Fawcett Comics

Fawcett Comics

File:FawcettIcon2.png
Industry	Comics
Genre	Superhero, horror
Founded	1939 (1939)
Founder	Wilford Fawcett
Defunct	Template:End date and age
Fate	Lash Larue, Jungle Girl, Strange Suspense Stories, and several other Fawcett intellectual properties transferred to Charlton Comics in 1954 Captain Marvel rights acquired by DC Comics from Fawcett Publications in 1991.
Headquarters	New York City, New York , United States
Parent	Fawcett Publications

Fawcett Comics, a branch of Fawcett Publications, stood as a prominent comic book publisher throughout the Golden Age of Comic Books during the 1940s. Its most iconic hero was Captain Marvel, the persona of radio journalist Billy Batson, who transformed into his superhero identity by uttering "Shazam!".

Among other significant figures were Captain Video, Hopalong Cassidy, Ibis the Invincible, Bulletman and Bulletgirl, Spy Smasher, Captain Midnight, and Golden Arrow.

In addition to superhero stories, Fawcett's lineup included a brief but notable horror comics segment in the early 1950s, with series such as This Magazine Is Haunted, Beware! Terror Tales, and Strange Suspense Stories. Their catalog also featured teenage humor titles like Ozzie and Babs, anthropomorphic animal comics such as Hoppy the Marvel Bunny, romance with Sweethearts, war-themed Soldier Comics, Westerns including Six Gun Heroes, and licensed adaptations based on film stars (Tom Mix, Lash LaRue) and serial adventures (Nyoka the Jungle Girl). The comics division ceased operations in 1953, after which numerous titles were acquired by Charlton Comics.

History

Established by businessman Wilford Fawcett in 1919, Fawcett Publications expanded from its initial success with the magazine Captain Billy's Whiz Bang into a major publishing enterprise boasting a monthly distribution of ten million copies. Entering the flourishing comic book industry of the late 1930s, Fawcett debuted its first comic project with writer Bill Parker and artist C. C. Beck through an ashcan edition of Thrill Comics #1 (January 1940); this was subsequently refined and released as Whiz Comics #2 (February 1940), marking the introduction of Captain Marvel.

Fawcett attracted a roster of distinguished artists including Beck, Al Allard, Harry Anderson, Ken Bald, Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Kurt Schaffenberger, among others who contributed to its varied publication range.

The Captain Marvel franchise, which encompassed the Marvel Family—such as Captain Marvel, Jr., Mary Marvel, and additional characters—achieved sales figures that exceeded those of Superman. Nonetheless, National Comics (currently DC Comics) initiated a copyright infringement lawsuit alleging that Captain Marvel was an unauthorized imitation of Superman. Although initially dismissed due to procedural issues related to copyright notices on Superman strips, a subsequent appeal permitted National to pursue damages for particular infringements.

Facing a downturn in the comic book market, Fawcett halted its superhero titles in 1953 and resolved the legal dispute. Completed works along with selected characters were transferred to Charlton Comics. Fawcett made a brief return to comics publishing in the 1960s with series such as Dennis the Menace.

In 1967, Marvel Comics obtained the trademark for "Captain Marvel" for an unrelated character. Subsequently, DC licensed—and ultimately acquired in 1994—the original Captain Marvel rights from Fawcett Publications. Due to trademark conflicts, DC promotes the character under the name Shazam! rather than Captain Marvel. In 1973, Shazam and associated characters were incorporated into DC’s universe as residents of Earth-S before being merged into mainstream continuity.

Titles released

• All-Hero Comics (single issue, 1943)
• America's Greatest Comics (8 editions, 1941–1943)
• Andy Devine Western (2 editions, 1950–1951)
• Animal Fair (11 editions, 1946–1947)
• Battle Stories (11 editions, 1952–1953)
• Beware! Terror Tales (8 editions, 1952–1953)
• Bill Battle, The One Man Army (4 editions, 1952–1953)
• Bill Boyd Western (23 editions, 1950–1952)
• Billy the Kid (3 editions, 1945–1946)
• Bob Colt (10 editions, 1950–1952)
• Bob Steele Western (10 editions, 1950–1952)
• Bulletman (16 editions, 1941–1946)
• Captain Marvel Adventures (150 editions, 1941–1953)
• Captain Marvel Jr. (118 editions, 1942–1953)
• Captain Midnight (67 editions, 1942–1948)
• Captain Video (6 editions, 1951)
• Comic Comics (10 editions, 1946–1947)
• Cowboy Love (11 editions, 1949–1951)
• Don Winslow of the Navy (69 editions, 1943–1951) — numbering later continued by Charlton Comics
• Exciting Romances (12 editions, 1949–1953)
• Fawcett's Funny Animals (83 editions, 1942–1954) — numbering carried on by Charlton Comics
• Gabby Hayes Western (50 editions, 1948–1953) — continued under Charlton Comics
• Gene Autry Comics (10 editions, 1941–1943) – numbering carried forward by Dell Comics
• George Pal's Puppetoons (18 editions, 1945–1947)
• Girls in Love (2 editions, 1950)
• Golden Arrow/Golden Arrow Western (6 editions, 1942–1947)
• Hopalong Cassidy (84 editions, 1946–1953) — continued by DC Comics
• Hoppy the Marvel Bunny (15 editions, 1945–1947)
• Hot Rod Comics (7 editions, 1951–1953)
• Ibis the Invincible (6 editions, 1943–1948)
• Jackie Robinson (6 editions, 1949–1952)
• Joe Louis (2 editions, 1950)
• Nyoka the Jungle Girl (77 editions, 1945–1953)
• Ken Maynard Western (8 editions, 1950–1952)
• Lance O'Casey (4 editions, 1946–1948)
• Lash Larue Western (46 editions, 1949–1953) — numbering continued by Charlton Comics
• Life Story (47 editions, 1949–1953)
• Love Memories (4 editions, 1949–1950)
• Love Mystery (3 editions, 1950)
• The Marvel Family (89 editions, 1945–1954)
• Mary Marvel (28 editions, 1945–1948)
• Master Comics (133 editions, 1940–1953)
• Mike Barnett, Man Against Crime (6 editions, 1951–1952)
• Minute Man (3 editions, 1941–1942)
• Monte Hale Western (54 editions, 1948–1953) — numbering carried on by Charlton Comics
• Motion Picture Comics (14 editions, 1950–1953)
• Negro Romance (3 editions, 1950)
• Nickel Comics (8 issues published in 1940)
• Ozzie and Babs (13 issues from 1947 to 1949)
• Pinhead and Foodini (4 issues between 1951 and 1952), based on TV program Foodini the Great
• Real Western Hero / Western Hero (43 issues spanning from 1948 to 1952)
• Rocky Lane Western(55 issues from 1949 to 1953), numbering later continued by Charlton Comics
• Rod Cameron Western(20 issues issued between 1950 and 1953)
• Romantic Secrets(39 issues from the years of 1939 to 1953), numbering continued by Charlton Comics
• Romantic Story(22 issues), numbering carried on by Charlton Comics
• Romantic Western(3 issues published in total)
• Six-Gun Heroes(23 issues), numbering carried forward by Charlton Comics
• Slam-Bang Comics(7 issues released in total)
• Smiley Burnette Western(4 total issues published)
• Soldier Comics(11 total issues published over time)
• Spy Smasher(11 total issues published during run period)
• Strange Suspense Stories(5 issues), numbering later continued under Charlton Comics
• Suspense Detective(5 total issues released during publication period)
• Sweetheart Diary(14 total issues), numbering carried on by Charlton Comics
• Sweethearts(54 total issues), numbering continued under Charlton Comics
• Tex Ritter Western(20 total issues), numbering carried forward by Charlton Comics
• This Magazine is Haunted(14 total issues), numbering continued under Charlton Comics
• Tom Mix Western(61 total issues published throughout run period )
• True Confidences(4 total issues released during publication period )
• True Stories of Romance(3 total issues published )
• True Sweetheart Secrets(11 total issues released throughout run period )
• True Tales of Romance(single issue only published )
• Underworld Crime(7 total issues released during publication period )
• Unknown World / Strange Stories from Another World(5 total issues published )
• Whiz Comics(155 total issues released throughout run period )
• Worlds Beyond / Worlds of Fear(10 total issues published during run period )
• Wow Comics(69 total issues), numbering later continued as Real Hero Western.
• Xmas Comics(7 total issues published during run period )
• Young Eagle(10 total issues), numbering later continued by Charlton Comics

1970s Revival

During the 1970s, Fawcett brought back several prominent titles, concentrating primarily on licensed properties:

• Dennis the Menace and His Friends Series – 42 issues
• Dennis the Menace Bonus Magazine Series – 119 issues
• Dennis the Menace Pocket Full of Fun – 50 issues

Fawcett Movie Comic

From 1949 through 1952, Fawcett released comic adaptations of Hollywood movies on a bi-monthly schedule under the "Fawcett Movie Comic" label. Initial editions did not feature issue numbers or dates; numbering began with issue No. 7, and by issue No. 9, monthly dates were included on the covers. Most titles were Western-themed, though exceptions encompassed science fiction works such as "Destination Moon" and "The Man from Planet X," alongside adventure stories like "Ten Tall Men" and "The Brigand."

Noteworthy titles in this series comprised:

• Dakota Lil
• Copper Canyon
• Destination Moon (1950)
• Montana
• Pioneer Marshal

... No. 7: Gunmen of Abilene (1950) No. 8: King of the Bull Whip No. 9: The Old Frontier No. 10: The Missourians No. 11: The Thundering Trail No. 12: Rustlers on Horseback No. 13: Warpath No. 14: The Last Outpost No. 15: The Man from Planet X No. 16: Ten Tall Men No. 17: Rose of Cimarron No. 18: The Brigand No. 19: Carbine Williams No. 20: Ivanhoe

See also

• National Comics Publications v. Fawcett Publications