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supermanfanpodcast · 3 years

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Download Episode 397!

NEW FUN COMICS 1, February 1935, was published on January 11, 1935. It contained 32 pages for the cover price of 10¢. Lloyd Jacquet was the editor. It was published by National Allied Publications, the company that would evolve into the DC Comics we know today.

FAMOUS FIRST EDITION: NEW FUN COMICS #1 was published on May 19, 2020 for the cover price of $19.99.

- (8:29) I review the book, JACKIE ORMES: THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN CARTOONIST by Nancy Goldstein, published by the University Of Michigan Press in 2019. This book was 226 pages long.

- (11:45) MY PULL LIST, where I review the comic books that carried the November 2020 cover date, which were released during the month of September, and I received from Discount Comic Book Service.

- (26:45) Before the reprint of NEW FUN COMICS 1, this FAMOUS FIRST EDITION had two introductions. The first was titled, THE START OF SOMETHING BIG, written by comic book historian Jerry Bails for a previously planned reprint of this issue that was eventually never published.

- (28:33) A SECOND INTRODUCTION was written by Roy Thomas, explaining why that first reprint never happened, and what the historical significance is of this issue.

- (30:11) JACK WOOD, subtitled PANCH VILLA Part I, a western adventure was written and drawn by Lyman Anderson, according to Mike's Amazing World Of DC Comics. The Grand Comic Book Database gives this feature the subtitle as, DON NAGLES - CATTLE RUSTLER Part I, written by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson and drawn by Lyman Anderson. Jack Wood rode into the sunset with his final appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS 42, September 1939.

- (33:27) The adventure strip SANDRA OF THE SECRET SERVICE in THE GAVONIA AFFAIR part I, was written and drawn by Charles Flanders, according to Mike's Amazing World Of DC Comics, while the Grand Comic Book Database credits Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson as the writer and Charles Flanders as the artist. Sandra's final mission for the Secret Service would occur in MORE FUN COMICS 35, September 1935.

- (34:11) The comic strip OSWALD RABBIT, which was written and drawn by John Lindermeyer, appeared on the bottom of the page. It filled the gap at the bottom of the page below not only SANDRA OF THE SECRET SERVICE, but many of the early features in this issue. Oswald made his final appearance in MORE FUN COMICS 7, January 1936, but would make various appearances in various titles for other comic book publishers.

- (35:03) JIGGER AND GINGER, a teen humor strip, writer unknown, was drawn by Adolph Schus. They would make only one other appearance in NEW FUN COMICS 2, March 1935.

- (35:50) The adventure strip BARRY O'NEIL, in FANG GOW OF CHINA part I, according to Mike's Amazing World Of DC Comics, was written by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson and drawn by Lawrence Lariar. Barry's final adventure occurred in ADVENTURE COMICS 60, March 1941.

- (37:17) THE MAGIC CRYSTAL OF HISTORY, a kid adventure strip, was written and drawn by Adolphe Barreaux. Bobby and Binks would take their final historical adventure via the Magic Crystal in MORE FUN COMICS 50, December 1939.

- (38:45) The adventure strip WING BRADY: SOLDIER OF FORTUNE began with THE BEDOUINS part I. Mike's Amazing World Of DC Comics credits Henry Carl Kiefer (who signed his name as de Korosett, his wife's maiden name) as the writer and artist, while the Grand Comic Book Database lists Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson as the writer and Kiefer as the artist. Brady's final adventure occurred in MORE FUN COMICS 52, February 1941.

- (40:19) Sir Walter Scott's IVANHOE was adapted to comic book form by Charles Flanders, according to Mike's Amazing World Of DC Comics, while the Grand Comic Book Database lists Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson as the writer of this adaption and Flanders as the artists. This adaption of IVANHOE ended with MORE FUN COMICS 27, December 1937.

- (41:54) JUDGE PERKINS, a humor strip, was written and drawn by Bert Nelson Haig. The Judge would only have one more misadventure, in NEW FUN COMICS 2.

- (42:57) The science fiction adventure, DON DRAKE ON THE PLANET SARO, was written by Ken Fitch and drawn by Joseph Clemmens Gretter, who signed his art as Clem Gretter. Drake had his final adventure in MORE FUN COMICS 17, January 1937.

- (44:17) LOCO LUKE, a western humor strip, was written and drawn by Jack A. Warren. Loco Luke rode into the sunset after NEW FUN COMICS 4, May 1945.

- (46:41) SPOOK RANCH was a western mystery story written by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, using the pseudonym Roger Furlong, with illustrations drawn by Charles Flanders. The story concluded in the next issue.

- (46:41) SCRUB HARDY was a sports humor strip drawn by Joe Archibald. Hardy's sports career was cut short, only appearing again in NEW FUN COMICS 2.

- (48:19) The sports adventure strip JACK ANDREWS ALL-AMERICAN BOY was written and drawn by Lyman Anderson. Andrews' sports career would only last through NEW FUN COMICS 6, October 1935.

- (51:04) BATHYSPHERE - A MARTIAN DREAM, writer unknown, was an article about Dr. Beebe, who descended 3,000 feet in a bathysphere, and the equipment on board.

- (51:59) SPORTS, an article written by Joe Archibald, was about the Toronto Maple Leafs and a brief history of the game of hockey.

- (52:59) ON THE RADIO: THE DIAL TWISTER, maybe written by Lloyd Jacquet, was an article asking readers to write the staff of NEW FUN COMICS and share their favorite radio shows, and the writer also shares some favorites.

- (54:27) IN THE MOVIES: TALK OF THE TALKIES, writer unknown, described some of the upcoming films in 1935, including one involving the comic book cowboy Jack Wood, a movie serial titled RUSTLERS OF RED GAP (IMDb lists the final title as RUSTLERS OF RED DOG).

- (55:24) MODEL AIRCRAFT, writer unknown, with illustrations drawn by Dick Loederer, was an article about how to make a model of the U.S. Navy plane Vought Corsair, one of the early planes that took off and landed on the first aircraft carriers.

- (56:49) HOW TO BUILD HENDRICK HUDSON'S "HALF MOON", an article written and drawn by Robert Weinstein, about a 17th Century sailing ship.

- (57:08) CAP'N ERIC, a sea adventure strip, was written and drawn by Robert Weinstein, who signed this feature Bob Weinstein.

- (58:33) BUCKSKIN JIM: THE TRAILBLAZER, a western adventure, was written and drawn by Eugene Koscik, who signed his work as "K". Buckskin Jim rode off into the western sunset after MORE FUN COMICS 18, February 1937.

- (1:01:28) The article POPULAR SCIENCE, writer unknown, had illustrations provided by Dick Loederer, who signed his work as "Loe". It covered three subjects, STREAMLINE TRAIN THAT TALKED, PUTTING THE SUN TO WORK, and A BIT OF MAGIC.

- (1:03:06) STAMPS AND COINS, writer unknown, also had illustrations drawn by Dick Loederer, who again signed his work as "Loe". This article was divided into two sections, BEGINNING A COLLECTION, about stamps, and ABOUT COINS.

- (1:03:50) The issue's final article was titled YOUNG HOMEMAKERS, writer unknown, also with illustrations provided by Dick "Loe" Loederer. This article provided advice about a well organized kitchen.

- (1:04:39) AFTER SCHOOL, a kid humor strip, was written and drawn by Tom McNamara. Lefty and Slim had their last humorous adventure in NEW FUN COMICS 6, October 1935.

- (1:05:43) CAVEMAN CAPERS, a prehistoric humor strip, was written and drawn by Dick Loederer. The fire went out for CAVEMAN CAPERS after NEW FUN COMICS 5, August 1935.

- (1:06:42) FUN FILMS: TAD AMONG THE PIRATES, was written and drawn by Adolphe Barreaux. This feature was unique among the others in this issue. It was a series of strips that you could cut horizontally and tape together into a paper film strip, viewed through a paper backdrop drawn at the top of the page. Tad's final adventure occurred in NEW FUN COMICS 3, April 1935.

- (1:07:20) BUBBY AND BEEVIL, a humor strip, was written and drawn by Dick Loederer. Bubby and Beevil's last misadventure was in NEW FUN COMICS 3, April 1935.

(1:07:41) The animal humor strip PELION AND OSSA was written and drawn by John Lindermeyer, who signed his work as Kevin Hay. Their last adventure was also in NEW FUN COMICS 3, April 1935.

- (1:08:35) This issue's final strip was the science fiction adventure 2023: SUPER POLICE, written by John Finch and drawn by Joseph Clemens Gretter, who signed his name as Clem Gretter. The Science Police investigated their last case in MORE FUN COMICS 14, October 1936.

- (1:10:11) After the reprinted issue, there were a few essays to round out this book. The first was titled, THE MAJOR WHO MADECOMICS, about Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, written by his Granddaughter, Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson. She provides a brief biography about her Grandfather, how his interests in life helped shape the features that were included in this first issue, and some of the talented comic book creators whose careers he helped influence.u

- (1:10:38) NEW FUN 1 - THE CONTRIBUTORS, brief biographies of most of the creators in this issue, also provided by Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson, with special thanks to David Saunders for his original research.

- (1:11:17) The book's final essay was titled, A TABLOID TRADITION CONTINUES, written by Editor Benjamin Le Clear, Manager of DC Comics Library Archives. He explains how and why this issues printed at tabloid size, and a brief history of the evolution of the size of comic books, and finally the origin of the FAMOUS FIRST EDITION series in the 1970's.

- Next episode we return to our journey through the Silver Age Adventures of Superman with: SUPERMAN FAMILY COMIC BOOKS COVER DATED MAY 1966: PART I: WORLD'S FINEST COMICS 157, PART II: SUPERMAN 186, PART III: SUPERMAN'S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE 65 & PART IV: ACTION COMICS 337 with ELSEWHERE IN DC COMICS' May or May/June 1966 titles.

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#Superman Fan Podcast #Famous First Edition #New Fun Comics

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thecomicsnexus · 5 years

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NEW FUN COMICS

NEW FUN #1 FEBRUARY 1935 BY MALCOLM WHEELER-NICHOLSON, LYMAN ANDERSON, HENRY KIEFER, ADOLPH BARREUAX, CHARLES FLANDERS, LAWRENCE LARIAR, SIR WALTER SCOTT, RAYMOND PERRY, TOM COOPER, KEN L. FITCH, JOSEPH CLEMMENS GRETTER, JACK A. WARREN, ROBERT WEINSTEIN AND DICK LOEDERER

CONTEXT

In the fall of 1934, having seen the emergence of Famous Funnies and other oversize magazines reprinting comic strips, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson founded National Allied Publications and published New Fun #1 (Feb. 1935). A tabloid-sized, 10-inch by 15-inch, 36-page magazine with a card-stock, non-glossy cover, it was an anthology of humor features, such as the funny animal comic "Pelion and Ossa" and the college-set "Jigger and Ginger", mixed with such dramatic fare as the Western strip "Jack Woods" and the "yellow peril" adventure "Barry O'Neill", featuring a Fu Manchu-styled villain, Fang Gow.

Most significantly, however, whereas some of the existing publications had eventually included a small amount of original material, generally as filler, New Fun #1 was the first comic book containing all-original material.

This is considered the first DC Comics issue.

Wheeler-Nicholson suffered from continual financial crises, both in his personal and professional lives. "Dick Woods" artist Lyman Anderson [fr], whose Manhattan apartment Wheeler-Nicholson used as a rent-free pied-à-terre, said, "His wife would call [from home on Long Island] and be in tears...and say she didn't have money and the milkman was going to cut off the milk for the kids. I'd send out 10 bucks, just because she needed it".

The third and final title published under his aegis would be Detective Comics, advertised with a cover illustration dated Dec. 1936, but eventually premiering three months late, with a March 1937 cover date.

Detective Comics would become a sensation with the introduction of Batman in issue #27 (May 1939). By then, however, Wheeler-Nicholson was gone. In 1937, in debt to printing-plant owner and magazine distributor Harry Donenfeld – who was as well a pulp-magazine publisher and a principal in the magazine distributorship Independent News – Wheeler-Nicholson was compelled to take Donenfeld on as a partner in order to publish Detective Comics #1. Detective Comics, Inc. was formed, with Wheeler-Nicholson and Jack S. Liebowitz, Donenfeld's accountant, listed as owners.

The major remained for a year, but cash-flow problems continued. DC's 50th-anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great cites the Great Depression as "forc[ing] Wheeler-Nicholson to sell his publishing business to Harry Donenfeld and Jack Liebowitz in 1937". However, wrote comics historian Gerard Jones:

In early 1938, Harry Donenfeld send him and his wife on a cruise to Cuba to 'work up new ideas'. When they came home, the major found the lock to his office door changed. In his absence, Harry had sued him for nonpayment and pushed Detective Comics, Inc. into bankruptcy court. There a judge named Abe Mennen, one of Harry's old Tammany buddies, had been appointed interim president of the firm and arranged a quick sale of its assets to Independent News. Harry gave the major a percentage of More Fun Comics as a shut-up token and wished him well.

Wheeler-Nicholson "gave up on the world of commerce thereafter and went back to writing war stories and critiques of the American military" in addition to straight "articles on politics and military history".

He died in 1965 on Long Island, in New York.

As you can imagine it is hard to review a title like this. Every page is a different story (and I do not have access to all the pages either). But based on the art (in context with the time) and quality of the small stories I can estimate a score.

I give this milestone a score of 7, but who cares? This is history

#dc #comics #review #golden age #new fun comics #more fun comics #malcolm wheeler-nicholson #1935

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unabridgeddc · 12 years

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COMIC #1: New Fun #1 DATE: January 11, 1935 (on sale); February 1935 (cover) PUBLISHER: National Allied Publications, Inc. CONTENTS: Introductory essay, maybe by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, illustrated by Dick Loederer; "Sandra of the Secret Service" by Charles Flanders; "Jigger And Ginger", drawn by Shus; "Barry O'Neill" by Lawrence Lariar; "Magic Crystal Of History" by Adolphe Barreaux; "Wing Brady" by Henry Kiefer; "Ivanhoe" by Raymond Perry; "Judge Perkins" by Bert Salg; "Don Drake", written by Ken Fitch, drawn by Clem Gretter; "Loco Luke" by Jack A. Warren; "Jack Woods" (text story) by Roger Furlong; "Scrub Hardy" by Joe Archibald; "Jack Andrews" by Lyman Anderson; "Bathysphere, A Martian Dream" (text story); "Sports" (article) by Joe Archibald, illustrated by Joe Archibald; "In The Movies" (article); "On The Radio" (article); "Model Aircraft" (activity); "Aviation" article; "How To Build A Model Of Hendrik Hudson's Half Moon" (article); "Cap'n Erik" by Robert Weinstein; "Buckskin Jim" by Tom Cooper; "Popular Science" (article); "Stamps And Coins" (article); "Young Homemaker" (article); "After School" by Tom McNamara; "Caveman Capers" by Dick Loederer; "1st Episode: Tad Among The Pirates" (Fun Films activity) by Alphonse Barreaux; "Bubby And Beezil" by Dick Loederer; "Pelion And Ossa" by John Lindermayer; "2023: Super Police", written by Ken Fitch, drawn by Clem Gretter; "Oswald The Rabbit" by John Lindermayer. Cover by Lyman Anderson. Editor: Lloyd Jacquet. Art editor: Dick Loederer. Cartoon editor: Sheldon H. Stark. CANONICAL STATUS: Non-canon. Before Superman, before continuity, before anything that's even in print, the company that became DC gave us this: a hodgepodge of newspaper strip knockoffs, unrecognizable as a DC comic. New Fun #1 was 10 inches by 15 inches-- a non-standard format because standards didn't exist yet. Despite its historical importance, it has never been reprinted, and no scans are available, so I can't read it. What I can do is share information I found on the internet, and figure out what's in this and who the crew was that Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson assembled. Who do you hire to work on your comic when comics barely even exist? The information on the contents is incomplete. The stories in New Fun were single pages, but were usually surrounded by filler material, not all of which has been cataloged. This list is what I could find. There's one familiar name in there: Lloyd Jacquet, the editor. After editing the first few issues, Jacquet will become the art director for Centaur Publications and then found Funnies Inc., the studio that would create the first Timely/Marvel comics. So there's a trivia fact for you: the first Marvel comic and the first DC comic were put together by the same guy. Working with Wheeler-Nicholson and Jacquet was Dick Loederer, the art director. A veteran of the advertising industry, Loederer would work here for about a year. He drew "Caveman Capers" and "Bubby And Beezil", a couple of humor strips that would be recurring features. One more person on the editorial staff: Sheldon H. Stark, cartoon editor. As far as I can tell, he's best known for his later career, writing for radio and TV. Lyman Anderson drew the cover and an adventure strip about Jack Andrews, who will be a recurring character. Anderson, a pulp illustrator, will end up as a magazine illustrator. Comic strip artist Charles Flanders contributed Sandra of the Secret Service, a detective feature which will also recur. Flanders had bounced around on several comic strips, but will achieve his greatest success later on when he draws the Lone Ranger strip for over 30 years. Jigger and Ginger is a detective strip by someone identified only as Shus (supposedly not Joe Shuster). I know nothing. Barry O'Neill is a recurring adventure feature by Lawrence Lariar, a cartoonist who actually has comic book experience in Famous Funnies. Lariar will later be known for his Best Cartoons Of The Year books. Adolphe Barreaux drew the adventure strip Magic Crystal Of History and illustrated the Fun Films activity, both of which will recur. He'll become best-known for creating Sally the Sleuth for Spicy Detective Stories. Illustrator Henry Kiefer drew Wing Brady, a recurring adventure strip (in this issue, Wing fights Bedouins). Kiefer will go on to have a long career in comics, notably drawing Classics Illustrated. Raymond Perry drew part of an adaptation of the novel Ivanhoe. This will also be a recurring feature, and Perry will stick around at DC for a while, eventually getting to draw the superheroes. Bert Salg, primarily a book illustrator, drew Judge Perkins, a gag strip that will recur for one more issue. These two strips will be his only known comic book work. The writer/artist team of Ken Fitch and Clem Gretter gave us a pair of sci-fi strips, Don Drake and 2023: Super Police, both of which will recur. In the 2023 story, according to the Grand Comics Database, "Rex and friends leave for the Galapagos Islands in Professor Shanley's new invention, the Hi-Lo (a stratoplane-submarine), to investigate the disappearance of five U.S. ships." Gretter is an illustrator with comic strip experience and I don't know Fitch's background, but they'll stick around for a while, with Fitch eventually co-creating Hourman. Loco Luke is a recurring Western-themed humor strip from Jack A. Warren, creator of the Pecos Bill newspaper strip. Known for his Western art, Warren will stick around for a bit and then move on to other comics. Roger Furlong will be writing the obligatory text stories. Don't know his deal. Joe Archibald, who's drawn comic strips and illustrated pulps, contributed the humor strip Scrub Hardy and a text article about sports, both of which will recur. Archibald will stick around here for a bit, then move on to Better Publications. Robert Weinstein contributed Cap'n Erik, which will return next issue. He has one other comic credit on something called Cap'n Cloud, and that's all I know about him. Tom Cooper contributed Buckskin Jim, a recurring western strip. Don't know his background. Tom McNamara contributed After School, a recurring strip about characters named Lefty and Slimsy. McNamara had previously created the long-running newspaper strip Us Boys, and is also notable for having directed several Our Gang shorts. John Lindermayer contributed a pair of recurring funny-animal filler strips with Pelion And Ossa and Oswald The Rabbit. Oswald is a Walt Disney creation, sort of a Mickey Mouse prototype, that was actually owned by Universal at this point and has since reverted to Disney. This may be the reason DC hasn't reprinted these early comics. And that covers it. I hope this was interesting? Lots of weird trivia about how comics got started? A glimpse into the forgotten underbelly of 1935 cartoonists? I don't know. This blog will get better once I've actually started reading things and having opinions on them-- which will happen with issue #2 of this monthly series. What happens when a 21st-century adult reads a Bubby and Beezil comic? I'll bet my next post is grouchy.

Please see my want list to help me track down the DC Comics I haven’t been able to buy, borrow, or download!

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