Pep Comics
| Pep Comics | |
|---|---|
Cover of Pep Comics 1 (Jan 1940). Art by Irv Novick.
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | MLJ Publications Inc. |
| Schedule | originally monthly, varied |
| Publication date(s) | #1 (Jan 1940) - #56 (Mar 1946) |
| No. of issues | 56 |
| Main character(s) |
The Shield The Comet Sergeant Boyle Fu Chang, International Detective Bentley of Scotland Yard Perry Chase, The Press Guardian Lee Sampson, Midshipman Kayo Ward Danny in Wonderland The Fireball Madame Satan The Hangman Archie Captain Commando and the Boy Soldiers Black Hood |
| Pep Comics | |
|---|---|
Pep #411, March 1987 (final issue)
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Archie Comics |
| Schedule | originally monthly, varied |
| Publication date(s) |
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| No. of issues | 353 |
| Main character(s) |
Archie Gloomy Gus the Homeless Ghost Katy Keene Li'l Jinx |
| Creative team | |
| Artist(s) | Dan DeCarlo, Bob Montana, Stan Goldberg, others |
Pep Comics is the name of an American comic book anthology series published by the Archie Comics predecessor MLJ Magazines Inc. (commonly known as MLJ Comics) during the 1930s and 1940s period known as the Golden Age of Comic Books. The title continued under the Archie Comics imprint for a total of 411 issues until March 1987.
Pep Comics was the comics title that introduced the superhero character The Shield, the first of the super-patriotic heroes with a costume based on a national flag (pre-dating Captain America by over a year), The Comet, who was the first superhero to die, and Archie Andrews, who eventually became the main focus of the company's extensive range of publications.
Pep Comics was the third anthology comic published by MLJ Magazines Inc., the precursor to what would become the publisher Archie Comics. The series was edited by Abner Sundell until issues #22–23 after which Harry Shorten took the reins until issue #65 (Jan. 1948). The first issue was launched in January 1940, following Blue Ribbon Comics (Nov. 1939) and Top-Notch Comics (Dec. 1939). The format of Pep Comics was very similar to the previous titles; 64 pages of short strips, initially featuring a mixture of science-fiction stories such as "The Queen of Diamonds" (#1–12) by Lin Streeter (renamed "The Rocket and the Queen of Diamonds" in #2 (Feb. 1940)), about a John Carter of Mars-like hero trapped on another planet; the crime fighting story "The Press Guardian" (#1–11) by Jack Binder and Mort Meskin and later Abner Sundell and Meskin (retitled "Perry Chase, The Press Guardian" from #7); and three adventure tales, "Sergeant Boyle" by George Biro, about a soldier fighting with the British in Europe as the U.S.A. was not yet involved in World War II, "The Midshipman", (#1–16) "Lee Sampson, Midshipman" from #6 (July 1940), following Lee Sampson through Navy College to his Graduation, and an adventure based on boxing, "Kayo Ward" (#1–28) by Phil Sturm. The last was similar to "The St Louis Kid" in Top-Notch Comics, both characters progressing through the boxing championships hierarchy throughout their series. Two short humor strips also featured in the first issue, "Jocko" and "Animal Antics", both by Dick Ryan, while "Buttonhead" by Quincy appeared in #2–5.
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