Publishers / Marvel / Marvel Mystery Comics (1939) / #3
3January 1940
$0.10

Marvel Mystery Comics #3

Marvel · January 1940 · on sale 1939-11-17

First appearance: Betty DeanOrigin: American Ace
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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.
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Identification plate

Series
Marvel Mystery Comics (Marvel, 1939 series)
Issue
#3
Publication date
January 1940
Key date
1940-01-00
On-sale date
1939-11-17
Indicia publisher
Timely Publications
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 Betty Dean - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

Origin story on record for: American Ace, Perry Wade.

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: Alex Schomburg; inks: Alex SchomburgThe Angel, Thomas Halloway
2The Menace from Marscomic story16script: Carl Burgos; pencils: Carl Burgos; inks: Carl Burgos; letters: Carl BurgosJim Hammond, Human Torch
3The Voodoo Sacrificecomic story8script: Ray Gill, Paul Gustavson; pencils: Paul Gustavson; inks: Paul Gustavson; letters: Paul GustavsonThe Angel, Thomas Halloway
4Enter: Betty Deancomic story12script: Bill Everett; pencils: Bill Everett; inks: Bill Everett; letters: Bill EverettBetty Dean First, Namor, Sub-Mariner
5The Land Grabberscomic story8script: Al Anders; pencils: Anders; inks: AndersJim Gardley, The Masked Raider
6Origin of the American Ace, Part 2comic story6script: Paul Lauretta; pencils: Paul Lauretta; inks: Paul Lauretta; letters: Paul LaurettaAmerican Ace Origin, Perry Wade Origin
7Siegfried Suicidetext story2script: David C. Cooke; pencils: Bill Everett; inks: Bill EverettSgt. Bill Stern; the Germans (villains)
8Third Episodecomic story12script: Ben Thompson; pencils: Ben Thompson; inks: Ben ThompsonKa-Zar, David Rand, Paul de Kraft, N'Jaga, Quog, Trajah

Plus 3 pages of advertisements and other matter across 3 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Fantasy Masterpieces #71967On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics #1
ISBN 0-7851-1609-5		2004On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics #1
ISBN 978-0-7851-5052-7		2011On eBay ›
Golden Age Marvel Comics Omnibus #1
ISBN 978-0-7851-4159-4		2009On eBay ›
Timely's Greatest: The Golden Age Human Torch by Carl Burgos Omnibus #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-302-91933-7		2019On eBay ›
Timely's Greatest: The Golden Age Sub-Mariner by Bill Everett - The Pre-War Years Omnibus #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-302-91935-1		2019On 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

‹ #22 of 91#4 ›

Sources

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