Blue Ribbon Comics was the primary comedian title MLJ printed, and it was additionally the primary one they canceled, maybe as a result of its pulp legacy.
As the comedian e book market was present process vital growth in late 1939, MLJ Magazines — the entity that might someday be often known as Archie Comics — entered the business with their debut title, Blue Ribbon Comics. During its brief lifespan, Blue Ribbon Comics supplied a spread of journey fiction and, quickly some superhero tales, embodying an period the place comics have been partially transitioning from pulp-inspired journey to comedian e book superheroes. Issue #21 of Blue Ribbon Comics, which featured the patriotic superhero Captain Flag, is an interesting instance of a collection struggling to face out in a crowded market, a case of a pulp-legacy branding misfire finally resulting in its cancellation with the subsequent situation. It was the primary comedian e book title that MLJ printed, and the primary title they canceled too, however most likely not as a result of of the content material. One of a number of uncommon single-digit census points of the collection, there is a Blue Ribbon Comics #21 (MLJ, 1942) CGC GD+ 2.5 Off-white pages up for public sale within the 2023 May 4 The MLJ Heroes Showcase Auction #40222 at Heritage Auctions.
The second-to-last situation of this oft-overlooked collection, Blue Ribbon Comics #21 options Captain Flag with out his trusty eagle sidekick Yank — whose ultimate look was in situation #20. Introduced with situation #16, Captain Flag was a direct response to the rising tide of patriotic heroes that MLJ themselves had began with the Shield in Pep Comics #1. Not actually that late to the celebration, Captain Flag was launched roughly six months after Marvel/Timely launched their star-spangled hero, Captain America. Before then, Blue Ribbon’s cover-featured characters had included the marvel canine Rang-A-Tang, the nearly forgotten character Corporal Collins, and Spectre-inspired Mr. Justice.
Though the title appeared to have hit its stride editorially with the introduction of Mr. Justice and Captain Flag, it is clear that MLJ realized with Blue Ribbon Comics #19 that they could have a branding drawback. Blue Ribbon began out as a model title utilized by MLJ principals Louis Silberkleit and Maurice Coyne in pulps, because the imprint Blue Ribbon Magazines and the titles Blue Ribbon Western and Blue Ribbon Sports. In conserving with that technique, the “Blue Ribbon” portion of the title emblem quickly turned a tiny half of the duvet, with the central focus being merely “COMICS.” This may need appeared like a sound concept when it was dreamed up in mid-1939 as publishers did not actually know the way the comics enterprise was going to play out but, however within the crowded market of late 1941-1942 it did not actually work. With situation #19, Captain Flag took up outstanding house within the emblem space. By situation #21, an editorial within the title was touting a shift to incorporate “true life” tales along with journey fiction.
Obviously, MLJ was not proud of the consequence, because the title ended simply a problem later. It’s most likely under-discussed that the corporate’s success was partially constructed on aggressively reacting to their market information. Four months after Blue Ribbon Comics ended, Top-Notch Comics turned Top-Notch Laugh Comics. Soon after that, it was clear that Archie was changing into a monster hit, and their output shifted accordingly. Still later, they put the Black Hood by means of what is perhaps the primary vital comedian e book reboot.
Affiliates of Bleeding Cool purchase from and/or consign to Heritage Auctions.
Discussion about this post