Publishers / Dell / Four Color (1942) / #521
521December 1953
$0.10

Four Color #521

Dell · December 1953 · on sale 1953-10-27

First appearance: Beetle BaileyFirst appearance: Sergeant SnorkelFirst appearance: Killer Diller
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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
Four Color (Dell, 1942 series)
Issue
#521
Issue title
Beetle Bailey
Publication date
December 1953
Key date
1953-12-00
On-sale date
1953-10-27
Indicia publisher
Dell Publishing Co. Inc.
Price
$0.10
Pages
36

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

Why this issue matters

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

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

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

First appearance of Captain Scabbard - 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: Mort Walker; inks: Mort Walker, Fred RhoadsBeetle Bailey First
1Hot Seatcomic story1script: Mort Walker; pencils: Mort Walker; inks: Fred Rhoads; letters: Fred RhoadsBeetle Bailey First, Captain Scabbard First, Sergeant Snorkel First
2The New Majorcomic story7script: Mort Walker; pencils: Mort Walker; inks: Fred Rhoads; letters: Fred RhoadsBeetle Bailey First, Captain Scabbard First, Sergeant Snorkel First
3The Librariancomic story3script: Mort Walker; pencils: Mort Walker; inks: Fred Rhoads; letters: Fred RhoadsBeetle Bailey First, Killer Diller First
4Always Room for One Morecomic story12script: Mort Walker; pencils: Mort Walker; inks: Fred Rhoads; letters: Fred RhoadsBeetle Bailey First, Captain Scabbard First, Sergeant Snorkel First
5Beetle Bailey Gets Promotedcomic story10script: Mort Walker; pencils: Mort Walker; inks: Fred Rhoads; letters: Fred RhoadsBeetle Bailey First, Killer Diller First, Captain Scabbard First, Sergeant Snorkel First
6The Transformationcomic story1script: Mort Walker; pencils: Mort Walker; inks: Fred Rhoads; letters: Fred RhoadsBeetle Bailey First, Killer Diller First
7Broken Windshieldcomic story1script: Mort Walker; pencils: Mort Walker; inks: Fred Rhoads; letters: Fred RhoadsBeetle Bailey First, Sergeant Snorkel First

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Beetle Bailey #481965On eBay ›
Beetle Bailey #491965On 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

‹ #520521 of 1332#522 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com