Timely Comics

Timely Comics
Company type	Division
Industry	Comic books
Founded	1939
Founder	Martin Goodman
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Products	Comic books

Timely Comics represents the original comic book division launched by American publisher Martin Goodman, which by the 1960s transformed into what is now known as Marvel Comics. Established in 1939 amid the Golden Age of Comic Books, Timely functioned as the overarching label for Goodman’s comic production activities, operating through various corporate entities under a deliberate business strategy to generate comparable content.

The initial imprint, Timely Publications, operated from Goodman's existing office at 330 West 42nd Street in New York City before moving in 1942 to the Empire State Building, where it stayed until 1951. This organizational framework and Goodman's management approach set the stage for subsequent expansion and influence within the comic book market.

In 2016, Marvel resurrected the Timely Comics brand as a specialized imprint dedicated to affordable reprint editions, capitalizing on its historical significance within Marvel’s worldwide portfolio.

Recognizing the rising trend of comic books and superhero tales in 1939, publisher Martin Goodman founded Timely Publications, headquartered in New York City's McGraw-Hill Building. Goodman took on multiple roles including editor, managing editor, and business manager, while outsourcing content creation to the comic book packager Funnies, Inc.

Timely’s inaugural release, Marvel Comics #1 (Oct. 1939), introduced key figures such as Carl Burgos’ android hero the Human Torch and Paul Gustavson’s detective character the Angel. It also showcased Bill Everett’s anti-hero Namor the Sub-Mariner, initially designed for an unpublished giveaway earlier that same year. Additional characters featured included Al Anders’ Western-themed Masked Raider and jungle adventurer Ka-Zar the Great. The cover was illustrated by pulp artist Frank R. Paul.

The first issue rapidly sold out its print run of 80,000 copies, leading to a second printing dated November 1939 that reached nearly 800,000 copies sold. This commercial triumph prompted Goodman to assemble an internal creative team by hiring Joe Simon—previously with Funnies—as editor. Simon recruited Jack Kirby and later Syd Shores to join the artistic staff. Following this development, Goodman officially incorporated Timely Comics, Inc., with comics cover-dated April 1941.

Historical records indicate that "Red Circle Comics" was an early designation linked to Goodman's publishing ventures. Some accounts describe it as a branding effort for his pulp magazines featuring a red circular logo, while others regard it as an informal label predating Timely Publications’ formal establishment. The Grand Comics Database lists 23 issues released between 1944 and 1959 under Red Circle, Inc., reflecting part of the company’s evolving corporate identity during its early years.

Golden Age of Comic Books

Starting with issue #2 (Dec. 1939), Marvel Comics was retitled Marvel Mystery Comics, continuing until issue #92 (June 1949), after which it became Marvel Tales up to issue #159 (Aug. 1957). Timely broadened its lineup with titles such as Daring Mystery Comics #1 (Jan. 1940), Mystic Comics #1 (March 1940), and Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941). The launch of Captain America in December 1940 was a major commercial hit, selling close to one million copies.

During the Golden Age of Comic Books, Timely’s flagship characters—the Human Torch, Sub-Mariner, and Captain America—were collectively known as its "big three," rivaling DC Comics’ Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Other competitors included Fawcett Publications with Captain Marvel; Quality Comics featuring Plastic Man and Blackhawk; and Lev Gleason Publications with Daredevil.

Timely also introduced characters such as the Angel, the Destroyer (created by future Marvel executive Stan Lee), the Whizzer, Miss America, the original Vision, Blazing Skull, and Thin Man. The Human Torch was accompanied by his teenage partner Toro. The Young Allies emerged as one of several popular youth groups in comics and eventually received their own series.

Timely pioneered crossover storytelling through a two-issue confrontation between the Human Torch and Sub-Mariner in Marvel Mystery Comics #8–9. After Simon and Kirby departed in late 1941, Al Avison and Syd Shores took over as principal artists on Captain America Comics.

Stan Lee (born Stanley Lieber), related to publisher Martin Goodman by marriage, began working at age sixteen in 1939 as an assistant and was elevated to interim editor shortly before turning nineteen. Demonstrating early strategic insight and leadership skills, Lee remained a vital figure within the company for decades, ultimately becoming Marvel’s publisher in 1972. While Lee served in World War II military duty, Vincent Fago acted as substitute editor.

The Timely creative team also included Mike Sekowsky, Ed Winiarski, Gary Keller (production assistant and letterer), Ernest Hart (writer/artist), Kin Platt (writer), George Klein, Syd Shores, Vince Alascia, Dave Gantz, and Chris Rule.

In 1942, Martin Goodman moved company operations to the Empire State Building’s fourteenth floor—a location maintained until 1951.

Humorous animals and characters

Timely's "adventure" division was responsible for creating superhero characters, while its "animator" division—headed by former Fleischer Studios animator Fago since 1942—specialized in producing talking animal comic series like Terrytoons Comics, Mighty Mouse, Super Rabbit Comics, and Animated Funny Comic-Tunes. Among the prominent writer-artists were Hart, Gantz, Klein, Sekowsky, along with future contributors to Mad magazine such as Dave Berg and Al Jaffee.

Significant recurring features included "Dinky" and "Frenchy Rabbit" appearing in Terrytoons Comics; "Floop and Skilly Boo" within Comedy Comics; "Posty the Pelican Postman" from Krazy Komics; as well as "Krazy Krow". Fan favorites encompassed Jaffee’s "Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal" alongside Hart’s "Super Rabbit". Timely also released humorist Basil Wolverton’s Powerhouse Pepper, which made its first appearance in January 1943.

During 1944–45, Timely shifted focus toward female audiences by launching sitcom-style titles such as Millie the Model, Tessie the Typist, and Nellie the Nurse. The publisher subsequently expanded its lineup by introducing female superheroes like Sun Girl, Namora, and Venus, thereby broadening its demographic appeal. Additionally, humor publications featured Harvey Kurtzman’s one-page strips titled "Hey Look!".

Gene Colan, an artist inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame, reminisced about Timely’s cooperative work setting starting in 1946, describing a spacious art studio housing approximately 20 artists including Syd Shores, Dan DeCarlo, Vince Alascia, Rudy LaPick, and Mike Sekowsky.

Following World War II, superheroes experienced a decline due to competition from television and mass-market paperbacks. To adapt, Goodman diversified Timely’s offerings by placing greater emphasis on genres such as horror, Westerns, teen humor, crime, war comics, and female-led stories to reach a wider audience. For instance, in 1946 the title All Select Comics was rebranded as Blonde Phantom Comics, featuring a costumed secretary fighting crime. Similarly, Kid Komics was renamed Kid Movie Comics, and in 1947 All Winners Comics became All Teen Comics. By 1948, Timely had significantly downsized its staff to adjust to evolving industry conditions.

Era following Timely

The conclusion of Timely’s Golden Age era is marked by the cancellation of Captain America Comics with issue #75 (February 1950), which had transitioned into horror and suspense narratives by that time. Earlier discontinuations included Sub-Mariner Comics and Human Torch Comics, while the flagship series Marvel Mystery Comics ended with issue #92 (June 1949) before evolving into the horror anthology series Marvel Tales. Publisher Martin Goodman began applying the Atlas News Company globe logo—his newsstand distribution firm—on comic covers starting with those dated November 1951.

In 2015, Marvel secured the trademark for "Timely Comics" and subsequently launched it in 2016 as an imprint dedicated to low-cost reprint editions. This initiative supports Marvel’s broader strategy to enhance its "All-New All-Different" titles portfolio. The move illustrates Marvel’s continued efforts to capitalize on its historic brand legacy while expanding market presence through diversified product lines.

Marvel branding

Martin Goodman, the publisher, implemented a business approach that involved releasing his magazines and comic books through several companies that shared the same office space and personnel. Among these shell entities was Marvel Comics, a name that appeared on Timely Comics publications by at least Marvel Mystery Comics #55 (May 1944). Some comic book covers, such as All Surprise Comics #12 (Winter 1946–47), bore the label "A Marvel Magazine" well before Goodman officially adopted the Marvel name in 1961. This branding effort also included a brief editorial advisory board in 1948, which operated under the title Marvel Comic Group to rival competitors like DC Comics and Fawcett Comics.

Timely characters and creators

Compilation of characters featured multiple times across Timely Comics and its successors Atlas Comics and Marvel Comics.

Marvel Boy(second)' U.S.A.Comics#7(February1943)' Fantastic Four#165(Dec1975), Bob Oksner(writer-penciller-inker)' Marvex the Super-RobotDaring Mystery Comics#3(April1940)' All Select Comics 70th Anniversary Special#1(Sept2009)' Unknown writer and penciler from Harry "A" Chesler studio Master Mind ExcelloMystic Comics#2 The Twelve#1(March2008)'


Character	First Appearance	Modern Age Revival	Creators
Sub-Mariner	Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 (April 1939)	Fantastic Four #4 (May 1962)	Bill Everett (writer/artist)
American Ace	Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 (April 1939)	All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #4 (Nov. 2011)	Paul J. Lauretta (penciler). Writer unknown.
Angel	Marvel Comics #1 (Nov. 1939)	The Avengers #97 (March 1972); U.S. Agent #3 (Aug. 1993)	Paul Gustavson (artist). Writer unknown.
Archie the Gruesome	Comedy Comics #10 (Jun. 1942)	All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #1 (Aug. 2011)
Black Marvel	Mystic Comics #5 (March 1941)	Slingers #1 (Dec. 1998)	Al Gabriele (penciler-inker). Writer unknown.
Black Widow	Mystic Comics #4 (Aug. 1940)	Marvels #1 (Jan. 1994)	George Kapitan (writer), Harry Sahle (penciler)
Blazing Skull	Mystic Comics #5 (March 1941)	The Avengers #97 (March 1972); Invaders #2 (1993)	Bob Davis (writer-penciler)
Blonde Phantom	All Select Comics #11 (Fall 1946)	The Sensational She-Hulk #4 (July 1989)	Stan Lee (writer), Syd Shores (penciler)
Blue Blade	U.S.A. Comics #5 (Summer 1942)	The Twelve #1 (March 2008)	Unknown writer and artist.
Blue Blaze	Mystic Comics #1 (March 1940)		Harry Douglas (writer-penciler), signed "Harry / Douglas"
Bucky Barnes	Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941)	As Winter Soldier: Captain America vol. 5, #1 (Jan. 2005)	Joe Simon (writer), Jack Kirby (penciler)
Blue Diamond	Daring Mystery Comics #7 (April 1941)	Marvel Premiere #29 (April 1976)	Ben Thompson (penciler). Unknown writer.
Captain America	Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941)	The Avengers #4 (March 1964)	Joe Simon (writer), Jack Kirby (penciler)
Captain Terror	U.S.A. Comics #2 (Nov. 1941)	Captain America #442 (Aug. 1995)	Mike Suchorsky (penciler). Unknown writer.
Captain Wonder	Kid Komics #1 (Feb. 1943)	The Twelve #1 (March 2008)	Otto Binder (writer), Frank Giacoia (penciler)
Challenger	Daring Mystery Comics #7 (April 1941)	Charles Nicholas (penciler). Unknown writer.
Citizen V	'Daring Mystery Comics'’ #8 (Jan. 1942)	Ben Thompson (penciler, as "Tom Benson"). Unknown writer.
Comet Pierce
'Davey Drew' ('Davey and the Demon')	'All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes'’ #3 (October 2011) \|Howard James
'Defender'	'Daredevil'’ #66 (Dec. 2004) \|Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (writers). Penciler uncertain
'Destroyer'	'Invaders'’ #26 (March 1978) \|Stan Lee (writer), Jack Binder (penciler)
'Dynamic Man'	'The Twelve'’ #1 (March 2008) \|Daniel Peters
'Electro'	'The Twelve'’ #1 (March 2008) \|Steve Dahlman (writer-penciler)
'Falcon'	'Marvel Knights Spider-Man'’#9(Feb.2005) \|Carl Burgos(writer-artist)
'Father Time'	'All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes'’#2(Sep.2011) \|Stan Lee(writer)
'Ferret'	'The Marvels Project'’#3(Dec.2009) \|
'Fiery Mask'	'The Twelve'’#1(March2008) \|Joe Simon(writer-penciler)
'Fighting Yank'	'All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes'’#2(Sep.2011) \|
'Fin'	'The Avengers'’#97(March1972); 'Invaders'#5(March1976) \|Bill Everett(writer-penciller)
'Flash Foster'	'All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes'#1(August2011) \|
'Flexo the Rubber Man'	'Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man/Venom'(May2022) \|Jack Binder(penciller). Unknown writer
'Human Torch(android)'	'Fantastic Four Annual'#4(Nov1966)\|Al Fagaly(penciller), Carl Burgos(writer-penciller)
'Hurricane'	'Marvel Universe'#7(Dec1998)\|Jack Kirby and Joe Simon(writers), Jack Kirby(penciler)
'Invisible Man'	'All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes'#1(August2011) \|
'Jack Frost'	'Marvel Premiere'#29(April1976)\|Stan Lee(writer), Charles Nicholas(penciler)
'Jap Buster Johnson'	'All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes'#2(Sept2011) \|
'Jimmy Jupiter'	'Captain America'#1(Sept2011) \|
'John Steele'	The Marvels Project#1(Oct2009)\|Larry Antonette(writer and penciler as "Dean Carr")
'Laughing Mask'	The Twelve#1(March2008)\|Will Harr(writer), Maurice Gutwirth(penciler)
'Major Liberty'	'U.S.A.Comics'#1(August1941)
'Marvel Boy'(first)'	'Daring Mystery Comics'#6(Sept1940)	Jack Kirby(penciller), Joe Simon and Al Avison(inkers)
'- ' Mercury Red Raven Comics#1(August1940)' Marvel Universe#7(Dec1998)' Martin A. Bursten(writer), Jack Kirby(artist)' '- ' Merzah the Mystic 'Mystic Comics'#4(August1940)' All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes'#1(August2011)'	'- ' Miss America(Madeline Joyce)' Marvel Mystery Comics'#49(November1943)' Giant-Size Avengers'#1(August1974)' Otto Binder(writer), Al Gabriele(penciller)' '- ' Miss Patriot Human Torch Comics'#4(Spring1941)(as Mary Morgan); Marvel Mystery Comics '#50'(Dec.'43)(as Miss Patriot)' Captain America: Patriot '#1'(Nov.'10)'	'- ' Mister E Daring Mystery '#2' The Twelve '#1'(Mar.'08)'	'- ' Monako the Magician Daring Mystery '#1' The Marvels Project '#1'(Oct.'09)'	'- ' Moon Man Mystic '#5' All-Winners Squad '#2'(Sep.'11)'	'- ' Namora Marvel Mystery '#82'(May '47)' Sub-Mariner '#33'(Jan.'71)' Ken Bald(writer), Syd Shores(artist)' '- ' Nellie the Nurse	'- ' Patriot Jeffrey Mace Human Torch '#4'(Spring '41)' Avengers '#97'(Mar.'72); Invaders '#5'(Mar.'76)' Ray Gill(writer), Bill Everett or George Mandel(penciler)' '- ' Patsy Walker Miss America Magazine '#2'(Nov.'44)' Avengers '#144'(Feb.'76)' Stuart Little(writer), Ruth Atkinson(artist)' '- ' Phantom Bullet Daring '#2'(Feb.'40)' The Marvels Project '#2'(Nov.'09)'	'- ' Phantom Reporter Daring Mystery '#3' The Twelve '#1'(Mar.'08)'	'- ' Red Raven Red Raven '#1'(Aug.'40)' X-Men '#44'(May '68)' Joe Simon(writer), Louis Cazeneuve(penciller)' '- ' Rockman U.S.A.Comics '#1'(Aug.'41)' The Twelve '#1'(Mar.'08)'	'- ' Silver Scorpion Daring Mystery '#7'(Jan.'41)' Invaders '#2'(Jun.'93)' Henry Sahle '- ' Slow-Motion Jones U.S.A.Comics '#6'(Dec.'42)' All-Winners Squad '#1'(Aug.'11)' '- ' Sun Girl Sun Girl '#1'(Aug.'48')' Ant-Man: Last Days '#1'(Oct.'15')' Ken Bald '- ' Taxi Taylor Mystic '#2'(Apr.'40')' All-Winners Squad '#01'(Aug.'11')' Unknown writer & penciler from Harry "A" Chesler studio '- ' Terror Mystic '#5'(Mar.'41')' Sensational She-Hulk '#15'(May '90')' Phil Sturm(writer); Syd Shores(penciler). George Klein may have assisted pencils but not creator role. '- ' Thin Man Mystic '#4'(Jul.'40')' Marvel Premiere '#29'(Apr.'76')' Klaus Nordling(penciller-inker) '- ' Thunderer Daring Mystery '#7'(Apr.'41')' Marvel Premiere '#29'(Apr.'76')'	'- ' Toro Human Torch comics '#2 '(Fall '40') Sub-Mariner '#14 '(Jun '69') Carl Burgos '- ' Vagabond U.S.A.Comics '#02 '(Nov '41') All-Winners Squad '#03 '(Oct '11')	'- ' Venus Venus comic book '#01 '(Aug '48') Sub-Mariner '#57 '(Jan '73') Ken Bald(first artist ) '- ' Victory Boys Comedy comics '#10 '(June '42') All Winners squad '#01 '(Aug '11')	'- ' Vision(Timely comics ) Marvel mystery comics #'13 '(Nov '40') Avengers #'97 '(Mar '72') Jack Kirby & Joe Simon(writers); Jack Kirby(pencils & inks ) '- ' Whizzer(Robert Frank ) USA comics #'01 '(Aug '41') Giant size Avengers #'01 '(Aug '74') Al Avison(pencils ), Al Gabriele(inks ). Writer unknown. '- ' Witness(comics ) Mystic comics #'06 '(Dec '41') Twelve #'01 '(Mar '08') Stan Lee(writer ) '- ' Young Allies(Marvel comics ) Young Allies comics #'01 '(July '41') Young Allies comics 70th anniversary special #(Aug '09') Jack Kirby(pencils ), Syd Shores(inks ) '- ' Young Avenger USA comics #'01 '(Aug '41') All Winners squad #'01 '(Aug '11')

External links