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Planet Comics #4 cover
Cover: Charles Sultan
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Planet Comics #4

Apr 1940 · Fiction House · 0.10 USD
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★ 1st appearance — Gale Allen
About this Issue

Planet Comics #4 (April/July 1940) marks the debut of Gale Allen and her Women's Space Battalion, one of the earliest all-female military units in American comic books — a character who would anchor nearly every issue of the title through #42 and stands as one of Fiction House's most enduring heroines. The issue also continues the ongoing Auro, Lord of Jupiter strip, the title's Tarzan-in-space serial that was one of only three features to run from the very first issue. Together, these strips made #4 a pivotal expansion of Planet Comics' cast, cementing the title's dual identity as both a testosterone-fueled space-opera anthology and, unusually for 1940, a showcase for capable, action-taking women. As part of the series that historians recognize as the first comic book dedicated entirely to science fiction, every early issue carries outsized weight in the genre's publishing history.

"Slave Planet" kicks off in 1940 with Captain Cole, honored at the Third Centenary of the Solar Police Force, when a sudden death ray cuts down dancers in a shocking attack. With the mystery unfolding, Cole traces the weapon to his archenemy Felon, who’s now on Earth, selling his deadly tech to aggressive nations. The story’s stark visuals and tense pacing come courtesy of Charles Sultan, who handles both the interior art and cover, bringing the pulp sci-fi menace to life with bold, dynamic lines.

Contains 11 stories
Slave Planet
11 pp · Science Fiction
Fletcher "Flint" BakerMimi WilsonParks (crew member)the Great Eye (villain, introduction, death?)the Great Ear (villain, introduction)the Great Mouth (villain, introduction)space monsters (villains, creatures, some die)

In "Slave Planet," Flint and Mimi find themselves stranded on Jupiter after a sudden attack by a space monster during their journey home. Forced to land, they must confront the planet’s terrifying guardians—the Great Eye, the Great Ear, and the Great Mouth—before they can hope to escape.

Untitled Science Fiction story
6 pp · Science Fiction
Jano (Prince of Saturn, introduction)Thogra (villain, Jano's uncle, a Saturnian, introduction, death)

In the 1940 science fiction tale "null" from Planet Comics #4, the inhabitants of Auro's planet gather in wonder as a mysterious spacecraft crashes into a lake. When Auro ventures to investigate, he uncovers a young Prince of Saturn, fleeing his tyrannical uncle, stranded in the wreckage of his shattered vessel.

Untitled Science Fiction story
5 pp · Science Fiction
Inks ? [shop]
The Red Cometunnamed Earth explorers

In "null," the Comet races through space to intercept an Earth ship hurtling toward Vegeto, a planet teeming with deadly flora. As the ship descends, the Comet must act fast to save its crew from the planet's relentless, hostile vegetation.

Untitled Science Fiction story
13 pp · Science Fiction
Script ? [as Beekman Terrill]
Captain Nelson ColeFelon (villain)

In "null," Captain Cole finds himself at the center of a deadly mystery during the Third Centenary of the Solar Police Force, when a sudden death ray cuts down dancers at a gala. As he investigates, the trail leads him to his old nemesis, Felon, now selling his deadly skills to Earth's aggressor nations.

Space Islands of Destruction
7 pp · Science Fiction
Script ? [as Wm. S. Mott]
Spurt HammondJanice Dale (introduction)Mercurian pirates (villains, introduction for all)

Spurt ventures to Mercury to confront the fearsome beaked men, who terrorize space trade routes with their detachable bat wings and demand ransoms. As he navigates the alien landscape, he must outwit a foe as ruthless as they are bizarre.

Untitled Science Fiction story
6 pp · Science Fiction
Script ? [as Bob Jordan]
Lieutenant Buzz CrandallDoctor Curan [aka Curran]Sandra Curan (the doctor's daughter)Dr. Zynnon (villain, introduction, death)

In the silent vastness of space, Lt. Crandall receives a chilling warning from Dr. Curan: the Moon is on the brink of exploding from a dangerous buildup of hydrogen gas at its core. With time running out, the fragile peace aboard the ship is threatened by the presence of Dr. Zynnon, a passenger whose deep-seated hatred for humanity could ignite a far greater disaster.

Untitled Science Fiction story
4 pp · Science Fiction
Captain Kenny Carr (introduction)Dwight (Carr's service buddy)unnamed colonelenemy soldiers (villains, half die)

In the 1940 science fiction tale "null" from Planet Comics #4, the colonel and Dwight devise a scheme to lure Kenny back into service—only for their deception to unexpectedly become reality when Carr chooses to re-enlist to fight off an alien invasion.

Untitled Science Fiction story
4 pp · Science Fiction
Script ? [as Fred Nelson]
Gale Allen and the Women's Space Battalion (introduction for all)Captain Jack North (Universal Space Patrol member, introduction)The Plutonians (villains, introduction for all, some die)

In the vast silence of space, North answers a desperate SOS from a Pluto-bound scouting party, only to learn they've been taken by alien pirates. When he requests aid, the commandant sends Gale Allen and her Women's Space Battalion—much to North’s reluctant surprise—and the mission to rescue the captives begins.

Untitled Non-Fiction story
0.75 pp · Non-Fiction, Math & Science
Script ? [by Lunar]
Case 2....File-A....Clue 4
0.25 pp · Detective-Mystery
Bull's-Eye BannonNora Earl (Dean's daughter-in-law)Clarence Dean (Earl's younger son)Miss Kane (a nurse)
The Strongest Man in the Universe
5 pp · Science Fiction
Script ? [as Ned Small]
Jim Giant (introduction)an unnamed dictator to be (villain, introduction)

In "The Strongest Man in the Universe," Jo, a giant from another world, finds himself drawn into a sudden conflict when a band of fierce North Pole dwellers—racing across the frozen tundra in high-speed sleds and wielding deadly ray guns—launch a surprise assault on North America. With their advanced technology and relentless advance, they threaten to overwhelm the continent, forcing Jo to step forward and confront a danger far beyond his usual solitude.

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta
Raw (Good) $314
CGC 9.4 · 1 in census $16,477*
CGC 9.2 · 3 in census $12,410*
CGC 9.0 · 1 in census $7,833
CGC 8.5 · 2 in census $5,304
CGC 8.0 · 2 in census $4,035
CGC 7.5 · 1 in census $3,225*
Show all 20 grades
CGC 7.0 · 2 in census $2,779
CGC 6.5 none in existence
CGC 6.0 · 1 in census $1,946*
CGC 5.5 · 3 in census $1,597
CGC 5.0 · 2 in census $1,554*
CGC 4.5 · 3 in census $1,393
CGC 4.0 · 5 in census $1,104
CGC 3.5 · 3 in census $997
CGC 3.0 · 3 in census $927
CGC 2.5 none in existence
CGC 2.0 · 1 in census $714
CGC 1.5 none in existence
CGC 1.0 · 1 in census $433
CGC 0.5 · 2 in census $316
* 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

Planet Comics was produced under the combined editorial oversight of Malcolm Reiss, Jerry Iger, and Will Eisner — Eisner himself supplied the cover for issue #4, reflecting his hands-on early involvement with the Fiction House line. The series grew directly out of Fiction House's Planet Stories pulp, with both properties planned simultaneously in 1939 and the comic launching in January 1940; by issue #4 the monthly schedule was still intact, though it would slip to bimonthly with issue #8. The Iger Shop supplied much of the art production pipeline for these early issues, which accounts for the range of artists — including Bob Powell, Alex Blum, Arthur Peddy, Henry Kiefer, and others — contributing strips across the 68-page anthology format.

Trivia · 8 facts

  • First appearance of Gale Allen and the Women's Space Battalion — a female-led military space unit that would appear in nearly every issue from #4 through #42, making her one of the longest-running heroines of the Golden Age sci-fi genre.
  • Continuing appearance of Auro, Lord of Jupiter — the Tarzan-inspired hero who is the son of Professor Hardwich (killed in #1) and gains superhuman strength from Jupiter's gravity; new characters Jano (Prince of Saturn) and the villain Thogra are introduced in this issue's Auro story.
  • Cover by Will Eisner, who co-edited the early issues alongside Malcolm Reiss and Jerry Iger.
  • Story and art contributions from Alex Blum, Bob Powell, Arthur Peddy, Henry C. Kiefer, Witmer Williams, and Charles M. Quinlan, representing the full stable of Iger Shop talent working on the title.
  • The issue's Auro episode involves a plot by a power-hungry Saturnian villain — Thogra — who shoots the young Prince Jano of Saturn into space, and Auro must rescue and protect him.
  • Planet Comics #4 is part of the title that historians identify as the first comic book dedicated wholly to science fiction, launched as a four-color companion to the Planet Stories pulp.
  • The issue was reprinted in full color in PS Artbooks' Planet Comics Volume 1 (2012), a hardcover collecting issues #1–4 with an introduction by Carmine Infantino.
  • Gale Allen's debut installment set her rank as commander of an all-female interplanetary fighting force; her strip evolved in title and tone across subsequent issues, shifting from 'Women's Space Battalion' to 'Girl Patrol' to 'Girl Squadron' as the run progressed.

Cast · 2 characters

Full credits

artist, inker Charles Sultan
cover pencils, inks Charles Sultan

Reprints

Reprinted in Rocketman #1 (1952), Red Comet #3 (1961), Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics #1 (2012), Gale Allen and the Girl Squadron #1 (2024), Planet Comics #4

Key issues in Planet Comics

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