Notable events of 1940 in comics. See also List of years in comics.
Events and publications
Year overall
- Another boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Ace Comics, Columbia Comics, Farrell Publications, Holyoke Publishing, Novelty Press, and Street & Smith Comics all begin publishing.
January
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #34 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #20 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #46 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #10 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #17 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #35 - DC Comics
- Double Action Comics (1939 series) #2 - National Periodical Publications, consisting entirely of black and white reprints from early issues of More Fun Comics.
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #28 - Quality Comics
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #3 - Timely Comics
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #51 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #6 - Quality Comics
Debuts
- Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #1 - Timely Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #1 - National Periodical Publications
- Teen-Age Romances #1 - St. John Publications debuts January 14
February
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #35 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #21 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #47 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #11 - DC Comics
- Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #2 - Timely Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #36 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #29 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #2 - National Periodical Publications
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #4 - Timely Comics
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #52 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #7 - Quality Comics
- Whiz Comics #2, the first appearance of Captain Marvel â€" Fawcett
Spring
- Batman (1940 series) #1 - DC Comics
March
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #36 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #22 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #48 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #12 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #18 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #37 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #30 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #3 - National Periodical Publications
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #5 - Timely Comics
- Master Comics (1940 series) #1 - Fawcett Publications
- Mystic Comics (1940 series) #1 - Timely Comics
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #53 - National Periodical Publications
- Silver Streak Comics (1939 series) #3 â€" title acquired by Lev Gleason Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #8 - Quality Comics
- Superman (1939 series) #4 cover dated Spring - National Periodical Publications
April
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #37 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #23 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #49 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #13 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #19 - Centaur Publications
- Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #3 - Timely Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #38 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #31 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #4 - National Periodical Publications
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #6 - Timely Comics
- Master Comics (1940 series) #2 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #54 - National Periodical Publications
- Mystic Comics (1940 series) #2 - Timely Comics
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #9 - Quality Comics
May
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #38 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #24 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #50 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #14 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #20 - Centaur Publications
- Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #4 - Timely Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #39 - DC Comics
- Doc Savage Comics (1940 series) #1 - Street & Smith Publications
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #32 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #5 - National Periodical Publications
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #7 - Timely Comics
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #55 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #10 - Quality Comics
Summer
- All Star Comics (1940 series) #1 - DC Comics
- Batman (1940 series) #2 - DC Comics
June
- June 2: first publication of Will Eisner's "The Spirit Section", featuring debuts of the series The Spirit, Lady Luck and Mr. Mystic.
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #39 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #25 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #51 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #15 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #21 - Centaur Publications
- Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #5 - Timely Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #40 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #33 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #6 - National Periodical Publications
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #8 - Timely Comics
- Master Comics (1940 series) #3 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #56 - National Periodical Publications
- Mystic Comics (1940 series) #3 - Timely Comics
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #11 - Quality Comics
- Superman (1939 series) #5 cover dated Summer - National Periodical Publications
July
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #40 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #26 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #52 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #16 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #22 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #41 - DC Comics
- Doc Savage Comics (1940 series) #2 - Street & Smith Publications
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #34 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #7 - National Periodical Publications
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #9 - Timely Comics
- Master Comics (1940 series) #4 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #57 - National Periodical Publications
- Mystic Comics (1940 series) #4 - Timely Comics
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #12 - Quality Comics
August
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #41 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #27 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #53 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #17 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #23 - Centaur Publications
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #42 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #35 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #8 - National Periodical Publications
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #10 - Timely Comics
- Master Comics (1940 series) #5 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #58 - National Periodical Publications
- Red Raven Comics (1940 series) #1 - Timely Comics
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #13 - Quality Comics
Fall
- All Star Comics (1940 series) #2 - DC Comics
- Batman (1940 series) #3 - DC Comics
September
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #42 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #28 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #54 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #18 - DC Comics
- Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #24, last issue - Centaur Publications
- Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #6 - Timely Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #43 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #36 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #9 - National Periodical Publications
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #11 - Timely Comics
- Master Comics (1940 series) #6 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #59 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #14 - Quality Comics
- Superman (1939 series) #6 - National Periodical Publications
October
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #43 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #29 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #55 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #19 - DC Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #44 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #37 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #10 - National Periodical Publications
- Human Torch (1940 series) #2 - Timely Comics
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #12 - Timely Comics
- Master Comics (1940 series) #7 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #60 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #15 - Quality Comics
November
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #44 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #30 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #56 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #20 - DC Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #45 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #38 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #11 - National Periodical Publications
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #13 - Timely Comics
- Master Comics (1940 series) #8 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #61 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #16 - Quality Comics
- Superman (1939 series) #7 - National Periodical Publications
Winter
- All Star Comics (1940 series) #3 - DC Comics
- Batman (1940 series) #4 (DC Comics) â€" first appearance of Gotham City
December
- Ace Comics (1937 series) #45 - David McKay Publications
- Action Comics (1938 series) #31 - DC Comics
- Adventure Comics (1938 series) #57 - DC Comics
- All-American Comics (1939 series) #21 - DC Comics
- Captain America Comics (1940 series) #1 - Timely Comics
- Detective Comics (1937 series) #46 - DC Comics
- Feature Comics (1939 series) #39 - Quality Comics
- Flash Comics (1940 series) #12 - National Periodical Publications
- Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #14 - Timely Comics
- Master Comics (1940 series) #9 - Fawcett Publications
- More Fun Comics (1936 series) #62 - National Periodical Publications
- Smash Comics (1939 series) #17 - Quality Comics
Specials
- Mutt & Jeff (1939 series) #2 - All-American Comics
- New York World's Fair Comics (1939 series) #2 - National Periodical Publications
First issues by title
- All Star Comics, cover-dated Summer, published by All-American Publications.
- Batman, cover-dated Spring, published by DC Comics.
- Big Shot Comics, cover-dated May, published by Columbia Comics.
- Daring Mystery Comics, cover-dated January, published by Timely Comics.
- Doc Savage Comics published by Street & Smith Publications.
- Flash Comics cover dated January, published by National Periodical Publications.
- Green Hornet, cover-dated December, published by Helnit.
- Jackpot Comics, cover-dated Spring, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc.
- Master Comics, cover-dated March, published by Fawcett Publications.
- Red Raven Comics, cover-dated August, published by Timely Comics.
- Shield-Wizard Comics, cover-dated Summer, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc.
- Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, cover-dated October, published by Dell Comics.
- Wow Comics, cover-dated Winter, published by Fawcett Comics.
- Zip Comics, cover-dated June, published by MLJ Magazines, Inc.
Initial appearances by character name
- Catwoman in Batman #1 (Summer), created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics.
- Doctor Hormone in Popular Comics #54 (August), published by Dell Comics.
- The Flash (Jay Garrick) in Flash Comics #1 (January), created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, published by National Periodical Publications.
- Hawkman (Carter Hall) in Flash Comics #1 (January), created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville, published by National Periodical Publications.
- The Joker in Batman #1 (Summer), created by Jerry Robinson (concept), Bill Finger, and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics.
- Justice Society of America in All Star Comics #3 (Winter), created by Sheldon Mayer and Gardner Fox, published by DC Comics.
- Robin in Detective Comics #40 (June), created by Jerry Robinson (concept), Bill Finger, and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics.
- Silver Streak in Silver Streak Comics #3 (March), created by Joe Simon, published by Lev Gleason Publications.
References
