Publishers / Quality Comics / Hit Comics (1940) / #1
1July 1940
$0.10

Hit Comics #1

Quality Comics · July 1940 · on sale 1940-04-14

First appearance: The Red BeeFirst appearance: Rick RaleighFirst appearance: Neon the UnknownOrigin: Neon the Unknown
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
Hit Comics (Quality Comics, 1940 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
July 1940
Key date
1940-07-00
On-sale date
1940-04-14
Indicia publisher
E. M. Arnold
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 Red Bee - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

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

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

Origin story on record for: Neon the Unknown, Tom Corbet.

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: Lou Fine; inks: Lou FineThe Red Bee [Rick Raleigh]
2Origin of Herculescomic story7script: Dan Zolnerowich; pencils: Dan Zolnerowich; inks: Dan ZolnerowichHercules [Joe Hercules] (origin); Mrs. Hercules (Joe's mother, death); Pete Birch (introduction); J. Willistone Jyppe (villain, banker)
3The Plot to Sink the Arkiancomic story6script: Will Eisner; pencils: Charles Sultan; inks: Charles SultanX-5 (intro); Baroness Verber (Intro, villain)
4Clock of Doomcomic story6script: Lowell Riggs; pencils: Leonard Frank; inks: Leonard FrankJack Doe (intro); Jill Doe (intro); Joseph Eberhart (dies); Edward Eberhart; Phipps (villain); Dr. Graham
5Origin of the Red Beecomic story7script: Toni Blum; pencils: B. H. Apiary; inks: B. H. ApiaryThe Red Bee First, Rick Raleigh First
6Origin of the Strange Twinscomic story7script: S. M. Regi; pencils: Alex Blum; inks: Alex BlumDouglas Strange; Rodney Strange (villain); Wendy Hale; Wing Low; Sin Chow (villain); Blimey Joe; Hung Fu; Lady Chutney; Barclay; Wan Low; Slipfinger; Stubborn Pete
7The Lost Momenttext story2script: Toni BoonFather Donovan; Danny Grew; Hans Schmidt
8Neutrality Patrolcomic story6script: Klaus Nordling; pencils: Klaus Nordling; inks: Klaus NordlingBob Masters (intro); Swab Decker (intro)
9The Triple Train Wreck Robberycomic story5script: Pad Docke; pencils: Pad Docke; inks: Pad DockeCasey Jones (intro); Deegan (villain)
10The Tale of the Haunted Inncomic story6script: Pierre Winters; pencils: Pierre Winters; inks: Pierre WintersThe Old Witch (intro); Harvey White; Joan White
11Origin of Neon the Unknowncomic story5script: Tagor Maroy; pencils: Alex Blum; inks: Alex BlumNeon the Unknown First, Tom Corbet First
12In Tinkle Towncomic story2script: Pauline Comanor; pencils: Pauline Comanor; inks: Pauline ComanorTommy Tinkle (an animated puppet, intro); Mary Lou; Prof. Grund; Sam Snipe (villain); Pat Pokem (villain); Lotta Lure (villain)
13Doomsday and Afterwardcomic story5pencils: Henry KieferBlaze Barton (intro); Prof. Solis (intro); Betty Solis (intro); Core-Men (villains)
15-promo (ad from the publisher)1letters: typesetUncle Sam

Plus 2 pages of advertisements and other matter across 2 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Flashback #311975On eBay ›
Action! Mystery! Thrills! Comic Book Covers of the Golden Age: 1933-45 #[nn]
ISBN 9781606994948
2011On eBay ›
Comic Reprints #[9]1975On eBay ›
The Complete Red Bee
ISBN 978-1546539018
2017On eBay ›
The Golden Age Firsts of Quality Comics: Volume 1
ISBN 978-1719549844
2018On 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 65#2 ›

Sources

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