Magazine Enterprises

Magazine Enterprises

Company type	Private
Industry	Comic book publishing
Founded	1943
Founder	Vin Sullivan
Defunct	1958
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Products	Comic books

Magazine Enterprises operated as a U.S.-based comic book publisher from 1943 until 1958, specializing primarily in Western, humor, crime, and adventure stories, while largely avoiding superhero narratives. Established by seasoned industry professional Vin Sullivan, who had previously served as an editor at National Allied Publications (which later became DC Comics), the company carved out a unique position within the mid-20th-century comic book landscape.

Among its notable characters were the jungle heroine Cave Girl, with artwork by Bob Powell, and the horror-infused Western vigilante Ghost Rider, introduced in 1949 by writer Ray Krank and artist Dick Ayers. Following the expiration of its trademark, this figure inspired Marvel Comics’ Western character of the same name introduced in 1967.

Publication history

In 1947, after parting ways with DC Comics to regain rights to their creations, Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster joined Magazine Enterprises under Sullivan’s editorial direction. They introduced Funnyman, a comedic superhero character, utilizing most of their studio’s artists except for penciler Wayne Boring. Despite their prominence in the industry, Funnyman failed to achieve commercial success in both comic book and newspaper strip formats.

Magazine Enterprises’ primary superheroes included the Avenger, created in 1955 by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dick Ayers, with later issues illustrated by Bob Powell; and Strong Man, a super-powered hero styled after a circus strongman. The Avenger stood out as one of the few traditional costumed heroes prior to the Silver Age resurgence beginning in 1956.

Additional original creations featured Hot Dog, a talking dog hero designed by cartoonist George Crenshaw, unrelated to subsequent characters sharing that name.

The publisher also produced licensed comics based on celebrities and popular media properties such as comedian Jimmy Durante, actor Dick Powell, and the CBS television series The Adventures of Robin Hood. Furthermore, Little Miss Sunbeam Comics spotlighted the mascot for Sunbeam Bread.

Because Magazine Enterprises did not renew copyrights on many titles, these works eventually entered the public domain. Starting in the 1980s, AC Comics reissued and revived several characters from Magazine Enterprises’ catalog, including new Avenger series and reprints of Ghost Rider under the title Haunted Horseman.

Children's

• Clubhouse Rascals
• Ding Dong
• The Pixies
• Koko and Kola
• Little Miss Sunbeam Comics
• Mighty Atom (not related to the anime character)
• Mighty Atom and the Pixies
• Muggsy Mouse (1951, 1954)
• Tom-Tom and Itchi the Monk
• Tom-Tom, The Jungle Boy
• Tick Tock Tales
• Vacation Comics

Crime

• Dick Powell, also known as Star Parade Presents Dick Powell
• I'm A Cop
• Kerry Drake Detective Cases
• The Killers
• Manhunt
• Mysteries of Scotland Yard
• Undercover Girl

Historical Adventure

• Robin Hood (1955–1957; refer also to Movie/TV)
• Dan'l Boone

Comedy

• The Brain
• Dogface Dooley
• Dotty Dripple
• Hot Dog
• Jimmy Durante Comics

Jungle Themes

• Africa
• Cave Girl
• Thun'da

Miscellaneous

• A-1 Comics: A rotating anthology title serving as an alternate issue number; for example, Hot Dog #3 also appears as A-1 Comics #24; Ghost Rider issues #1-14 correspond to A-1 numbers 27, 29, 31, 34, 37, 44, 51, 57, 69, 71, 75, 80, 84 & 112.
• Extra Comics

Film and Television

• The Adventures of Robin Hood (1957)
• Keen Teens
• Movie Thrillers

Also see: Dick Powell, Jimmy Durante Comics, and Tim Holt.

Romance

• Dream Book of Love
• Dream Book of Romance
• Romantic Picture Novellettes

Science Fiction

• Jet Powers
• Major Inapak the Space Ace, alternatively titled Space Ace.

Sports

• Pride of the Yankees

Superheroes

• The Avenger
• Funnyman
• Strong Man

War

• The American Air Forces
• United States Marines

Western Genre

• Badmen of the West!’’ (1953–1954)
• ’’Best of the West’’ (1951–1954)
• ’’Black Phantom’’ (1954)
• ’’Bobby Benson's B-Bar-B Riders’’ (1950–1953)
• ’’Cowboys 'N' Injuns/Cowboys and Indians’’ (1946–1952)
• ’’Durango Kid’’ (1949–1955)
• ’’Ghost Rider’’ (1950–1954)
• ’’Great Western’’ (1953–1954)
• ’’Guns of Fact and Fiction’’ (1948)
• ’’Red Hawk’’ (1953)
• ’’Red Mask’’ (1954–1957)
• ’’Straight Arrow’’ (1950–1956)
• ’’Straight Arrow's Fury’’ (1954)
• ’’Tim Holt’’ (1948–1954)
• ’’Trail Colt’’ (1949)
• ’’White Indian’’ (1953–1955)