Popular Comics – Key Highlights
-
Publisher: Dell Comics
-
Publication Date: July 1943
-
Cover Artist: Not specified
-
Writers and Artists: Milton Caniff, Bill Holman, Frank King, Zack Mosley, Boody Rogers, Elliott Caplin, Jay McArdle, Cliff Sterrett, Frank Thomas, E. C. Stoner, and Gus Edson
-
Genre: Adventure, Humor, Drama
-
Pages: 64, Full Color
-
Original Cover Price: $0.10
🔥 Key Significance
-
An early Dell comic book anthology combining reprinted newspaper comic strips with new comic-book material.
-
Features an impressive collection of established newspaper features, including Terry and the Pirates, Smilin' Jack, Gasoline Alley, The Gumps, and Smokey Stover.
-
Includes the debut of Dr. Bobbs, a medical-drama strip following a doctor's first emergency call.
-
Offers a diverse mix of aviation adventure, humor, drama, crime, and engineering-themed features.
📖 Story Highlights
-
“Buddies” – A featured comic strip included in the anthology.
-
“The Gumps” – The popular family and humor strip.
-
“Smilin' Jack” – Jack attempts to teach Rabbit how to fly a plane, but Rabbit's nickname may be more appropriate than anyone realizes.
-
“Terry and the Pirates” – Terry discovers he has walked directly into the Dragon Lady's stronghold, realizing his predicament only when he hears her laugh. Written and illustrated by Milton Caniff.
-
“Polly and Her Pals” – The popular humor strip by Cliff Sterrett.
-
“Spooky” – A featured humor strip.
-
“Dr. Bobbs” – The debut of a medical-drama strip, featuring Dr. Bobbs on his first emergency call.
-
“The War and Tulik” – A featured strip included in the issue.
-
“Smokey Stover” – Bill Holman's popular newspaper strip, known for its distinctive visual humor and wordplay.
-
“Gasoline Alley” – Frank King's celebrated newspaper comic strip.
-
“Gang Busters” – A crime-themed feature.
-
“Those Remarkable Engineers” – An engineering-themed feature rounding out the anthology.
📌 Additional Details
-
Format: 64-page, full-color anthology.
-
Content: Combines syndicated newspaper comic-strip reprints with new material.
-
Notable Creators: Milton Caniff, Frank King, Cliff Sterrett, Zack Mosley, and Bill Holman.
-
Cover Price: 10 cents.
This July 1943 Dell anthology is a terrific snapshot of early comic-book publishing, bringing together some of the most recognizable newspaper strips of the era alongside newer features, including the debut of Dr. Bobbs.
