Publishers / DC / Adventure Comics (1938) / #54
54September 1940
$0.10

Adventure Comics #54

DC · September 1940 · on sale 1940-08-07

First appearance: Thorndyke Tompkins
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
#54
Publication date
September 1940
Key date
1940-09-00
On-sale date
1940-08-07
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 Thorndyke Tompkins - 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
0The Hour-Man and the Minute Men of Americacover1pencils: Bernard Baily; inks: Bernard BailyWesley Dodds, Hourman, Jimmy Martin, The Sandman, Thorndyke Tompkins First, Rex Tyler
2The Kidnapping of a Minute-Mancomic story9script: Ken Fitch; pencils: Bernard Baily; inks: Bernard Baily; letters: Bernard BailyHourman, Jimmy Martin, Thorndyke Tompkins First, Rex Tyler
3Fang Gow's Challengecomic story6script: Win; pencils: Win; inks: WinBarry O'Neill; Inspector Le Grand; Folette Fornet; Agent Fornet; Fang Gow (villain)
4Oscar Skatterbraincomic story2script: Sherman; pencils: Sherman; inks: ShermanOscar Skatterbrain (introduction); Ann
5The Dreaded Mokoscomic story6script: Howard Purcell; pencils: Howard Purcell; inks: Howard PurcellMark Lansing; Jada; Kit; Tony; Koda; Mokos (villain, introduction); Mokan the Monster (villain, introduction); a Tradman (villain, introduction)
6-comic story4script: Jerry Seigel; pencils: Chad-; inks: Chad-Steve Carson
7-in-house column1script: ? (in character as Steve Carson); letters: typeset
8Nothin' Seriouscomic story1script: Alger; pencils: Alger; inks: Alger; letters: Alger
9The Beast Mencomic story6script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Jack Lehti; inks: Jack LehtiCotton Carver; Atlantis (origin in flashback); Norlon (introduction); Nora Blake (introduction); Jim Bent (introduction); Lupa (guest); Qwar [Quar] (guest); Beast Men (guests, villains, introduction)
10Too Clevertext story2script: Clem Gordon; pencils: Kenney; inks: KenneyJim Norton; Tom Larsen
11The Great I, Part 3comic story6script: Albert Sulman; pencils: Joseph Sulman; inks: Joseph SulmanSocko Strong; Professor Watson; The Great I (villain, death)
12Hard to Discourage!cartoon1James J. Braddock; Glenn Cunningham; Johnny Weismuller
13Approvalstext article0.15letters: typeset
15Adventure of the French Agentcomic story6script: Jack Lehti; pencils: Jack Lehti; inks: Jack LehtiChang, Steve Conrad
16-cartoon1script: George Papp; pencils: George Papp; inks: George Papp
19Case of the Kidnapped Heiresscomic story10script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Creig Flessel; inks: Creig FlesselDian Belmont, Wesley Dodds, The Sandman
20The 'Big Six' Comic Magazines Still Lead the Field!promo (ad from the publisher)0.75letters: typesetSuperman; Sandman; Batman; Green Lantern; Spectre; Flash

Plus 5.1 pages of advertisements and other matter across 7 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Golden Age Sandman Archives #1
ISBN 1-4012-0155-5
2004On eBay ›

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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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