Big Town #1

History

The comic launched in January 1951 while the Big Town radio drama (created by former crime reporter Jerry McGill and broadcast on CBS from October 1937 through June 1952) was still on the air, and while the companion television series — which debuted on CBS in 1950 — was in its first season. Whitney Ellsworth received the credited editorial role per the indicia, consistent with his position as DC's editorial director and liaison to Hollywood properties at the time; however, the Grand Comics Database, working from DC editorial records obtained by researcher Gene Reed from editor E. Nelson Bridwell in 1986, identifies Jack Schiff as the actual hands-on editor for issues #1 and #2, with Julius Schwartz taking over from issue #3 onward. The debut issue's interior scripts were written by Dave Wood and France E. Herron, with pencils by Dan Barry and inks by Sy Barry; the cover — depicting Steve Wilson under deadline pressure — was drawn by Carmine Infantino and inked by Frank Giacoia, two artists who would go on to be central figures in DC's Silver Age.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First comic book appearance of Steve Wilson ('fighting editor' of the Illustrated Press) and his partner Lorelei Kilbourne in DC continuity, translated directly from the Big Town radio and television franchise.
• Published January 1951 by National Periodical Publications (DC), on sale November 22, 1950; ran for 50 issues, concluding with a March–April 1958 cover date.
• Cover art by Carmine Infantino (pencils) and Frank Giacoia (inks); interior pencils by Dan Barry, inks by Sy Barry, scripts by Dave Wood and France E. Herron.
• Credited editor on the indicia was Whitney Ellsworth; per GCD records sourced from E. Nelson Bridwell, the actual working editor for issues #1–2 was Jack Schiff, with Julius Schwartz editing issues #3–50.
• Issue #1 contains four stories: 'Deadly Nightmare!' (lead Steve Wilson story), 'Forgotten Men of Skid Row!', 'I Fight Crime with My Camera!', and 'The Flag of Doom!'; early issues also featured backup strips headlining Johnny Law, Headquarters Detective.
• The Big Town franchise it adapted originated on CBS Radio on October 19, 1937, created by ex-newspaperman Jerry McGill and initially starring film star Edward G. Robinson as Steve Wilson — his first regular radio role — before Edward J. Pawley took over the part in 1943.
• The comic launched concurrently with the Big Town CBS television series (1950–1956) and while the radio show was still broadcasting, making it one of the rare Golden Age DC titles tied simultaneously to both active radio and television versions of its source property.
• Over the run of the series, contributing artists included Dan Barry, Carmine Infantino, Gil Kane, John Lehti, Manny Stallman, and Alex Toth, with John Broome writing most of the later scripts.

Full credits