1938 in comics

European publications

Italian noir hero Dick Fulmine debuts

April 21: first issue of Le Journal de Spirou, featuring debuts of the series Spirou by Rob-Vel and Les Aventures de Tif by Fernand Dineur.

July 30: first issue of the British comic The Beano, featuring debuts of Lord Snooty, Wee Peem, Tin-Can Tommy, Hairy Dan, Ping the Elastic Man, Helpful Henry and Big Eggo.

17 December: The first appearance of Pansy Potter one of the longest running comic strips in The Beano.

January

Ace Comics (1937 series) #10 - David McKay Publications

Detective Comics (1937 series) #11 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #42 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #4 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

More Fun Comics (1936 series) #28 - National Periodical Publications

New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #23 - National Periodical Publications

February

Ace Comics (1937 series) #11 - David McKay Publications

Detective Comics (1937 series) #12 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #43 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #5 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

More Fun Comics (1936 series) #29 - National Periodical Publications

New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #24 - National Periodical Publications

March

Ace Comics (1937 series) #12 - David McKay Publications

Detective Comics (1937 series) #13 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #44 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #6 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

More Fun Comics (1936 series) #30 - National Periodical Publications

New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #25 - National Periodical Publications

April

Ace Comics (1937 series) #13 - David McKay Publications

Detective Comics (1937 series) #14 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #45 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #7 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

May

Ace Comics (1937 series) #14 - David McKay Publications

Detective Comics (1937 series) #15 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #46 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #8 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

More Fun Comics (1935 series) #31 - National Periodical Publications

New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #26 - National Periodical Publications

June

Ace Comics (1937 series) #15 - David McKay Publications

Action Comics (1938 series) #1 - DC Comics: first appearance of Superman

Detective Comics (1937 series) #16 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #47 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #9 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

Jumbo Comics #1 — Fiction House

More Fun Comics (1936 series) #32 - National Periodical Publications

New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #27 - National Periodical Publications

July

Ace Comics (1937 series) #16 - David McKay Publications

Action Comics (1938 series) #2 - DC Comics

Detective Comics (1937 series) #17 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #48 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #10 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

More Fun Comics (1936 series) #33 - National Periodical Publications

New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #28 - National Periodical Publications

August

Ace Comics (1937 series) #17 - David McKay Publications

Action Comics (1938 series) #3 - DC Comics

Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #1 - Centaur Publications

Detective Comics (1937 series) #18 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #49 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #11 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

More Fun Comics (1936 series) #34 - National Periodical Publications

New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #29 - National Periodical Publications

September

Ace Comics (1937 series) #18 - David McKay Publications

Action Comics (1938 series) #4 - DC Comics

Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938) #2 - Centaur Publications

Detective Comics (1937 series) #19 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #50 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #12 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

More Fun Comics (1936 series) #35 - National Periodical Publications

New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #30 - National Periodical Publications

October

Ace Comics (1937 series) #19 - David McKay Publications

Action Comics (1938 series) #5 - DC Comics

Detective Comics (1937 series) #20 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #51 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #13 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

More Fun Comics (1936 series) #36 - National Periodical Publications

New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #31 - National Periodical Publications

November

Ace Comics (1937 series) #20 - David McKay Publications

Action Comics (1938 series) #6 - DC Comics

Adventure Comics (previously New Adventure Comics) (1937 series) #32 - DC Comics

Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #3 - Centaur Publications

Detective Comics (1937 series) #21 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #52 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #14 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

More Fun Comics (1936 series) #37 - DC Comics

December

Ace Comics (1937 series) #21 - David McKay Publications

Action Comics (1938 series) #7 - DC Comics

Adventure Comics (1938 series) #33 - DC Comics

Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #"4" - Centaur Publications

Detective Comics (1937 series) #22 - DC Comics

Famous Funnies (1934 series) #53 - Eastern Color Printing

Feature Funnies (1937 series) #15 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

More Fun Comics (1936 series) #38 - DC Comics

Specials

New Book of Comics (1937 series) #2 - National Periodical Publications

Deaths

January 9: Johnny Gruelle, American cartoonist, children's book author, illustrator and comics artist (Mr. Twee Deedle, Raggedy Ann and Andy), dies at age 57.

February: Bertram Lamb, British comics artist (Pip, Squeak and Wilfred), dies at age 50 or 51.

August 11: Wilhelm Heinrich Detlev Körner, German-American comics artist (Hugo Hercules), passes away at age 59.

October: Roy L. Williams, American comics artist (Babe Bunting), passes away.

13 October: E.C. Segar, American comics artist (Thimble Theatre, Popeye), dies at age 44.

First issues by title

Action Comics cover dated June, published by DC Comics.

Comics on Parade cover dated April, published by United Features Syndicate.

Jumbo Comics Cover dated June, published by Fiction House.

Amazing Mystery Funnies cover dated August, published by Centaur Publications.

The Beano cover dated July, published by DC Thomson.

Renamed titles

New Adventure Comics renamed Adventure Comics as of the November cover date.

Initial appearances by character name

Lois Lane in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by National Periodical Publications.

Superman (Earth-Two) in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by National Periodical Publications.

Zatara in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Fred Guardineer, published by National Periodical Publications

Jimmy Olsen in Action Comics #6 (November), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, publisher by National Periodical Publications

Crimson Avenger (Lee Travis) in Detective Comics #20 (October), created by Jim chambers, publisher by National Periodical Publications

Tex Thompson in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily, published by National Periodical Publications

Tigress (DC Comics) in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Fred Guardinner, published by National Periodical Publications