Cover: Irv Novick

Pep Comics #8

Sep 1940 · Archie · 0.10 USD

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“The Hollywood Murders”

About this Issue

Pep Comics #8 (on sale July 15, 1940) is a representative mid-run entry in one of Golden Age comics' most consequential anthology titles — the series that introduced The Shield, comics' first flag-costumed patriotic superhero, more than a year before Captain America. The issue presents The Comet (John Dickering) still living as a fugitive hunted by the law, a serialized moral complexity rare for superhero fiction of the era, and continues the 'Perry Chase, The Press Guardian' strip's ongoing theme of journalists under threat. As a snapshot of MLJ's full Golden Age lineup operating at peak capacity — superheroes, war adventure, science fiction, detective mystery, and boxing serial all within one 68-page package — the issue documents the breadth and ambition of the publisher that would eventually become Archie Comics.

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writer Abner J. Sundell · artist, inker Jack Cole · cover Irv Novick

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History

Pep Comics was the third anthology title launched by MLJ Magazines Inc. (founded by Maurice Coyne, Louis Silberkleit, and John Goldwater), following Blue Ribbon Comics and Top-Notch Comics in quick succession in late 1939 and early 1940. Issue #8 was edited by Abner Sundell, who helmed the title through its first two-plus years; its on-sale date of July 15, 1940 is documented in the U.S. Copyright Office's Catalog of Copyright Entries. The Shield strip was scripted by Harry Shorten with art by Irv Novick, the same team that debuted the character in issue #1; the Comet story's artist is disputed by the Grand Comics Database, which notes the story was originally credited to Jack Cole but the attribution is considered doubtful, possibly the work of an unknown tryout artist.

Trivia · 8 facts

On-sale date: July 15, 1940; published by MLJ Magazines Inc., edited by Abner Sundell; 68 pages at ten cents.
The Shield (Joe Higgins), America's first flag-costumed patriotic superhero — created by writer Harry Shorten and artist Irv Novick — stars in the lead feature, with supporting character Betty Warren appearing in his story.
The Comet (John Dickering), with Thelma Gordon as his journalist ally, continues his storyline as a superhero-turned-fugitive; the GCD notes this issue's Comet art was originally credited to Jack Cole but the attribution is disputed — likely by an unknown artist.
The Press Guardian (Perry Chase) story continues; the strip had been retitled 'Perry Chase, The Press Guardian' starting with issue #7, as documented in the Wikipedia history of the series.
The science-fiction serial 'The Rocket and the Queen of Diamonds' (featuring Sir Rocket and the Queen of Diamonds) runs in this issue; the strip ran from issue #1 through #11, written by Abner Sundell with art by Lin Streeter.
Other continuing anthology features in this issue include: Fu Chang (International Detective, art by Lin Streeter; scripted by Joe Blair), Sergeant Boyle (war strip), Lee Sampson (The Midshipman), Eddie 'Kayo' Ward (boxing serial), and Bentley of Scotland Yard (Inspector Bentley), confirming the full MLJ Golden Age lineup still intact.
The Black Hood (Matthew 'Kip' Burland) does NOT appear in this issue despite being cataloged alongside it: the Black Hood first appeared in Top-Notch Comics #9 (October 1940) and did not join the Pep Comics lineup until issue #48 (April 1944) — any catalog association is likely a character-index cross-reference, not an in-issue appearance.
The Comet series, of which this issue is a part, ran for the first 17 issues of Pep Comics and is historically notable as the strip that ended with the first superhero death in comics history (issue #17, July 1941), when John Dickering was shot by gangsters.