Comics on Parade #1 – Key Highlights
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Publisher: United Features Syndicate
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Publication Date: April 1938
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Editor: Not specified
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Cover Artist: Not specified
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Genre: Adventure / Humor / Newspaper Reprints
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Pages: 64
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Original Cover Price: $0.10
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Alternate Listing: Sometimes cataloged as Comics on Parade Vol. 1 #1.
🔥 Key Significance
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An important early publication in the transition of newspaper comic strips into the comic-book format.
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United Features Syndicate assembled an impressive showcase of its popular newspaper strips, bringing together characters and creators from across its syndicated lineup.
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Features the debut comic-book adventures of three major newspaper-strip properties:
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Tarzan of the Apes, illustrated by Hal Foster, who would later become famous for creating Prince Valiant.
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Li'l Abner, created by Al Capp.
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Abbie and Slats, illustrated by Raeburn Van Buren.
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The issue also includes an illustrated biography of Hollywood screen legend James Cagney.
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Its colorful cover features a parade of familiar and lesser-known newspaper comic-strip characters from the 1930s.
📖 Story & Feature Highlights
- “Tarzan of the Apes”
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Art by Hal Foster.
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The infant son of Lord Greystoke is shipwrecked on the African coast and raised by great apes, eventually becoming Tarzan.
- “Li'l Abner”
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Created by Al Capp.
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Features the debut comic-book adventures of the legendary rural comic-strip character.
- “Abbie an' Slats”
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Art by Raeburn Van Buren.
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Country spinster Abbie meets her orphaned cousin Aubrey for the first time. She knows he's a city boy, but isn't prepared for the rough-and-tumble teenager who calls himself Slats.
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“Danny”
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“The Captain and the Kids”
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“Wayne Webster of Waverly Prep”
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“Roads of Romance”
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“Jest di-Jest”
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“Cynical Susie”
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“Broncho Bill”
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“Looy Dot Dope”
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“Colonel Wowser”
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“Joe Jinks”
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“Fritzi Ritz”
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“Billy Make Believe”
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“Mr. and Mrs. Beans”
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“Bucky and His Pals”
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“Little Mary Mixup”
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“Benny”
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“Opportunity Knox”
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“Ella Cinders”
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“Danny Dingle”
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“Dub Dabs”
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“Jasper”
📌 Additional Details
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Special Feature: Illustrated biography of actor James Cagney.
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Creator Lineup: Includes Hal Foster, Al Capp, Ernie Bushmiller, Rudolph Dirks, Raeburn Van Buren, and numerous other newspaper cartoonists.
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Format: Full-color, oversized anthology showcasing syndicated newspaper comics.
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Historical Context: Published in April 1938, during the early development of the American comic-book industry.
Comics on Parade #1 is a significant pre-Golden Age publication, bringing together an extraordinary collection of newspaper-strip talent and featuring early comic-book appearances of Tarzan, Li'l Abner, and Abbie and Slats.
