Publishers / Quality Comics / National Comics (1940) / #23
23June 1942
$0.10

National Comics #23

Quality Comics · June 1942 · on sale 1942-04-08

First appearance: Lt. Commander Harvey BlakeFirst appearance: The UnknownFirst appearance: Executive Officer Fred Conroy
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
National Comics (Quality Comics, 1940 series)
Issue
#23
Publication date
June 1942
Key date
1942-06-00
On-sale date
1942-04-08
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 Lt. Commander Harvey Blake - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

First appearance of Executive Officer Fred Conroy - 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: Lou Fine, Reed Crandall; inks: Lou FineBuddy, Lt. Commander Harvey Blake First, Sally O'Neil, Quicksilver, Uncle Sam
1-comic story9script: ? [as William E. Eisner] (signed); pencils: ? [as William E. Eisner] (signed); inks: ? [as William E. Eisner] (signed)Buddy, Uncle Sam
2-comic story6script: Toni Blum; pencils: Al Bryant; inks: Al BryantSally O'Neil
3-comic story1script: Jack Cole; pencils: Jack Cole; inks: Jack ColeWindy Breeze
4-comic story5script: Bob Reynolds; pencils: Klaus Nordling; inks: Klaus NordlingDanny "Kid" Dixon
5-comic story5pencils: Witmer Williams; inks: Witmer WilliamsProp Powers
6Introducing the Unknowncomic story5script: Ted Udall; pencils: Bernard Klein; inks: Bernard KleinThe Unknown First
7-comic story6script: Paul Gustavson; pencils: Paul Gustavson; inks: Paul Gustavson; letters: Paul GustavsonQuicksilver
8-comic story1pencils: John Devlin; inks: John DevlinSalty Waters
9School's Outcomic story5script: Toni Blum; pencils: Charles Nicholas; inks: Charles NicholasSunshine Jones, Porky, Suzy, Teddy
10-comic story6script: Fred Guardineer; pencils: Fred Guardineer; inks: Fred Guardineer; letters: Fred GuardineerJock Kellog, Merlin the Magician
11The Flying Gemstext story2pencils: Gill Fox; inks: Gill Fox
12-comic story1pencils: Gill Fox; inks: Gill FoxCyclone Cupid
13-comic story5script: Toni Blum; pencils: Al Bryant; inks: Al BryantWonder Boy
14-comic story1script: Arthur Beeman; pencils: Arthur Beeman; inks: Arthur Beeman; letters: Arthur BeemanMiss Winky
15Aboard the Destroyer U.S.S. Pawneecomic story6pencils: Al McWilliams; inks: Al McWilliamsExecutive Officer Fred Conroy First, Lt. Commander Harvey Blake First

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Men of Mystery Comics #782009On eBay ›
Men of Mystery Comics #972015On 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

Sources

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