Publishers / DC / Adventure Comics (1938) / #39
39June 1939
$0.10

Adventure Comics #39

DC · June 1939 · on sale 1939-05-03

First appearance: Clark GableFirst appearance: Luise RainerFirst appearance: Charles Laughton
How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series)
Issue
#39
Publication date
June 1939
Key date
1939-06-00
On-sale date
1939-05-03
Indicia publisher
Detective Comics Inc.
Price
$0.10
Pages
68

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Clark Gable - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Luise Rainer - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Charles Laughton - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: John Richard Flanagan; inks: John Richard Flanagan
2The Suicide of Major Duval, Part 2comic story6script: Ed Winiarski; pencils: Win; inks: WinCount Guniff (villain)
3Action Comics; Supermanpromo (ad from the publisher)0.05colors: ? (red & black letters); letters: typeset
4-comic story0.7script: Fred Schwab; pencils: Fred Schwab; inks: Fred Schwab
6The White Witch, Part 2comic story6script: Gardner Fox; pencils: George Newman; inks: George NewmanVosgoth (introduction); Dagan (introduction)
7-comic story4script: Jerry Siegel; pencils: Joe Shuster; inks: Joe ShusterSteve Carson
8-in-house column1script: ? (in character as Steve Carson); letters: typeset
9W. C. Fields, Charles Laughton, Luise Rainer, Joe E. Brown, Clark Gable, Walt Disneycartoon1pencils: Sheldon Moldoff; inks: Sheldon MoldoffJoe E. Brown, Walt Disney, W. C. Fields, Clark Gable First, Charles Laughton First, Luise Rainer First
10Wolf Ruckson's Trap, Part 1comic story4script: Jim Chambers; pencils: Jim Chambers; inks: Jim ChambersWolf Rucker (villain, introduction)
11Batter Up!cartoon1script: Paul Gustavson; pencils: Paul Gustavson; inks: Paul Gustavson; letters: Paul Gustavson
12First Pilot to Fly a Plane in an Outside Loop!cartoon1pencils: Terry Gilkison; inks: Terry Gilkison
13Auctioneer Dossiercomic story6script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Don Lynch; inks: Don Lynch
14Money Makers [Part 1]text story1.8script: Frank Thomas
18Captured By Col. Benback, Part 1comic story6script: Ed Winiarski; pencils: Ed Winiarski; inks: Ed WiniarskiCol. Benback (villain, introduction)
19-cartoon1pencils: Terry Gilkison; inks: Terry Gilkison
20-cartoon1pencils: Sheldon Moldoff; inks: Sheldon MoldoffJoe Louis; Harvey Aulback, Jr.
21-comic story6script: Jim Chambers; pencils: Jim Chambers; inks: Jim ChambersHong (villain, introduction, death)
22-comic story6script: Tom Hickey; pencils: Tom Hickey; inks: Tom HickeyThe New York Yankees [Lou Gehrig; Joe DiMaggio; Frankie Crosetti; Red Rolfe; Spud Chandler; Flash Gordon (??); etc.] (guests)
23The Pirate Ship, Part 14comic story4script: Bob Kane; pencils: Bob Kane; inks: Bob KaneDuchess (guest); Ebenezer Slade (villain); Long Sin (villain)
24Argentina Pulls Lion's Tail; Interesting Stamp Itemstext article1.4letters: typeset
26-comic story5script: Fred Guardineer; pencils: Fred Guardineer; inks: Fred GuardineerLieutenant Colonel Don Kerry; "Red" Murphy; a maniac (villain, introduction, death (eaten by a gator))
27Movie Comics; All-American Comicspromo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Bill Smith; inks: Bill Smith

Plus 3.05 pages of advertisements and other matter across 7 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Radio Funnies [ashcan] #11939On eBay ›
Reefer Madness Comics #[nn]
ISBN 1506702279; 978-1-50670-227-8
2018On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Golden-age paper is brittle. Ask about page suppleness and check edges for chips in the photos.
  • Check for trimmed edges, married covers, and clipped coupons - all common on books this old.
  • Confirm the indicia matches this plate; many golden-age titles changed names mid-run.

Series context

Sources

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