July 1953 - August 1953

Popular Romance #25.

To read the Alex Toth-illustrated story referred to below, click here.

Published on July 2, 1953. Edited by Joseph Archibaut. The comic includes the story “I Need You,” illustrated by Alex Toth, with Mike Peppe. The cover photographer and actors are unknown. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. Meriden, CT: Better (Standard). Cover/indicia date: September 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Captain Marvel Adventures #148.

Published on July 3, 1953. Edited by Wendell Crowley, Al Jetter, and Will Lieberson. The comic includes the stories “Sivana Saves Captain Marvel,” “Captain Marvel Battles the World,” and “The Impossible Ghost,” by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck. Cover illustration by C. C. Beck. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett. Cover indicia date: September 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Three Dimension Comics #1.

Published on July 3, 1953. Edited by Joe Kubert & Norman Maurer. The comic includes Mighty Mouse and other Terrytoons animation characters in stories which were converted to a print 3-D format requiring special paper-and-plastic glasses which were also included. The cover illustrator is unknown. Standard-format comic book. 3-D process interiors. 36 pages. New York: St. John. Cover/indicia date: September 1953. Cover price: 25¢.

Note

This was the first 3-D comic. According to Joe Kubert, it sold 1.2 million copies.

Marge’s Little Lulu #62.

Published on July 7, 1953. Edited by Helen Meyer. The comic includes the Little Lulu stories “The Case of the Head on the Stairs,” “The Pull Fighter,” “A Girl’s Best Friend,” and “A Jolly Good Feller,” “The Strong Mind,” and “The One-Headed Giant,” and the Tubby story “The Super Long-String Yo-Yo,” all by John Stanley & Irving Tripp. Cover illustration by Irving Tripp. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 52 pages. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: August 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Two-Fisted Tales #35.

Published on July 9, 1953. Edited by Harvey Kurtzman. The comic includes these stories: “Robert E. Lee!,” by Harvey Kurtzman & John Severin; “New Orleans!,” by Harvey Kurtzman & Wallace Wood; “Memphis!,” by Albert B. Feldstein, Harvey Kurtzman, and Reed Crandall, with William M. Gaines; and “Chancellorsville!,” by Harvey Kurtzman & Jack Davis. Cover illustration by Jack Davis. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Fables (E. C.). Cover/indicia date: October 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Captain Marvel Adventures #149.

Published on July 10, 1953. Edited by Wendell Crowley, Al Jetter, and Will Lieberson. The comic includes the stories “Captain Marvel’s Most Difficult Task,” “Mr. Tawny, Hermit,” and “Billy Batson’s Double Life,” all by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck. Cover illustration by C. C. Beck, with Kurt Schaffenberger. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett. Cover indicia date: September 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Dick Tracy Comics Monthly #67.

Published on July 10, 1953. Edited by Leon Harvey. The comic features material originally published in Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy daily newspaper strip. Cover illustration by Joe Simon. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Harvey. Cover/indicia date: September 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Little Dot #1.

Published on July 15, 1953. Edited by Sid Jacobson. The comic includes the Richie Rich story "The Dancing Lessons," by Larz Bourne & Steve Muffatti. The cover illustrator is unknown. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Harvey. Cover/indicia date: September 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Note

"The Dancing Lessons is the first appearance of the Richie Rich character.

Mad #7.

Published on July 17, 1953. Edited by Harvey Kurtzman. The comic includes these stories: “Shermlock Shomes!,” by Harvey Kurtzman & Will Elder; “Treasure Island!,” by Harvey Kurtzman & John Severin; and “Smilin’ Melvin!!,” by Harvey Kurtzman & Wallace Wood. Cover illustration by Harvey Kurtzman. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Educational Comics (E. C.). Cover/indicia date: October-November 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Shock SuspenStories #11.

Published on July 20, 1953. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The comic includes these stories: “The Tryst!,” by Johnny Craig; “In Gratitude…,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Wallace Wood, with William M. Gaines; “The Space Suitors,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Reed Crandall, with William M. Gaines; and “…Three’s a Crowd,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Jack Kamen, with William M. Gaines. Cover illustration by Johnny Craig. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Tiny Tot (E. C.). Cover/indicia date: October-November 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Walt Disney’s Uncle $crooge.

Published on July 21, 1953. Edited by Alice Nielson Cobb. The comic includes the stories “Horseradish Treasure” and “The Round Money Bin,” both by Carl Barks. Cover illustration by Carl Barks. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: September 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Note

The comic is also known as Four Color #495.

The Vault of Horror #33.

Published on July 23, 1953. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The comic includes these stories: "Together They Lie!," by Albert B. Feldstein & Reed Crandall, with William M. Gaines; "Let the Punishment Fit the Crime!," by Albert B. Feldstein & Jack Davis, with William M. Gaines; "A Slight Case of Murder!," by Albert B. Feldstein & George Evans, with William M. Gaines; and "Strung Along!,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Graham "Ghastly" Ingels, with William M. Gaines. Cover illustration by Johnny Craig. Standard-issue comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: L. L. (E. C.). Cover/indicia date: October-November 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Weird Fantasy #21.

Published on July 23, 1953. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The comic includes these stories: “My Home…,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Joe Orlando, with William M. Gaines; “Saved,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Al Williamson, with William M. Gaines and Roy Krenkel; “Planely Possible,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Jack Kamen, with William M. Gaines; and “The Million Year Picnic,” by Albert B. Feldstein & John Severin, with Will Elder. Cover illustration by Al Williamson & Frank Frazetta. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: I. C. (E. C.). Cover/indicia date: September-October 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Note

“The Million Year Picnic” was adapted from the Ray Bradbury short story.

The Haunt of Fear #21.

Published July 30, 1953. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The comic includes these stories: “An Off-Color Heir,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Graham “Ghastly” Ingels, with William M. Gaines; “Dig That Cat… He’s Real Gone!,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Jack Davis, with William M. Gaines; “Corker!,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Jack Kamen, with William M. Gaines and Will Elder; and “The High Cost of Dying!,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Reed Crandall, with William M. Gaines. Cover illustration by Graham “Ghastly” Ingels. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Fables (E. C.). Cover/indicia date: September-October 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Nancy and Sluggo #22.

Published on July 31, 1953. The comic material from Ernie Bushmiller's daily newspaper strip Nancy. Cover illustration by Ernie Bushmiller. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: United Features. Cover price: 10¢.

More Dennis the Menace, Hank Ketcham.

Published on August 10, 1953. The book collects material from Hank Ketcham’s daily newspaper strip Dennis the Menace. Cover illustration by Hank Ketcham. Hardcover book. Black-and-white interiors. 132 pages. New York: Holt. Cover price: $1.00.

New Romances #18.

To read the Alex Toth-illustrated story referred to below, click here.

Published on June 4, 1953. The comic includes the story “My Dream Is You,”, illustrated by Alex Toth, with Mike Peppe. The cover photographer and actors are unknown. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. Meriden, CT: Visual (Standard). Cover/indicia date: October 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Note

There is no credited editor.

Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories, Vol. 13, No. 12 (#156).

Published on August 4, 1953. Edited by Alice Nielson Cobb. The comic includes the Donald Duck story “The Master Rainmaker,” by Carl Barks. Cover illustration by Carl Barks. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 52 pages. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: April 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Captain Marvel Adventures #150.

Published on August 10, 1953. Edited by Wendell Crowley, Al Jetter, and Will Lieberson. The comic includes the stories “Captain Marvel’s Wedding,” and “The World of Too Many Sivanas,” both by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck. Cover illustration by C. C. Beck. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett. Cover indicia date: October 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Notes

This is the last issue of the series.

The publisher, Fawcett Publications, had been the defendant in multiple infringement lawsuits filed by National Publications, Inc. National alleged the Captain Marvel character was an illegal copy of Superman. Although the courts never fully resolved the issue of whether the Captain Marvel character was infringement, Fawcett settled the suit in 1953. According to Fawcett circulation manager Roscoe Fawcett, sales were no longer high enough to justify the expense of defending themselves from the suit. The company agreed to pay National $400,000 in damages, and to cease publication of all Captain Marvel-related comics.

The property remained dormant until 1972, when National, now known as DC Comics, licensed the characters and stories from Fawcett. DC purchased the property outright in 1991.

Sources:

Hamerlinck, P. C. “The Fawcetts Could Do It as Well, or Better, Than Anybody”. Interview with Roscoe K. Fawcett. Fawcett Publications: The Best of FCA, P. C. Hamerlinck, ed. Raleigh, NC: TwoMorrows, 2001. 10-13.

Thomas, Roy and Jerry Ordway. "Not Your Father's Captain Marvel! An Artist-by-Artist Account of a Doomed Quest for a 1980s Shazam! Series." Alter Ego (July 2001). Raleigh, NC: TwoMorrows. 9–17.

Marge’s Little Lulu #63.

Published on August 11, 1953. Edited by Helen Meyer. The comic includes the Little Lulu stories “The Tea Party,” “The Substitute,” “The Case of the Escaped Convict,” “The Bill Collector,” “Cops an’ Robbers,” and “That Ol’ Witch Hazel and the Little Mermaid,” and the Tubby story “Cousin Chubby,” all by John Stanley & Irving Tripp. Cover illustration by Irving Tripp. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 52 pages. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: September 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Crime SuspenStories #20.

Published on August 13, 1953. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The comic includes the following stories: “Fire Trap!,” by Johnny Craig; “The Welchers” by Albert B. Feldstein & Jack Davis, with William M. Gaines; “Double Jeopardy,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Jack Kamen, with William M. Gaines; and “Plane Murder,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Reed Crandall, with William M. Gaines. Cover illustration by Johnny Craig. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: I. C. (E. C.). Cover/indicia date: December 1953-January 1954. Cover price: 10¢

Weird Science #22.

Published on August 13, 1953. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The comic includes these stories: “A New Beginning,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Al Williamson, with William M. Gaines, Frank Frazetta, and Roy Krenkel; “The Headhunters,” by Albert B. Feldstein & George Evans, with William M. Gaines; “My World,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Wallace Wood; and “”Outcast of the Stars,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Joe Orlando. Cover illustration by Wallace Wood. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages; New York: Fables (E. C.). Cover/indicia date: November-December 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Notes

”Outcast of the Stars” is adapted from the Ray Bradbury short story.

This is the last issue of the series. The numbering continues with the series Weird Science-Fantasy.

Dick Tracy Comics Monthly #68.

Published on August 10, 1953. Edited by Leon Harvey. The comic features material originally published in Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy daily newspaper strip. Cover illustration by Joe Simon. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Harvey. Cover/indicia date: October 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Thrilling Romances #23.

To read the Alex Toth-illustrated story referred to below, click here.

Published on August 18, 1953. The comic includes the story “Chance for Happiness,” illustrated by Alex Toth, with Mike Peppe. The cover photographer and actors are unknown. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. Meriden, CT: Standard. Cover/indicia date: October 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Note

There is no credited editor.

Tales from the Crypt #39

Published on August 20, 1953. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The comic includes these stories: “Undertaking Parlor,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Jack Davis, with William M. Gaines; “The Craving Grave,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Joe Orlando, with William M. Gaines; “The Slepping Beauty!,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Jack Kamen, with William M. Gaines; and “Shadow of Death,” by Albert B. Feldstein & Graham “Ghastly” Ingels, with William M. Gaines. Cover illustration by Jack Davis. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: I. C. (E. C.). Cover/indicia date: December 1953-January 1954. Cover price: 10¢.

Marge’s Tubby #6.

Published on August 25, 1953. Edited by Helen Meyer. The comic includes the stories “Tubby the Naturalist,” “Tubby the Chemist,” and “Tubby the Castaway,” all by John Stanley. Cover illustration by John Stanley. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Dell. Cover/indicia date: October-December 1953. Cover price: 10¢.

Next: September to October 1953.