Big Shot Comics

Published by Columbia from 1940 to 1943, Big Shot Comics was a 33-issue anthology series that mixed adventure and humor, most notably featuring the detective Charlie Chan alongside the pugilistic Joe Palooka. The title introduced the masked aviator Skyman, a costumed hero of the early Golden Age, and the globe-trotting Allan Turner. Regular contributors like Ogden Whitney, Ham Fisher, and Fred Schwab gave the book a polished, energetic look, with Fisher also handling Joe Palooka’s popular strip. While not as famous as its competitors, Big Shot Comics offers a lively snapshot of wartime comics’ blend of licensed characters and original creations.