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Issue: Mystic Comics #1
Publication Date: March 1940
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Disclose Detail
Issues: #1 of 10 Issues
Title:
Variant: unnamed
Rating:
Publisher: FlagMarvel
Brand: none
Indicia Publisher: Timely Publications
On Sale Date: 01/15/1940
Volume: 1
Pages: 68
ISBN: none
UPC/EAN: none
Price: $0.10 USD
Indicia Frequency:
Content Items: 13 (8 stories, 1 cover)
Editor(s): Martin Goodman
Disclose Notes: MYSTIC COMICS published monthly by Timely Publications at 330 West 42nd St. New York City. Application for second class matter pending at the Post Office at New York, N. Y. under the Act of March 3, 1879. Yearly subscription in U. S. $1.00 . Vol. 1 No. 1.
Entire contents copyright 1940 by Timely Publications.
Printed in U.S.A.

The majority of the stories in this issue appear to come from the Chesler shop, but several appear to have been freelance or are from unclear sources. The next two issues of this series, however, are all or almost all Chesler.

Art spotting as noted in the Masterworks credits unless otherwise noted. The Masterworks credits Newt Alfred as Alfred Newton based on biographical information that has since been called into question on the Timely Atlas list.

On sale date from the publication date found at the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 2, Periodicals, New Series, Volume 35, January-December 1940, Numbers 1-4. Class B periodical. Copyright number B 443083.
  Does this data need corrections? Become an editor.
Disclose Format
Publication Type: Comic Book
Color: color
Dimensions: standard Golden Age U.S.
Paper Stock: glossy cover; newsprint interior
Binding: saddle-stitched
Publishing Format: was ongoing
Format Notes:  
Disclose Reprinted In11
Disclose Reprinted From1
reprinted from a Content Item in another Issue.
Disclose Images1
Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 
Assets0
 
spacer
Disclose Content Items (13 total)
Disclose Issue Images
[untitled]

Illustration  on  Cover, Front
Credits
Penciller(s): Alex Schomburg
Inker(s): Alex Schomburg
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): Blue Blaze
Character(s): The Blue Blaze [Spencer Keen]
First Line: It was a million to one against the Blue Blaze
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics #1 [Regular Edition] published February 2011
as [untitled] [Illustration on Cover, Front]cover
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics #1 [Regular Edition] published February 2011
as Mystic Comics #1 [Cover Reprint (on Interior Page) on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
[untitled]

Advertisement  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Brownscope Co. Telescope
First Line: Conquer Space, Explore the Universe with this Magic Eye 60 Power Telescope
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Inside front cover. Indicia is printed at the bottom.
Disclose
Introducing Flexo the Rubber Man

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Will Harr (signed)
Penciller(s): Jack Binder (signed)
Inker(s): Jack Binder (signed); E. C. Stoner
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): Flexo the Rubber Man
Character(s): Flexo the Rubber Man (introduction); Dr. Joel Williams (introduction); Dr. Joshua Williams (introduction); Dr. Breeze (villain); Dr. Murdo (villain, mad scientist)
Synopsis: Brothers Joel and Joshua Williams use their creation Flexo for the first time to thwart a mad scientist who tries to steal radium from a hospital.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics #1 [Regular Edition] published February 2011
as Introducing Flexo the Rubber Man [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 8
Disclose Notes: The blurb at the end of the story invites the reader to follow Flexo's adventures in the next issue of Daring Comics (note title mismatch - the feature remains in Mystic Comics).

From the Chesler Shop.
Disclose
The Origin of the Blue Blaze

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Harry Douglas [as Harry / Douglas] (signed)
Penciller(s): Harry Douglas [as Harry / Douglas] (signed)
Inker(s): Harry Douglas [as Harry / Douglas] (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): The Blue Blaze
Character(s): The Blue Blaze [Spencer Keen] (introduction, origin); Dr. Keen (introduction, death); Butch (villain); "Killer" Skehan (villain); Professor Maluski (villain, death)
Synopsis: Spencer Keen gains strength and durability after a death-like hibernation caused by a mysterious blue blaze his father had been studying. Having apparently died in 1852, he revives in 1940 and thwarts a mad scientist who intended to take over the world with an army of mind-controlled corpses.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics #1 [Regular Edition] published February 2011
as The Origin of the Blue Blaze [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 10
Disclose Notes: Contrary to various other published theories including Who's Who and the Masterworks, "Harry / Douglas" was an editor/artist named Harry Douglas, as confirmed upon interviewing Harry Douglas, Jr.

Probably Chesler Shop material, as Who's Who lists a "Harry Douglas" as possibly a member of that shop c. 1939-40, independent of its other theories about the "Harry / Douglas" signature.
Disclose
Journey to Cygni

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Joe Cal Cagno (signed)
Penciller(s): Fred Schwartz (signed)
Inker(s): Fred Schwartz (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: science fiction
Feature(s): Zephyr Jones
Character(s): Zephyr Jones; Corky Grogan; Professor Reagan Lexico [the Mad Astronomer] (introduction); Tasi Lexico (introduction, the Professor's daughter); The Cygnian Dwarfs (villains, introduction for all, all die?)
Synopsis: Zephyr and Corky try again to reach Mars but are forced by a stowaway professor and his daughter to journey to the star Cygni instead.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics #1 [Regular Edition] published February 2011
as Journey to Cygni [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 10
Disclose Notes: Last appearance. Last appeared in Daring Mystery Comics (Marvel, 1940 series) #2. Strip was titled "Zephyr Jones and His Rocket-Ship".

Not enough is known about Schwartz to place the origin of this feature. Cal Cagno was on staff at Timely eventually, and possibly already at this point. He had been at Chesler in 1937 according to Jerry Bails' Who's Who, but this feature lacks the typical thick panel borders of Chesler work.
Probably in-house / freelance work.
Disclose
The Green Terror

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Robert O. Erisman [as ROE] (signed)
Penciller(s): Newt Alfred
Inker(s): Newt Alfred
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: adventure
Feature(s): The 3 X's
Character(s): The 3 X's [1X; 2X; 3X] (introduction); Maisie Leeds; Carol Carson; Ted Barry (Carol's fiancee); un-named Commissioner; the Green Terror and his thugs (villains, introduction for all)
Synopsis: The Green Terror, a mysterious organization, is kidnapping young, healthy men and women.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics #1 [Regular Edition] published February 2011
as The Green Terror [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 8
Disclose Notes: Newt Alfred was at Chesler but this lacks the typical thick borders of Chesler Shop work (including other Alfred work for that shop). Erisman was from Goodman's pulp organization.

1X does the detecting for the team, 2X is a walking encyclopedia, and 3X is the strong arm.
Disclose
Tough Hombre

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Leo Stalnaker (signed)
Penciller(s): Lorence Bjorklund ?
Inker(s): Lorence Bjorklund ?
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: western
Character(s): Tex Carr; Stella (Tex's fiancee); Tim (older cowhand in love with Stella); Bat Butler
Synopsis: Disressed because Stella prefers Tex to him, a cattle foreman decides to do nothing and allow a heated gunfight occur betwwen the slower-on-the-draw Tex and Bat Butler.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics #1 [Regular Edition] published February 2011
as Tough Hombre [Text Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: Both Bjorklund and Stalnaker worked more in pulps than comics, leading to speculation that this text piece may even have been bought for one of Goodman's pulp magazines originally.
Disclose
The Deep Sea Demon

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Norman Daniels (signed in the original printing)
Penciller(s): Fred Guardineer
Inker(s): Fred Guardineer
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): Fred Guardineer ?
Subject Matter
Genres: occult
Feature(s): Dave Dean
Character(s): Dave Dean (introduction); Janet [aka Jane]; Shorty; Wing Po (rival of Dean); Philip (villain)
Synopsis: Dave Dean searches for pearls but finds a mysterious demon guarding the waters.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics #1 [Regular Edition] published February 2011
as The Deep Sea Demon [Story on Interior Page(s)]
From Content Item: FlagFunny Pages v2 #1 published September 1937
was Devil of the Deep [Story on Interior Page(s)]re-colored, re-titled from "Devil of the Deep", with first panel redrawn and signature removed
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 6
Disclose Notes: First published by the Harry "A" Chesler-edited Ultem Publications, Inc., this was reprinted twice by Centaur after it bought out Ultem before being reprinted a third time here.
Disclose
The Blooded Ruby of Chung

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: occult
Feature(s): Dakor the Magician
Character(s): Dakor (introduction); Williams (introduction, Dakor's assistant); John Hargate (death); George Hargate (millionaire banker, father of John); Tom Denver [aka Smith] (villain, death); The Tuaregs (villains, enemies of the Foreign Legion, some die)
Synopsis: For a fee of $50,000, Dakor locates a sacred ruby stolen from a banker and returns it to the idol from which it originally came.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics #1 [Regular Edition] published February 2011
as The Blooded Ruby of Chung [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 8
Disclose Notes: Chesler Shop material.
Disclose
The Origin of Dynamic Man

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): Daniel Peters (signed)
Inker(s): Daniel Peters (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): The Dynamic Man
Character(s): Dynamic Man [Curt Cowan] (introduction, origin); Professor Goettler (introduction, death); Chief Hopkins (introduction); Tohnson; King Bascom (villain, millionaire banker); Morgan (villain)
Synopsis: Professor Goettler creates Dynamic Man, a perfect man, but dies of a heart attack as his creation is born. Taking the name Curt Cowan, Dynamic Man becomes an F.B.I. agent in his civilian identity and uses his position to find crime to fight as a superhero.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics #1 [Regular Edition] published February 2011
as The Origin of Dynamic Man [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 11
Disclose Notes: While the name "Dynamic Man" is strongly associated with Chesler, and the stories in issues #2 and #3 were produced by Chesler personnel, this story lacks the characteristic thick panel borders. Almost nothing is known about Daniel Peters, so his signature does not help place the source of the feature.

Probably *not* from the Chesler Shop, but the actual origin is unknown.
Disclose
Read the Cartoon-Strip Magazines of Tomorrow -- Today!

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): Alex Schomburg
Inker(s): Alex Schomburg
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Marvel Mystery Comics; Daring Mystery Comics
Character(s): Sub-Mariner; Phantom Bullet
Synopsis: Illustrated promotional house ad for Marvel Mystery Comics #4 and Daring Mystery Comics #2 (with covers), plus announcement of an unusual special prize contest (announced in both magazines) offering 20 prizes in all.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics #1 [Regular Edition] published February 2011
as Read the Cartoon-Strip Magazines of Tomorrow -- Today! [Promotional Material (from Publisher) on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
Pick Your Prize

Advertisement  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Lancaster County Seed Co.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Inside back cover.
Disclose
Amazing New One-Man Shop

Advertisement  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ? (photo)
Inker(s): ? (photo)
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Peck Brothers "Little Man" Printing Press
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Back cover.

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