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Police Comics

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Police Comics
Police Comics #1 (August 1941), art by Gil Fox.
Publication information
PublisherQuality Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatStandard
Publication dateAugust 1941 – October 1953
No. of issues127
Main character(s)Mouthpiece
Plastic Man
Phantom Lady
Human Bomb
Firebrand
#711
Creative team
Written byJack Cole
Will Eisner
Paul Gustavson
Artist(s)Jack Cole
Reed Crandall
Will Eisner
Gil Fox

Police Comics was a comic book anthology title published by Quality Comics (under its imprint "Comic Magazines") from 1941 until 1953. It featured short stories in the superhero, crime and humor genres.[1]

Publication history

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The first issue of Police Comics featured the debuts of Plastic Man, Phantom Lady, Human Bomb, Firebrand, and Mouthpiece, all of which (except the latter) are characters that continued to be published decades later by DC Comics after it acquired Quality's properties.[2] Firebrand, the initial lead feature, was soon eclipsed by Jack Cole's popular Plastic Man, who took the cover and the lead from issues #5–102. Other notable characters featured in Police Comics include Manhunter, who was introduced in Police Comics #8; 711, who was introduced in Police Comics #1; and Will Eisner's The Spirit, in the form of reprints of the character's newspaper comic strips.

Police Comics #124 (Feb, 1953). Pencils by Reed Crandall, inks by Chuck Cuidera.

After the popularity of superhero comics waned, Police Comics shifted with issue #103 (December 1950) to more naturalistic detective and crime-themed stories. The series ended in October 1953 with issue #127.

Character runs

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  • Plastic Man (#1–102)
  • Mouthpiece (#1–13)
  • Eagle Evans (#1–19)
  • Manhunter (#8–101)
  • Chic Carter (#1–18)
  • 711 (#1–15)
  • Destiny (#16–36)
  • Phantom Lady (#1–23)
  • Flatfoot Burns (#24–67)
  • Human Bomb (#1–58)
  • Firebrand (#1–13)
  • The Spirit (#11–102)
  • Candy (#37–102)
  • Honeybun (#59–88)
  • Ken Shannon (#103–#127)

References

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  1. ^ Koolman, Mike; Amash, Jim (2011). The Quality Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 223. ISBN 978-1605490373.
  2. ^ Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 177. ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
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