Tower Comics
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Comic books |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Defunct | 1969 |
| Fate | Ceased publishing |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Harry Shorten (publisher), Wally Wood (creator, editor), Samm Schwartz (editor) |
| Products | Comic books, including T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Tippy Teen |
| Parent | Tower Publications |
Tower Comics operated as a United States-based comic book publisher between 1965 and 1969. It gained recognition primarily for T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, created by Wally Wood, which combined elements of espionage and superhero genres, as well as for Tippy Teen, an Archie-inspired series developed by Samm Schwartz. The publisher was a division of Tower Publications, known for its Midwood Books line of soft-core fiction, with Harry Shorten overseeing publication and editing duties shared by Schwartz and Wood.
Distinguishing itself in the market, Tower Comics released 64-page comics priced at 25 cents during an era dominated by 12-cent, 32-page issues. This format was reminiscent of the Golden Age, featuring several standalone stories within each issue, culminating in a concluding narrative that brought together the principal characters—a storytelling approach similar to that employed by team titles such as DC Comics' All-Star Comics.
History
Harry Shorten negotiated an agreement with Wally Wood that granted Wood extensive creative and operational autonomy, freeing him from administrative tasks so he could concentrate on developing characters and concepts for a growing roster of superheroes.
As Wood found it challenging to fulfill the content requirements alone, Shorten enlisted Samm Schwartz—whom he had previously collaborated with at Archie Comics—to oversee production schedules and delegate scripting and artwork responsibilities beyond Wood's own output. Schwartz's spirited teen comic Tippy Teen ran for 27 issues, accompanied by its spin-off Go-Go and Animal, both showcasing contributions from Schwartz alongside prominent Archie artists such as Harry Lucey and Dan DeCarlo.
The creative team also featured notable talents including Dan Adkins, Gil Kane, Reed Crandall, Steve Ditko, Richard Bassford, Len Brown, Steve Skeates, Larry Ivie, Bill Pearson, Russ Jones, Roger Brand, and Tim Battersby-Brent.
Legacy
In the early 1980s, rights to the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents were acquired by John Carbonaro, who published new material under his JC Comics imprint. In 1984, Deluxe Comics introduced fresh T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents stories, asserting that the characters were part of the public domain. Carbonaro initiated legal action and ultimately obtained exclusive ownership of the property.
During the 2000s, DC Comics reissued original Tower stories through their DC Archive Editions. After securing legitimate rights, DC launched a new T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents series in 2010.
Titles published
- Fight the Enemy (3 issues, Aug. 1966–Mar. 1967) – war-themed comics
- T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents (20 issues, Nov. 1965–Nov. 1969) along with related titles:
- Dynamo (4 issues, Aug. 1966–June 1967)
- NoMan (2 issues, Nov. 1966–Mar. 1967)
- Undersea Agent (6 issues, Jan. 1966–Mar. 1967) – loosely affiliated
- Tippy Teen (26 issues, Nov. 1965–Oct. 1969) – teen-oriented comics; includes an unnumbered special edition titled Tippy Teen Special Collector's Edition (Nov. 1969) plus spin-offs:
- Teen-in (4 issues, Summer 1968–Fall 1969)
- Tippy's Friends Go-go and Animal / Tippy's Friend Go-Go (15 issues, Aug. 1966–Oct. 1969)
Paperback collections
- Dynamo, Man of High Camp (Tower Book 42–660) 1966 – reprints issue #1 of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
- NoMan, the Invisible THUNDER Agent (Tower Book 42-672) 1966 – collects NoMan stories from issues #2–5 of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
- Menthor, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agent with the Super Helmet (Tower Book 42-674) 1966 – reprints Menthor narratives from issues #2–5 of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
- The Terrific Trio (Tower Book 42-687) 1966 – compiles stories from issues #2, #3, and #6 of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents