QUALITY COMICS
Feature Funnies
#1-20 • Oct. 1937–May 1938
Feature Comics
#21–144 • June 1939–May 1950)
Feature Funnies was the title that started it all for Quality, known officially as "Comic Favorites." The book was filled with material from Busy Arnold's three partners, all comic strip syndicates, McNaught, Frank J. Markey, and the Register and Tribune. Some of McNaught's material moved to Quality from Eastern Color's Famous Funnies. Some of those strips dated back to 1935. The only original feature in the book was "Jim Swift," by Quality's early editor, Ed Cronin. George Brenner's "The Hawk" was Quality's first masked hero, but he appeared only once and was replaced in issue #3 by Brenner's pre-existing feature, "the Clock." Quality's first true superhero was the Doll Man (#27), created by Will Eisner (while he was still partnered with Jerry Iger). The logo changed with issue #19, changing the emphasis from the word "Funnies" to "Feature." Two months later, the title was also changed slightly to Feature Comics. Note: There are some references, mostly online, which link Feature Funnies and Quality Comics to the Harry "A" Chesler shop. Though Chesler might have supplied the odd strip for Quality, there is no solid evidence to suggest he was ever involved with Quality on a business level.
With Feature #32 (May 1940) a sea change occurred when Quality ended its partnership with the McNaught Syndicate (these can be identified by their consistent layouts and header format). Twelve features were dropped or shifted, most in favor of new heroes, super or not. At that time, some of the remaining syndicated strips (the Register's Side Show, Jane Arden, Ned Brant, Off the Record) were moved to Crack Comics. Only "Big Top" and "Lala Palooza," remained in Feature—and lasted until the title's very end.The inside back cover of #30 boasted a new slate of features in the coming months: the Voice, Zero, Samar, Poison Ivy, Rusy Ryan and Bruce Blackburn. Feature slowly became a non-superhero book, even as early as 1941. It returned to its roots, containing mostly humor features.
Cover scans courtesy of the Grand Comics Database.
Entries in yellow are costumed heroes. Click to read their profile. |
Character | Appeared in Issues… | Original creator, if signed + Notes |
---|---|---|
Feature Funnies | ||
Crack Casey | #1 (Oct. 1937) | Nothing known about this strip. |
Syndicated strips by McNaught Syndicate (all previously in Eastern Color's Famous Funnies, and later went into Big Shot Comics at Columbia). McNaught Syndicate features were discontinued when Busy Arnold and the Des Moines Register bought out McNaught. |
||
The Bungle Family | #1–31 (Oct. 1937–April 1940) | Created in 1918 by Harry J. Tuthill. |
Dixie Dugan | #1–31 (Oct. 1937–April 1940) |
Began as "Show Girl" in 1929, by John H. Striebel. |
Flossie | #1–17 (Oct. 1937–Feb. 1939) | By Al Zere. |
Joe Palooka, boxer | #1-31 (Oct. 1937–April 1940) | Super-popular cartoon created by Ham Fisher in 1920 & printed in 1928. |
Mickey Finn, Irish policeman | #1–31 (Oct. 1937–April 1940) | By Frank E. "Lank" Leonard in 1936. |
Toddy | #1–31 (Oct. 1937–April 1940) | By George Marcoux. |
Syndicated by Frank Jay Markey Syndicate | ||
Big Top | #1–144 (Oct. 1937–May 1950 | By Edgar Wheelan (better known for "Minute Movies", which ran in Flash Comics) |
Lala Palooza | #1–144 (Oct. 1937–May 1950) | By Rube Goldberg. |
Syndicated by Register & Tribune Syndicate | ||
Jane Arden, girl reporter | #1–31 (Oct. 1937–April 1940) | Created in 1927 by Monte Barrett. Quality reprints drawn by Russell Ross. Moves to Crack Comics. |
Lena Pry, gags | #1–11 (Oct. 1937– Aug. 1938) | Originally run on the same page as "Jane Arden." By Monte Barrett. Quality reprints signed by Russell Ross. |
Ned Brant, all-American sportsman | #1–31 (Oct. 1937–April 1940) | By Bob Zuppke & Walt Depew. Moves to Crack Comics. |
Off the Record, gags | #1–31 (Oct. 1937–April 1940) | Panel comic by Ed Reed. Moves to Crack Comics. |
Slim & Tubby, cowboys | #1–31 (Oct. 1937–April 1940) | By John J. Welch. Tubby later appeared in "Jane Arden." |
original material contracted by Quality | ||
Jim Swift | #1–6 (Oct. 1937–March 1938) | By Ed Cronin, who was originally Ham Fisher's assistant. This strip is the only one not marked with a syndicate copyright. |
The Hawk (T. James Harrington II) | #2 (Nov. 1937) | By George Brenner. |
The Clock (Brian O'Brien) | #3–31 (Dec. 1937–April 1940) | By George Brenner (creator-owned strip). Previously in Funny Pages and Funny Picture Stories (Centaur). Moves to Crack Comics. |
Hawks of the Seas | #3–12 (Dec. 1937–Sept. 1938) | By Will Eisner ("Willis B. Rensie”) Previously in Jumbo Comics (Fiction House). |
Clip Chance | #7–16 ( April 1938–Jan. 1939) | By George Brenner (“Scott Sheridan”). Moves to Smash Comics. |
Gallant Knight | #7–24 (April 1938–Sept. 1939) | By Vernon Henkel. A Prince Valiant knock-off. Henkel moves on to "Capt. Fortune." |
Archie O'Toole | #10–22 (July 1938–July 1939) | By Will Eisner ("Bud Thomas") and Geroge Tuska (E&I). Moves to Smash Comics. |
"Espionage," starring Black X | #13-22 (Oct. 1938–July 1939) | By Will Eisner ("Will Erwin"). A non-costumed (but monocled) spy in a suit. Moves to Smash Comics. |
Captain Cook of Scotland Yard | #13, 18–22 (Oct. 1938, March 1939–July 1939) | By Stan Aschmeier (E&I). Moves to Smash Comics. |
Reynolds of the Mounted | #14-62 (Nov. 1938–Nov. 1942) | By Art Pinajian (E&I). |
Richard Manners, the Super Sleuth | #17– 21 (Feb. 1939–June 193 ) | By Frank Frollo (E&I). |
Becomes Feature Comics | ||
Rance Keane, cowboy | #22-46 (July 1939–July 1941) | By ?? "William A. Arthur" (same as Yankee Eagle artist). |
Charlie Chan, detective | #23-31 (Aug. 1939 –April 1940) | Syndicated feature (McNaught) by Alfred Andriola. Chan began his comics appearances at Quality. Moves to Big Shot (Columbia). |
Side Show | #23-31 (Aug. 1939–April 1940) | Syndicated cartoon by Rube Goldberg (Register). Moves to Crack Comics. |
Captain Fortune, pirate | #25–35 (Oct. 1939 –Aug. 1940) | By Vernon Henkel. A Terry & the Pirates knock-off. |
Doll Man (Darrel Dane) | #27-139 (Dec. 1939–Oct. 1949) | By Will Eisner and Lou Fine (E&I). Also in Doll Man Quarterly. |
Spin Shaw of the Naval Air Corps | #29–100 (Feb. 1940 –July 1946 ) | By Bob Powell (E&I) using the pen name "Rex Smith." |
End of McNaught Partnership—more heroes,
fewer syndicated strips. Beginning of Arnold's partnership with Will Eisner. |
||
The Voice, Mr. Elixir | #32–37 (May 1940–Oct. 1940) | By Stan Aschmeier. |
Zero, Ghost Detective | #32–72 (May 1940–Oct. 1943) | By Dan Zolnerowich (Iger studio). |
Samar, Jungle King | #32–63 (May 1940–Dec. 1942) | By Chuck Mazoujian ("Ted Cain"). |
Poison Ivy | #32–132 (May 1940––March 1949) | By Gill Fox. A mischievous midget who masqueraded as a baby. By Jack Cole #89-100. |
Rusty Ryan, boy prodigy | #32–135 (May 1940–June 1949) | By Paul Gustavson. Later joined by the Boy Brigadiers (#45–102/103) |
Captain Bruce Blackburn, Counterspy aka the Destroying Demon | #32–56 (May 1940–May 1942) | By Harry Francis Campbell. |
Dusty Dane, sailor | #36–50 (Sept. 1940–Nov. 1941) | By Vernon Henkel. |
Ace of Space (A.C. "Ace" Egan) | #38–41 (Nov. 1940–Feb. 1941) | By Harry Francis Campbell. |
Homer Doodle and Son | #38–68 (Nov. 1940–June 1943) | By Art Pinajian. |
USA the Spirit of Old Glory | #42-48 (March 1941–Sept. 1941) | By Maurice Gutwirth (signed). |
The Fargo Kid, Tim Turner | #47–63 (Aug. 1941–Dec. 1942) |
By Alex Koda. |
Swing Sisson, jazz maestro | #49–142 (Oct. 1941–Jan. 1950)) | By Phil Martin. |
Spider Widow and the Raven | #57-72 (Jan. 1942–Oct. 1943) | By Frank Borth. Also in Police Comics. Raven in #60-71 |
Blimpy, the Bungling Buddha, and Tabby Tyler | #64–133 (Jan. 1943–April 1949) | By Al Stahl as "Sy Reit." By Jack Cole #76–77. |
Inferior Man (Courtney Fudd) | #65–72 (Feb. 1943–Oct. 1943) | By Al Stahl. Also in Military Comics |
Professor Noodle and Morguen | #73–74 (Nov. 1943–Jan. 1944) | By Sid Lazarus. |
Perky | #75–132 (Feb. 1944–March 1949) | By Sid Lazarus. First in Crack #31 (Oct. 1943) & Doll Man #15, 22–25. |
Roscoe | #101-132 (Aug. 1946-March 1949) | A cartoon wolf. |
Officer Shenanigan | #114-144 (Sept. 1947-May 1950) | A hapless cop. By Michael Senich. |
Rims | #136-144 (July 1949-May 1950) | A bespectacled geek. By Harry Sahle. |
Stunt Man Stetson | #140-144 (Nov. 1949-May 1950) |