunt #4â13 (March 1960âJune 1962)
- Sergeant Preston of the Yukon #5â29 (January 1953âJanuary 1959)
- Silly Symphonies #1â9 (September 1952âFebruary 1959)
- Sinbad Jr. #1â3 (September 1965âMay 1966)
- Ski Party (November 1965)
- Sleeping Beauty #1 (April 1959)
- Smilin' Jack #1â8 (March 1938-December 1949)
- Smitty #1â7 (April 1948-October 1949)
- Smoky (February 1967)
- The Sons of Katie Elder (November 1965)
- Space Man #2â10 (May 1962-October 1972)
- Spike and Tyke #4â24 (February 1956âFebruary 1961)
- Spin and Marty #5â9 (May 1958âAugust 1959)
- Stoney Burke #1â2 (AugustâNovember 1963)
- Super Comics #1â121 (May 1938âFebruary 1949)
- Super Heroes #1â4 (1967)[N 26]
T
[edit]- Tales from the Tomb #1 (October 1962)
- Tales of Terror (February 1963)
- Tales of the Green Beret #1â5 (5 issues, January 1966-October 1969)
- Target: The Corruptors! #2â3 (June-August 1962âOctober-December 1962)
- Tarzan #1â131 (January 1948âSeptember 1962)[N 16]
- Tarzan's Jungle Annual #1â7 (1952âSeptember 1958)
- T.H.E. Cat #1â4 (MarchâOctober 1997)
- Thirteen Going on Eighteen #1â29 (1961â1971) â written by John Stanley
- The Three Stooges #6â9 (November 1961âAugust 1962)[N 27]
- The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (August 1962)
- Tiny Tots Comics #1 (1943)
- Toka, Jungle King #1â10 (October 1964âJanuary 1967)
- Tom and Jerry Comics #60â212 (July 1949âJuly 1962)[N 28]
- Tom and Jerry Picnic Time #1 (July 1958)
- Tom and Jerry Summer Fun #1â2 (July 1954âJuly 1955)[N 29]
- Tom and Jerry Winter Carnival #1â2 (December 1952âDecember 1953)[N 30]
- Tom and Jerry's Back to School #1 (September 1956)
- Tom and Jerry's Summer Fun #3â4 (July 1956âJuly 1957)
- Tom and Jerry's Toy Fair #1 (June 1958)
- Tom and Jerry's Winter Fun #3â7 (December 1954âNovember 1958)
- Tom Corbett, Space Cadet #4â11 (November 1953-September 1954)
- The Tomb of Ligeia (June 1965)
- Top Cat #1â3 (December 1961âJune 1962)[N 31]
- Treasure Island (July-September 1962)
- A Treasury of Dogs #1 (October 1956)
- A Treasury of Horses #1 (September 1955)
- Tubby #5â49 (July 1953âDecember 1961-February 1962)
- Tubby and His Clubhouse Pals #1 (October 1956)
- Turok, Son of Stone #3â29 (March-May 1956âSeptember-November 1962)[N 32]
- TV's New Adventures of Pinocchio #1â3 (October 1962â1963)
- Tweety and Sylvester #4â37 (March 1954-June 1962)[N 2]
- Twice-Told Tales (January 1964)
- The Twist (September 1962)
- Two on a Guillotine (June 1965)
U
[edit]- Uncle Scrooge #4â39 (February 1954âNovember 1962)[N 16]
- Uncle Scrooge Goes to Disneyland #1 (August 1957)
- Universal Pictures Presents Dracula, The Mummy Plus Other Stories (September-November 1963)
- The Untouchables (JulyâAugust 1962)
- U.S.A. ..is Ready! (1941)
V
[edit]- The Valley of Gwangi (December 1969)
- Voyage to the Deep #1â4 (September 1966-January 1964)
W
[edit]- Wagon Train #4â13 (March 1966-April 1962)
- Walt Disney Presents #2â6 (February 1960âDecember 1961)
- Walt Disney's Christmas Parade #1â9 (November 1949âDecember 1958)
- Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #1â263 (October 1940âJuly 1962)[N 16]
- Walt Disney's Picnic Party #6â8 (July 1955âJuly 1957)
- Walt Disney's Summer Fun #2 (August 1959)
- Walt Disney's Vacation Parade #1â5 (July 1950âJuly 1954)
- Walt Disney's Zorro #8â15 (December 1959âSeptember 1961)
- War Comics #1â4 (1940-1941)
- War Heroes #1â10 (September 1942-December 1944)
- The War Wagon (September 1967)
- War-Gods of the Deep (September 1965)
- Werewolf #1â3 (December 1966âApril 1967)
- Western Action Thrillers #1 (April 1937)
- Western Roundup #1â25 (June 1952âJanuary-March 1959)
- Who's Minding the Mint? (August 1967)
- Wild Bill Elliott Comics #2â17 (November 1950-June 1955)
- Winnie Winkle #1â7 (May 1948âNovember 1949)
- The Wolf Man (August 1963)
- Woody Woodpecker #16â72 (December 1952âMay-July 1962)[N 33]
- Woody Woodpecker's Back to School #1â6 (October 1952âOctober 1957)
- Woody Woodpecker's County Fair #2â5 (November 1958âSeptember 1956)
- World War Stories #1â3 (AprilâDecember 1965)
- Wyatt Earp #4â13 (September 1958âDecember 1960)
Y
[edit]- Yogi Bear #4â9 (September 1961âJune-September 1962)[N 34]
- The Young Lawyers #1â2 (JanuaryâApril 1971)
- The Young Rebels #1 (January 1971)
Z
[edit]- Zane Grey's Stories of the West #27â39 (September 1955âNovember 1958)
- Zulu (August 1964)
Notes
[edit]- â Continued from #4 as Dunc and Loo.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Later continued by Gold Key.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #39.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #86.
- â Continued from #3 as Indian Chief.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #31.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #85.
- â Continued by Toby Press from #20.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #7.
- â Continued from #102 as Gene Autry and Champion.
- â Continued from #6 as Mr. Magoo and Gerald McBoing Boing.
- â Issue #1 only written by John Stanley.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #18.
- â Continued from #12 as Guerilla War.
- â Continued from #3 as The Lone Ranger's Golden West.
- 1 2 3 4 Continued by Western, et al.
- â Continued from #166 as Looney Tunes.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #85.
- â Continued from #2 as Walt Disney's Summer Fun.
- â Continued from St. John Publications from #145; continued by Gold Key from #188.
- â Continued by Charlton from #13.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #66.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #12.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #13.
- â Continued from #92 as Roy Rogers and Trigger.
- â Featuring the "Fab 4", a superhero team unrelated to the Beatles.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #10.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #213.
- â Continued from #3 as Tom and Jerry's Summer Fun.
- â Continued from #3 as Tom and Jerry's Winter Fun.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #4.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #30.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #73.
- â Continued by Gold Key from #10.
References
[edit]- 1 2 Evanier, Mark. "What was the relationship between Dell Comics and Gold Key Comics?" Archived 2006-01-10 at the Wayback Machine
- 1 2 "Good Friends for Him... and Mother Too.. in Dell Comics!" Saturday Evening Post (January 10, 1953).
- â U.S. Library of Congress, The Funnies, "American Treasures of the Library of Congress" exhibition. WebCitation archive.
- â Goulart, Ron (2004). "The Funnies: I". Comic Book Encyclopedia. New York: Harper Entertainment. p. 163. ISBN 978-0060538163.
- â Funnies, The (Dell, Film Humor, Inc. [#1-2]; Dell Publishing Co. [#3-36] imprint, 1929 Series) at the Grand Comics Database
- 1 2 Coville, Jamie (n.d.). "The History of Comic Books: Introduction and 'The Platinum Age 1897 - 1938]'". CollectorTimes.com via TheComicBooks.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010.
- â Goulart, "Famous Funnies", p. 144
- â Famous Famous - Carnival of Comics at the Grand Comics Database.
- â Goulart, "Famous Funnies", p. 145
- â Famous Funnies: Series 1 at the Grand Comics Database.
- â Overstreet, Robert, ed. (2011). Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (41 ed.). pp. 283, 571.
- â "The Gaines-Hecht Letters â The Comics Detective". September 5, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- â "Comic Books and Their Adventures". www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- â Canote, Terence Towles (September 25, 2004). "A Shroud of Thoughts: The Great M. C. Gaines". A Shroud of Thoughts. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- â Carlson, Mark. "Funny Business: A History of the Comics Industry" Archived 2009-08-06 at the Wayback Machine Nostalgia Zine v.1 #1 (2005).
- â Kidman 2019, p. 85.
- â Torcivia, Joe (August 21, 2019). "Joe Torcivia's The Issue At Hand Blog: Adventures in Comic-Boxing: Take THAT, Dell!". Joe Torcivia's The Issue At Hand Blog. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- â Naza, Stone Age Warrior at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived[link removed] from the original on August 17, 2015.
- â Superheroes at the Grand Comics Database
- â Super Heroes at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived[link removed] from the original on April 13, 2012.
- â Dell at the Grand Comics Database
- â Kidman 2019, p. 29.
- â Kidman 2019, p. 31.
- â Booker, Marvin Keith, ed. (2014). Comics through time: a history of icons, idols, and ideas. Santa Barbara, California: Greenwood. ISBNÂ 978-0-313-39750-9.
- â Barrier, Michael. "Behind the Li'l Eight Ball" (September 2009). Archived 2009-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
- â Comic Books and Juvenile Delinquency: Interim Report of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Archived May 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- â ""Dell Comics Are Good Comics" | PAUL GRAVETT". paulgravett.com. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- â Beaty, Bart. Fredric Wertham and the Critique of Mass Culture. Jackson, MSÂ : University Press of Mississippi, 2005. pp. 147-148
- â Christmas Comics Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine
- â "Image Browser". Archived from the original on June 15, 2009.
- â "The New Dell Comics Club". Archived from the original on February 23, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
- â "CBGXtra.com -- Forums". Archived from the original on February 26, 2008.
- â "Flintstones on the Rocks (Dell, 1961)". Heritage Auctions. March 7, 2003. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
- â Overstreet, Robert M., ed. (2012). "Huck & Yogi Jamboree, Dell Publishing Co., March 1961". The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide 2012-2013 (42 ed.). Timonium, Maryland: Gemstone Publishing. p. 669.
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - â Huck and Yogi Jamboree at the Grand Comics Database.
- â Bennett, Steve (July 23, 2012). "Comic Book Compulsive: Huck and Yogi Jamboree". International Team of Comics Historians. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
- â Krebs, Albin (April 30, 1976). "It's Official: Doubleday Acquires Dell". The New York Times. ISSNÂ 0362-4331. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- â Tagliabue, John (July 23, 1984). "German Publisher Widens U.s. Role". The New York Times. ISSNÂ 0362-4331. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- â Random House Company History, from Fundinguniverse.com Archived 4 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed April 13, 2008.
- â Carvajal, Doreen (May 28, 1999). "Bertelsmann Is Reorganizing Random House". The New York Times. ISSNÂ 0362-4331. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- â "'Poky Little' $84M deal". CNN. Reuters. August 16, 2001. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- â "Massive Reorganization at Random House: Steve Rubin, Irwyn Applebaum Step Down; Doubleday and Bantam Divisions Dismantled". Observer. December 3, 2008. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- â "Ballantine and Bantam Dell Come Together Under McGuire". Publishers Lunch. April 13, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- â Bosman, Julie (July 1, 2013). "Penguin and Random House Merge, Saying Change Will Come Slowly". The New York Times. ISSNÂ 0362-4331. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
Works cited
[edit]External links
[edit]- Dell Comics at Inducks
- Dell Comics section at International Catalogue of Superheroes
- Dell Comics at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017
- Interview with Mel Keefer
- Writing the Dell Way Gil Turner's Oct. 25, 1952 letter to the wife of Preston Blair outlining based on his experience the formula to scripting for Dell Comics
- Obituary for Robert Schaefer
- Obituary for Roger Armstrong Archived 2008-12-27 at the Wayback Machine
- Scans of script by Chase Craig for Porky Pig story in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies #88 (February 1949)
- Michael Barrier on the Dell Comics Club
- The Last Li'l Eight Ball story from New Funnies #128 (August 1947)
- Chronological listings of all Four-Colors
- Dell Comics
- Gold Key Comics
- 1929 establishments in New York (state)
- 1973 disestablishments in New York (state)
- Defunct companies based in New York City
- Disney comics publishers
- American companies established in 1929
- American companies disestablished in 1973
- Publishing companies established in 1929
- Publishing companies disestablished in 1973
- Publishing companies based in New York City