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Publishers / DC / Flash Comics (1940) / #1
1January 1940
$0.10

Flash Comics #1

DC · January 1940 · on sale November 20, 1939

First appearance (cover): Jay GarrickFirst appearance (cover): The FlashFirst appearance (cover): Carter Hall
Buy it now on eBay ›Graded copies ›
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.
  • Buy links are eBay affiliate links. They never change what the record says.

Identification plate

Series
Flash Comics (DC, 1940 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
January 1940
Key date
January 1940
On-sale date
November 20, 1939
Indicia publisher
All-American 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 (cover) of Jay Garrick - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of The Flash - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of Carter Hall - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of Hawkman - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of Johnny Thunder - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance of Shiera Sanders - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

First appearance (cover) of Joan Garrick - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of The Whip - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of Rod Gaynor - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance of Cliff Cornwall - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Marisa Dillon - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Hath-Set - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Prince Khufu - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Chay-Ara - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of El Castigo - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Don Fernando Suarez - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Wing Tai - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

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

First appearance of Sam Dillon - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Simon B. Thunder - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Mildred Thunder - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Dr. Anton Hastor - 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
0Introducing The Flash... Fastest Man Alive!cover1pencils: Sheldon Moldoff; inks: Sheldon MoldoffThe Flash First, Jay Garrick First, Rod Gaynor First, Carter Hall First, Hawkman First, Johnny Thunder First, The Whip First, Joan Garrick First, Cliff Cornwall First
1All-American Comicspromo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Sheldon Mayer; inks: Sheldon Mayer
2Origin of the Flashcomic story15script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Harry Lampert; inks: Harry Lampert; letters: Harry LampertThe Flash First, Jay Garrick First, Joan Garrick First
3The Disappearing Planecomic story6script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Sheldon Moldoff; inks: Sheldon MoldoffCliff Cornwall First
4The Origin of Hawkmancomic story12script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Dennis Neville; inks: Dennis NevilleCarter Hall First, Hawkman First, Shiera Sanders First, Dr. Anton Hastor First, Hath-Set First, Prince Khufu First, Chay-Ara First
5The Kidnapping of Johnny Thundercomic story10script: John B. Wentworth; pencils: Stan Asch; inks: Stan AschJohnny Thunder First, Thunderbolt First, Mildred Thunder First, Simon B. Thunder First
6Warfare in Space, Part Onetext story1.85script: Gardner F. Fox; pencils: Sheldon Mayer; inks: Sheldon MayerBilly Morton; Keith Morton; Port Commander Worth; Ralph "The Ruthless" Farnham (villain)
8-text article0.75letters: typeset
10The Demon Dummy, A "Flash" Picture Novel in Two Parts [Part 1]comic story8script: Ed Wheelan; pencils: Ed Wheelan; inks: Ed Wheelan; letters: Ed WheelanThe Great [Harry] Dunstan; Madge Devere; Sam; Red (a dummy); Jim Devlin (villain); Tim (villain); Slim Grimes (villain)
11Origin of the Whipcomic story10script: John B. Wentworth; pencils: George Storm; inks: George StormMarisa Dillon First, Rod Gaynor First, The Whip First, Carlos First, El Castigo First, Sam Dillon First, King First, Don Fernando Suarez First, Wing Tai First

Plus 2.4 pages of advertisements and other matter across 4 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Flash Annual #11963On eBay ›
The Great Comic Book Heroes #[nn]1965On eBay ›
The Greatest Flash Stories Ever Told #[nn]
ISBN 0-930289-81-1		1991On eBay ›
Famous First Edition #F-81975On eBay ›
All Star Comics [ashcan] #11940On eBay ›
Millennium Edition: Flash Comics No. 1 #[nn]2000On eBay ›
Golden Age Flash Archives #1
ISBN 1-56389-506-4		1999On eBay ›
Golden Age Hawkman Archives #1
ISBN 1-4012-0418-X		2006On eBay ›
Secret Origins of the Super DC Heroes #[nn]1976On eBay ›
The Greatest Flash Stories Ever Told #[nn]
ISBN 0-930289-84-6		1992On eBay ›
Flash Annual No. 1 Replica Edition #12001On eBay ›
The JSA All Stars Archives #1
ISBN 978-1-4012-1472-2; 1-4012-1472-X		2007On 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

1 of 104#2 ›

Sources

  • Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Wikidata, Q91933378 (Jay Garrick), first-appearance property (CC0)

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