U.S.A. Comics
Encyclopedia
U.S.A. Comics was an American
comic-book series published by Marvel Comics
' 1930-1940s predecessor, Timely Comics
, during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books
.
A superhero
anthology
running 17 issues cover-dated August 1941 to Fall 1945, it showcased early work by industry legends Jack Kirby
and Stan Lee
, and famed cartoonist
Basil Wolverton
, introduced the Whizzer
and other characters, and for much of its run starred Captain America
during that long-running character's World War II
height of popularity.
's Timely Comics
, which by the early 1960s would evolve into Marvel
. It was initially edited by Joe Simon
, Timely first editor, followed briefly by future Marvel chief Stan Lee
very early in his career, and then by interim editor Vincent Fago during Lee's U.S. military duty from early 1942 through 1945.
A superhero anthology with no regular starring feature until Captain America
began headlining with issue #6 (Dec. 1942), U.S.A. Comics introduced at least two notable characters: super-speedster the Whizzer and mythological ice-king Jack Frost, both in issue # 1 (Aug. 1941). Both heroes were revived in 1970s Marvel Comics, generally but not exclusively in flashback
stories depicting them in retroactive continuity as members of the World War II superhero team called the Liberty Legion
.
Additional superheroes introduced in U.S.A. Comics include the Defender, by co-creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby
, Mr. Liberty (renamed Major Liberty the following issue), Rockman
, and Young Avenger
, all in issue # 1; Captain Terror, and the Vagabond in issue # 2 (Nov. 1941); crusading reporter Tom Powers in the feature "Powers of the Press" in issue # 3 (Jan. 1942); the American Avenger in issue #5 (Summer 1942); and the war-hero feature "Jap Buster Johnson" in issue # 6 (Dec. 1942).
While historians have identified Syd Shores
, one of Captain America's preeminent Golden Age artists, as the penciler and inker
of the 17-page Captain America story "The Cylinder of Death" in issue # 10 (Sept. 1943), that character's remaining U.S.A. Comics appearances are by unidentified creative teams.
Alex Schomburg
, Timely's most prolific early cover artist, drew the covers of issues # 4, 6-7, 12-13, and 15.
In the late 2000s, Marvel reprinted the first four issues in the hardcover collection Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age USA Comics: Vol. 1.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic-book series published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' 1930-1940s predecessor, Timely Comics
Timely Comics
Timely Comics, an imprint of Timely Publications, was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics....
, during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
.
A superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
running 17 issues cover-dated August 1941 to Fall 1945, it showcased early work by industry legends Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
and Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
, and famed cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
Basil Wolverton
Basil Wolverton
Basil Wolverton was an American cartoonist, illustrator, comic book writer-artist and professed "Producer of Preposterous Pictures of Peculiar People who Prowl this Perplexing Planet", whose many publishers included Marvel Comics and Mad.His unique, humorously grotesque drawings have elicited a...
, introduced the Whizzer
Whizzer (Robert Frank)
The Whizzer is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared during the 1930s-1940s period that fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.-Publication history:...
and other characters, and for much of its run starred Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
during that long-running character's World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
height of popularity.
Publication history
U.S.A. Comics came from publisher Martin GoodmanMartin Goodman (publisher)
Martin Goodman born on was an American publisher of pulp magazines, paperback books, men's adventure magazines, and comic books, launching the company that would become Marvel Comics....
's Timely Comics
Timely Comics
Timely Comics, an imprint of Timely Publications, was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics....
, which by the early 1960s would evolve into Marvel
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. It was initially edited by Joe Simon
Joe Simon
Joseph Henry "Joe" Simon is an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.With his...
, Timely first editor, followed briefly by future Marvel chief Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
very early in his career, and then by interim editor Vincent Fago during Lee's U.S. military duty from early 1942 through 1945.
A superhero anthology with no regular starring feature until Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
began headlining with issue #6 (Dec. 1942), U.S.A. Comics introduced at least two notable characters: super-speedster the Whizzer and mythological ice-king Jack Frost, both in issue # 1 (Aug. 1941). Both heroes were revived in 1970s Marvel Comics, generally but not exclusively in flashback
Flashback (narrative)
Flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. Flashbacks are often used to recount events that happened before the story’s primary sequence of events or to fill in crucial backstory...
stories depicting them in retroactive continuity as members of the World War II superhero team called the Liberty Legion
Liberty Legion
The Liberty Legion is a fictional superhero team in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team was first created in 1976 and set during World War II...
.
Additional superheroes introduced in U.S.A. Comics include the Defender, by co-creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
, Mr. Liberty (renamed Major Liberty the following issue), Rockman
Rockman (comics)
Rockman is a fictional comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in U.S.A. Comics #1 , published by Marvel predecessor Timely Comics during the 1930s to 1940s period historians and fans call the Golden Age of Comics...
, and Young Avenger
Young Avengers
Young Avengers is an American comic book series written by Allan Heinberg and published by Marvel Comics. It follows a group of young superheroes, each of whom patterns themselves after a member of the long-established Marvel superhero team the Avengers....
, all in issue # 1; Captain Terror, and the Vagabond in issue # 2 (Nov. 1941); crusading reporter Tom Powers in the feature "Powers of the Press" in issue # 3 (Jan. 1942); the American Avenger in issue #5 (Summer 1942); and the war-hero feature "Jap Buster Johnson" in issue # 6 (Dec. 1942).
While historians have identified Syd Shores
Syd Shores
Sydney Shores was an American comic book artist known for his work on Captain America both during the 1940s, in what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books, and during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books....
, one of Captain America's preeminent Golden Age artists, as the penciler and inker
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
of the 17-page Captain America story "The Cylinder of Death" in issue # 10 (Sept. 1943), that character's remaining U.S.A. Comics appearances are by unidentified creative teams.
Alex Schomburg
Alex Schomburg
Alex Schomburg was a prolific American commercial and comic book artist and painter whose career lasted over 70 years.-Biography:...
, Timely's most prolific early cover artist, drew the covers of issues # 4, 6-7, 12-13, and 15.
In the late 2000s, Marvel reprinted the first four issues in the hardcover collection Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age USA Comics: Vol. 1.
Collected editions
- Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age USA Comics Vol. 1 (U.S.A. Comics #1-4)
- Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age USA Comics Vol. 2 (U.S.A. Comics #5-8)