Cover: Chuck Mazoujian

Marvel Mystery Comics #2

Dec 1939 · Marvel · 0.10 USD

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About this Issue

Marvel Mystery Comics #2 (cover-dated December 1939) is the issue that formally renamed Timely Publications' flagship anthology and locked in the template that would define American superhero comics for the next decade: a multi-feature anthology anchored by Carl Burgos's android Human Torch and Bill Everett's Sub-Mariner running in parallel continuity, with Paul Gustavson's Angel, Al Anders's Masked Raider, and Ben Thompson's Ka-Zar rounding out a genuinely diverse genre mix under a single cover. It also delivered the first widely available comic-book printing of the American Ace origin story — a strip that, like Namor himself, originated in the uncirculated theater giveaway Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1, making this issue a rare second port of call for material that would otherwise have been lost to history. The Angel received his first cover appearance here (he graced covers #2 and #3), beginning what would become the longest unbroken character run in the series, stretching through issue #79 in December 1946. Together with Marvel Comics #1, this issue forms the two-issue foundation from which Timely built its entire Golden Age publishing line.

Contains 6 stories

Murder at the Racetrack

16 pp · Superhero

Johnson (prison con and former racecar driver, introduction)Blackie Ross (villain, introduction)Lola (girlfriend of Blackie Ross, introduction)

In "Murder at the Racetrack," the Torch races against time and danger at a high-stakes track, where a ruthless racketeer will stop at nothing to ensure victory—using a flaming airplane to sabotage his rivals. With flames and fury on the track, the hero must outwit a criminal who’s willing to burn down the competition.

The Treasure of Alano

8 pp · Superhero

Jane Framan (introduction)Lelong [as Sumner] (villain, introduction)

In "The Treasure of Alano," the Angel races to protect a woman from a thief intent on stealing a map leading to a long-lost temple’s hidden riches. With danger lurking in the shadows, the hero must navigate treachery and mystery before the treasure’s secrets are claimed.

Attack on New York City

12 pp · Superhero

Pinkertonun-named girlFoley (policeman, death)

In "Attack on New York City," Namor descends on the city with a mission, his path crossing a young woman whose life takes a sudden turn when a cigarette sets her dress alight. Drawn into his shadowy scheme, she’s taken from the hospital and brought to his hidden undersea kingdom, where her fate becomes entangled in his war against the surface world.

The Town of Wanted Men

8 pp · Western-Frontier

un-named Sheriff"Hook" Tebbs (villain, introduction) and his men [Tex, Miguel] (villains)

Origin of the American Ace

6 pp · Aviation

Minister of Attainia (death)Queen Ursula (villain, introduction), Josef (villain, introduction)

The Battle with Bardak

12 pp · Jungle

Zar (a lion)Sha (lion mate of Zar)Trajah (an elephant)Zoro (a lion cub)Chaka (an ape)Kru (a vulture)Bardak (an ape, villain, introduction, death)

In "The Battle with Bardak," Ka-Zar, raised in the wild after losing his parents, finds himself tested when the ruthless Bardak claims a mysterious mirror from the ruins of De Kraft’s tent. With the jungle holding its breath, Ka-Zar must defend his sanctuary—and the power of the mirror—before Bardak’s vengeance erupts.

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta

Raw (Good) $6,570

CGC 9.2 · 1 in census $148,675*

CGC 9.0 · 2 in census $94,685*

CGC 8.5 · 2 in census $68,163*

CGC 8.0 · 1 in census $54,144*

CGC 7.5 · 1 in census $28,937*

CGC 7.0 none in existence

Show all 19 grades ▾

CGC 6.5 none in existence

CGC 6.0 · 2 in census $28,937*

CGC 5.5 · 1 in census $22,979*

CGC 5.0 · 1 in census $21,851*

CGC 4.5 · 5 in census $20,480

CGC 4.0 · 1 in census $15,713*

CGC 3.5 · 1 in census $13,424*

CGC 3.0 · 1 in census $12,513*

CGC 2.5 · 4 in census $10,356*

CGC 2.0 · 3 in census $10,345*

CGC 1.5 · 4 in census $6,907

CGC 1.0 · 1 in census $4,442

CGC 0.5 · 2 in census $4,442

* estimate — limited direct-sales data at this grade

Our model’s value — refined as new sales data arrives · CGC census counts shown where available

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History

The issue arrived in the immediate wake of the runaway commercial success of Marvel Comics #1, whose November 1939 second printing moved roughly 800,000 copies and convinced publisher Martin Goodman to commit to an in-house staff; he hired Funnies, Inc. writer-artist Joe Simon as editor, who in turn brought collaborator Jack Kirby and artist Syd Shores aboard — a creative infrastructure that was assembling even as issue #2 went to press. The title rename from 'Marvel Comics' to 'Marvel Mystery Comics' took effect with this issue, establishing the branding that would carry the series through issue #92 in June 1949. Interior art was divided among the core Funnies, Inc. contributors — Burgos on the Human Torch, Everett on the Sub-Mariner, Gustavson on the Angel, Anders on the Masked Raider, Paul J. Lauretta on the American Ace reprint, and Thompson on Ka-Zar — while the cover was painted by Charles J. Mazoujian, who also illustrated the included Angel text story 'Death-Bird Squadron' scripted by David C. Cooke.

Trivia · 8 facts

First issue published under the title 'Marvel Mystery Comics' — the series had been called simply 'Marvel Comics' with issue #1; the rename is permanent beginning here (Dec. 1939).
First Timely Comics appearance of the American Ace (aviator Perry Wade/Perry Webb — sources vary on surname; see Flagged), whose origin story was a reprint of material originally prepared for the uncirculated theater giveaway Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 (April 1939), drawn by Paul J. Lauretta.
First cover appearance of the Angel (Thomas Halloway), illustrated by Charles J. Mazoujian; the Angel would go on to appear in every issue of the series through #79 (December 1946), the longest continuous run of any character in the title.
Interior credits confirmed across sources: Carl Burgos (Human Torch story 'Murder at the Racetrack'); Bill Everett (Sub-Mariner story 'Attack on New York City'); Paul Gustavson (Angel story 'The Treasure of Alano'); Al Anders (Masked Raider story 'The Town of Wanted Men'); Ben Thompson (Ka-Zar story 'The Battle with Bardak'); David C. Cooke (text story 'Death-Bird Squadron,' Angel); cover by Charles J. Mazoujian.
The issue contains the second appearances of the Human Torch (Jim Hammond), the Sub-Mariner (Namor), the Angel (Thomas Halloway), the Masked Raider (Jim Gardley), and Ka-Zar (David Rand) — all having debuted in Marvel Comics #1.
The American Ace feature was short-lived at Timely, abruptly ending after only two installments in this series; the character's material subsequently appeared at competitor Centaur Publications under a different name before that publisher also folded.
The entire issue has been reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 1, which also collects Marvel Comics #1 and issues #3–4, making the material accessible to modern readers.
The issue was produced and edited under the direction of Martin Goodman, with Joe Simon having just been brought on as editor following the breakout success of Marvel Comics #1 — the early editorial apparatus that would grow into the full Timely Comics studio was forming around this very issue.