Action Comics #1, published in 1938, introduced a new character to the world and heralded in the era
of Superheroes as we know them today. His name was Superman!
There was soon a whole comic book industry creating men, women and even animals who possessed an unimaginable array of superpowers.
They were riding and flying high.
Coinciding with the end of World War II, superhero comics suffered a dip in sales.
Other genres became popular. Crime, horror and romance became the biggest sellers.
But over time, the superhero has recovered to yet again be the biggest comic book genre. Plus, as we all know
superheroes have recently featured in a multitude of blockbusting films.
Unfortunately for this site, Superman, Spiderman and Batman are very much copyrighted.
However, our massive collection of public domain superheroes are even more interesting
and even Kryptonite cannot keep them from our grasp.
We have 225 titles and 5,312 issues in our 'Superhero Category' for you to enjoy.
Superhero Comics, Books and Radio Shows
| Peacemaker |
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| Available: | 7 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 5 |
| From: | Mar 1967 |
| To: | Nov 1967 |
| Seq: | 1 - 5 |
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| Publisher: | Charlton |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Phantom Lady |
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| Available: | 4 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 4 |
| From: | Dec 1954 |
| To: | Jun 1955 |
| Seq: | 1 - 4 |
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| Publisher: | Ajax-Farrell |
| Categories: | Superhero | Leading Ladies |
| Description: | 2nd Series (See Terrific Comics)
12-1/55 - #4 6/55
V1 #5 (#1)-by Matt Baker
V1#2-4-Red Rocket in #3,4
(Formerly Linda)
Ajax/Farrell Publ. |
| Phantom Lady |
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| Available: | 14 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 11 |
| From: | Aug 1947 |
| To: | Apr 1949 |
| Seq: | 13 - 23 |
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| Publisher: | Fox Feature Syndicate |
| Categories: | Superhero | Leading Ladies |
| Description: | (1947 Series)
August 1947 - April 1949
Issues published:11 (#13-23)
Tracking:
Continued from Wotalife Comics (Fox, 1946 series); Continues as My Love Secret (Fox, 1949 series)
Comics' most notorious heroine - home to the master of GGA - Matt Baker!
Note: ... |
| Plastic Man |
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| Available: | 67 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 64 |
| From: | 1943 |
| To: | Nov 1956 |
| Seq: | 1 - 64 |
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| Publisher: | Quality |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | PLASTIC MAN (Quality) 1943 Series.
No. 1, Summer 1943 - no. 64, Nov 1956.
Note: character later purchased by DC. |
| Police Comics |
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| Available: | 132 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 127 |
| From: | Aug 1941 |
| To: | Oct 1953 |
| Seq: | 1 - 127 |
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| Publisher: | Quality |
| Categories: | Superhero | Mixed Bag |
| Description: | POLICE COMICS (Comic Magazines) 1941 Series.
No. 1, Aug 1941 - 127, Oct 1953.
The starting place for Jack Cole's Plastic Man, who would go on to get his own title in 1943. Also home to Phantom Lady. Title transitioned to strictly crime in later issues. |
| Rock Robot |
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| Available: | 32 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 32 |
| From: | 1957 |
| Seq: | 1 - 32 |
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| Non-English: | Spanish Language Books |
| Categories: | Superhero | Adventure | Crime |
| Description: | A series of 32 weekly comics starring the superhero Rock Robot. Art by Martinez. 1957. Published by Graficas Marco, Barcelona. |
| Rocketman Archives |
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| Section: | Science Fiction Compilations |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | Rocket Man made his first appearance in Scoop Comics #01 (Nov 1941) published by Harry 'A' Chesler). The character appeared twice more in Scoop Comics, issues #02 and #03. He also appeared in Punch Comics, issues 09 - 21 and single appearances in Red Seal ... |
| Samson |
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| Available: | 4 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 3 |
| From: | Apr 1955 |
| To: | Aug 1955 |
| Seq: | 12 - 14 |
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| Publisher: | Ajax-Farrell |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Samson |
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| Available: | 5 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 6 |
| From: | 1940 |
| To: | Sep 1941 |
| Seq: | 1 - 6 |
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| Publisher: | Fox Feature Syndicate |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | SAMSON (Fox) 1940 Series,
No. 1, Sep 1940 - no. 6, Sep 1941.
See also BIG 3 (Fox) 1940 Series, which carried an regular Samson feature. |
| Samson and David Archive |
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| Section: | Superhero Compilations |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | Samson first appeared in Fantastic Comics #01 (Dec 1939) published by Fox Feature Syndicate. The original writer is believed to be Will Eisner, although he was un-credited. He appeared in all 23 issues of Fantastic Comics.
He was featured in his own title Samson ... |
| Science Comics |
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| Available: | 9 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 8 |
| From: | Feb 1940 |
| To: | Sep 1940 |
| Seq: | 1 - 8 |
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| Publisher: | Fox Feature Syndicate |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | SCIENCE COMICS (Fox) 1940 Series.
No. 1, Feb 1940 - no. 8, Sep 1940. |
| The Shadow |
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| Categories: | Superhero | Crime | Masked / Mystery Men |
| Description: | In early 1930, Street & Smith Publications hired David Chrisman and Bill Sweets to adapt the Detective Story Magazine to radio format. Chrisman and Sweets felt the program should be introduced by a mysterious storyteller. A young scriptwriter, Harry Charlot, ... |
| Shield-Wizard |
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| Available: | 13 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 13 |
| From: | 1940 |
| To: | 1944 |
| Seq: | 1 - 13 |
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| Publisher: | Archie / MLJ |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | (1940 series)
Summer 1940 - Spring 1944
Issues #1-13
Artists on this title include Edd Ashe, Al Camy (Cammarata), Clem Harrison, Irv Novick, Paul Reinman, Ed Robbins, & Harry Sahle |
| Skyman |
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| Available: | 4 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 4 |
| From: | 1941 |
| To: | 1948 |
| Seq: | 1 - 4 |
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| Publisher: | Columbia |
| Categories: | Superhero | Masked / Mystery Men |
| Description: | (1941 series)
1941 - 1948
Issues: #1-4
Artists on this title include Boody Rogers, Fred Schwab & Ogden Whitney |
| Smash Comics |
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| Available: | 89 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 85 |
| From: | Aug 1939 |
| To: | Oct 1949 |
| Seq: | 1 - 85 |
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| Publisher: | Quality |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | SMASH COMICS (Quality) 1939 Series.
No. 1, Aug 1939 - no. 85, Oct 1949.
Notes: an anthology title, featuring Bozo the Robot, Espionage, Wings Wendell, Invisible Justice, Chic Carter, The Ray, Archie O'Tool, Midnight (a precursor to The Spirit), and others. |
| La Sombra Justiciera |
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| Available: | 48 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 47 |
| From: | 1954 |
| To: | 1957 |
| Seq: | v1 1 - v1 47 |
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| Non-English: | Spanish Language Books |
| Categories: | Superhero | Adventure | Crime | Masked / Mystery Men |
| Description: | The masked crimefighter La Sombra Justiciera was created by prolific scriptwriter J. B. Artes and drawn by Emilio Giralt Ferrando. Published by Editorial Ferma of Barcelona, the series ran from 1954 to 1957, a total of 47 issues. There was also an annual, dated ... |
| Son of Vulcan |
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| Available: | 2 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 2 |
| From: | Nov 1965 |
| To: | Jan 1966 |
| Seq: | 49 - 50 |
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| Publisher: | Charlton |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Sparky Watts |
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| Available: | 2 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| From: | Apr 1940 |
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| Section: | Newspaper Comic Strips |
| Categories: | Superhero | Humor | Children / Teenagers |
| Description: | Sparky Watts is a light-hearted comic strip that was written and drawn by Boody Rogers. It is a parody of the highly popular superheroes of the day. The story starts with Sparky Watts making his way though college by selling magazines door-to-door. One day he knocks ... |
| Speed Comics |
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| Available: | 55 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 33 |
| From: | Mar 1941 |
| To: | Jan 1947 |
| Seq: | 12 - 44 |
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| Publisher: | Harvey Comics |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | (1939 series)
October 1939 - January-February 1947
issues: #1-44
Artists on this title include Al Bryant, Dick Briefer, Arturo Cazeneuve, Jill Elgin, Bob Fujitani, Art Gates, Art Helfant, Joe Kubert, Rudy Palais, Bob Powell, Alex Schomburg, Joe Simon, George ... |
| Spy Smasher Archives |
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| Section: | Superhero Compilations |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | Spy Smasher first appeared in Whiz Comics #02 (Feb 1940) published by Fawcett Comics. He also appeared in his own named magazine Spy Smasher for a total of 11 issues (Sep 1941 - Feb 1943).
He appeared a further 61 times in Whiz Comics, 12 times in Men Of Mystery ... |
| Startling Comics |
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| Available: | 60 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 53 |
| From: | Jun 1940 |
| To: | Sep 1948 |
| Seq: | 1 - 53 |
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| Publisher: | Better / Nedor / Standard / Pines |
| Categories: | Superhero | Mixed Bag |
| Description: | (1940 series)
June 1940 - September 1948
Issues: #1 - 53 (V2 #1 is actually #4)
Artists on this title include Jack Alderman, Rafael Astarita, Ken Battefield, Dave Berg, Jack Binder, Jon Blummer, Al Camy (Cammarata), Don R. Christensen, John Daly, August ... |
| Strongman |
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| Available: | 6 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 4 |
| From: | Mar 1955 |
| To: | Sep 1955 |
| Seq: | 130 - 139 |
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| Publisher: | Magazine Enterprises |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | (1955 series)
March/April 1955-September/October 1955
Issues : #1-4
Notes: Also listed as A-1 Comics #130, 132, 132 and 139.
Artists on this series include Bob Powell and Fred GFuardineer. |
| Super-Mystery Comics |
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| Available: | 57 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 48 |
| From: | Jul 1940 |
| To: | Jul 1949 |
| Seq: | v1 1 - v8 6 |
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| Publisher: | Ace Magazines |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | SUPER-MYSTERY COMICS
1940 Series.
Vol. 1 no. 1, Jul 1940 - vol. 8 no. 6, Jul 1949. |
| Supermouse |
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| Available: | 58 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 34 |
| From: | Dec 1948 |
| To: | Sep 1955 |
| Seq: | 1 - 34 |
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| Publisher: | Better / Nedor / Standard / Pines |
| Categories: | Humor | Funny Animals | Superhero |
| Description: | November-December 1948 - September 1955 (Standard #1-34)
April 1956 - Fall 1958 (Pines #35-45)
Also two 100 page Summer specials.
SUPERMOUSE, THE BIG CHEESE. SUMMER HOLIDAY SPECIAL (#1 Summer 1957-Pines)
SUPERMOUSE GIANT SUMMER ISSUE (#2 Summer 1958-Pines)
Notes-listed ... |
| Sure-Fire Comics |
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| Available: | 4 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 4 |
| From: | Jun 1940 |
| To: | Oct 1940 |
| Seq: | 1 - 4 |
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| Publisher: | Ace Magazines |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | SURE-FIRE COMICS (Ace Magazines) 1940 Series.
No. 1, Jun 1940 - no. 3b, Oct 1940.
Note: There are two issue nos 3 (a & b), one in Sep, one in Oct 1940
Continues as LIGHTNING COMICS (Ace Magazines) 1940 Series. |
| T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents |
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| Available: | 20 Books |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 20 |
| From: | Nov 1965 |
| To: | Nov 1969 |
| Seq: | 1 - 20 |
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| Publisher: | Tower Comics |
| Categories: | Superhero |
| Description: | PLEASE NOTE: These early T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comics published by Tower DO NOT have valid copyright notices in them. This is why we can house these particular copies (and no others!) here.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE: The rights to T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents are zealously ... |
| Target Comics |
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| Available: | 1 Book |
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| Publishing History |
| Issues: | 7 |
| From: | 1952 |
| Seq: | 1 - 7 |
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| Publisher: | L. Miller & Son |
| Categories: | Superhero | Humor | Crime |
| Description: | British reprint. 1952 by L. Miller & Sons Ltd. London. Colour Cover, b&w interiors. The British guide suggests this series ran from #1 to #6, but as is obvious, this is #7. As is common, theses comics are often badly printed and trimmed and this example ... |
