Crack Comics #1 for Sale - First Appearance of The Black Condor - Where to Buy

Identification plate

Series: Crack Comics (Quality Comics, 1940 series)
Issue: #1
Publication date: May 1940
Key date: 1940-05-00
On-sale date: 1940-03-27
Indicia publisher: Comic Magazines 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 The Black Condor - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Richard Grey, Jr. / Thomas Wright - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

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

First appearance of The Red Torpedo - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

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

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

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

Origin story on record for: Jim Lockhart, Madam Fatal, Richard Grey, Jr. / Thomas Wright, Richard Stanton, The Black Condor.

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.

Seq	Story	Type	Pages	Credits	Characters
0	-	cover	1	pencils: Ed Cronin; inks: Ed Cronin	The Black Condor First, The Clock, Richard Grey, Jr. / Thomas Wright First, Madam Fatal First, Brian O'Brien, Richard Stanton First
1	The Story of Pug Brady	comic story	7	script: George Brenner; pencils: George Brenner; inks: George Brenner	Pug Brady First, The Clock, Brian O'Brien
2	-	comic story	1.5	script: Monte Barrett; pencils: Russell Ross; inks: Russell Ross	Jane Arden; Jim Southern [Tim Stratton]; Sue; Clarence
3	Lena Heads a Strike...	comic story	0.5	script: Monte Barrett; pencils: Russell Ross; inks: Russell Ross	Lena Pry
4	-	comic story	1.5	script: Monte Barrett; pencils: Russell Ross; inks: Russell Ross	Jane Arden; Sue; Jim Porter; Captain Spence
5	-	comic story	0.5	script: Monte Barrett; pencils: Russell Ross; inks: Russell Ross	Lena Pry; Dan'l
6	-	cartoon	1	script: Ed Reed; pencils: Ed Reed; inks: Ed Reed	Miss Smith; Maw; Pa; dentist
7	Introducing Rock Braddon	comic story	6	script: Vern Henkel; pencils: Vern Henkel; inks: Vern Henkel	The Space Legion (introduction); Rock Braddon (introduction); Captain Graves (introduction); Harg (villain, introduction, death)
8	The Sign of the Cricket	comic story	4	script: Paul Gustavson; pencils: Paul Gustavson; inks: Paul Gustavson; letters: Paul Gustavson	Tom Hallaway First, The Spider First
9	Jimmy Stewart	cartoon	1	script: Gill Fox; pencils: Gill Fox; inks: Gill Fox	Jimmy Stewart; Anna Mae Wong
10	Too Hot to Hold	comic story	7	script: Harry Campbell; pencils: Harry Campbell; inks: Harry Campbell	Wizard Wells (inventor, introduction); Tug (introduction, Wells' partner); Black Morda (villain, introduction); Mary Perry; Mr. Perry
11	-	comic story	4	script: John Devlin; pencils: John Devlin; inks: John Devlin	Molly the Model (first appearance); Danny; Nifty; Mr. Maloney
12	-	comic story	4	script: Bob Zuppke; pencils: Walt Depew; inks: Walt Depew	Ned Brant; Gail Donaldson; Mr. Meegan; Bud Shekels; Jake
13	Lee Gets Her Wings	comic story	4	script: Bob Powell; pencils: Bob Powell; inks: Bob Powell	Lee Preston (introduction, origin; Red Cross nurse and pilot); Mr. Preston (Lee's father, introduction); Rick Royce (introduction); Jeff Dickers
14	Love Bird's Brain Test	comic story	1	script: Rube Goldberg; pencils: Rube Goldberg; inks: Rube Goldberg	Little Butch; Nibbsy; Prince Alexis; Marjorie Daisy Whimple de Bass; Anna Smythe
15	Origin of the Red Torpedo	comic story	5	script: Henry Kiefer; pencils: Henry Kiefer; inks: Henry Kiefer	Jim Lockhart First, The Red Torpedo First
16	Corning's Mistake	text story	2	script: Larry Spain	Big Bull Belding; John Corning; Bates; Betty Stevens
17	That Battle of the World's Greatest Hurlers	cartoon	1	script: Bob Zuppke; pencils: Walt Depew; inks: Walt Depew	George Saling; Keller; Beard
18	Origin of Madam Fatal	comic story	5	script: Art Pinajian; pencils: Art Pinajian; inks: Art Pinajian	Madam Fatal First, Richard Stanton First
19	Invasions Stopped Free of Charge!	comic story	2	script: Gill Fox; pencils: Gill Fox; inks: Gill Fox	Slap Happy Pappy (first appearance); Flip (first appearance); The Nazis (villains)
20	The Man Who Can Fly Like a Bird	comic story	7	script: Will Eisner; pencils: Lou Fine; inks: Lou Fine	The Black Condor First, Richard Grey, Jr. / Thomas Wright First

Where to read it

Collection	Year
Special Edition Series #2	1974	On eBay ›
The Quality Companion #[nn] ISBN 978-1-60549-037-3	2011	On eBay ›
The Complete Clock ISBN 979-8649204156	2020	On eBay ›
The Golden Age Firsts of Quality Comics: Volume 1 ISBN 978-1719549844	2018	On 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 62#2 ›

Sources

Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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