Notable events of 1938 in comics. See also List of years in comics.
Events and publications
European publications
- Italian noir hero Dick Fulmine debuts
- April 21: first issue of Le Journal de Spirou, featuring debuts of the series Spirou by Rob-Vel and Les Aventures de Tif by Fernand Dineur.
- July 30: first issue of the British comic The Beano, featuring debuts of Lord Snooty, Wee Peem, Tin-Can Tommy, Hairy Dan, Ping the Elastic Man, Helpful Henry and Big Eggo.
- 17 December: The first appearance of Pansy Potter one of the longest running comic strips in The Beano.
U.S. publications
January
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #10 - David McKay Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #11 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #4 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #28 - National Periodical Publications
- New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #23 - National Periodical Publications
February
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #11 - David McKay Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #12 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #5 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #29 - National Periodical Publications
- New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #24 - National Periodical Publications
March
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #12 - David McKay Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #13 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #6 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #30 - National Periodical Publications
- New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #25 - National Periodical Publications
April
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #13 - David McKay Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #14 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #7 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
May
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #14 - David McKay Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #15 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #8 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
- New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #26 - National Periodical Publications
June
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #15 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #1 - DC Comics: first appearance of Superman
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #16 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #9 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
- Jumbo Comics #1 รข€" Fiction House
- New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #27 - National Periodical Publications
July
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #16 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #2 - DC Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #17 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #10 - Comic Favourites, Inc.
- New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #28 - National Periodical Publications
August
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #17 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #3 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #1 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #18 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #11 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
- New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #29 - National Periodical Publications
September
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #18 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #4 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938) #2 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #19 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #12 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
- New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #30 - National Periodical Publications
October
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #19 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #5 - DC Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #20 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #13 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
- New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #31 - National Periodical Publications
November
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #20 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #6 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (previously New Adventure Comics) (1937 series) #32 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #3 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #21 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #14 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
December
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #21 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #7 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (previously New Adventure Comics) (1936 series) #33 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #"4" - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #22 - DC Comics
- Feature Funnies (1937 series) #15 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
Specials
- New Book of Comics (1937 series) #2 - National Periodical Publications
First issues by title
- Action Comics cover dated June, published by DC Comics.
- Amazing Mystery Funnies cover dated August, published by Centaur Publications.
- The Beano cover dated July, published by DC Thomson.
Renamed titles
- New Adventure Comics renamed Adventure Comics as of the November cover date.
Initial appearances by character name
- Lois Lane in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC Comics.
- Superman in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC Comics.
References
