Publishers / DC / Action Comics (1938) / #7
7December 1938
$0.10

Action Comics #7

DC · December 1938 · on sale 1938-10-25

First appearance: Buffalo Bill CodyFirst appearance: Wild Bill Hickok
How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Action Comics (DC, 1938 series)
Issue
#7
Publication date
December 1938
Key date
1938-12-00
On-sale date
1938-10-25
Indicia publisher
Detective Comics Inc.
Price
$0.10
Pages
68

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Buffalo Bill Cody - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Wild Bill Hickok - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: Joe Shuster; inks: Joe ShusterClark Kent, Superman
1You're Missing Somethin'promo (ad from the publisher)0.7
2-credits, title page0.3letters: typeset
3Superman Joins the Circuscomic story12.9script: Jerome Siegel; pencils: Joe Shuster; inks: Joe Shuster, Joe Shuster; letters: Paul LaurettaClark Kent, Lois Lane, Superman, George Taylor
4More Fun Comicspromo (ad from the publisher)0.1letters: typeset
5The 4-G Gang, Part 7comic story6pencils: Homer Fleming; inks: Homer FlemingChuck Dawson
6The County Football Championshipcomic story4script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Gene Baxter; inks: Gene BaxterPep Morgan
7-cartoon1script: George Papp; pencils: George Papp; inks: George PappBabe Ruth; Red Grange
8-comic story0.67script: Fred Schwab; pencils: Fred Schwab; inks: Fred SchwabBill
12Episode 7comic story4pencils: Sven Elvén; inks: Sven Elvén; letters: Sven ElvenMarco Polo
13-comic story2script: Paul Gustavson; pencils: Paul Gustavson; inks: Paul Gustavson; letters: Paul GustavsonThe Diddle Family [Jimmy; Grandpa; Sis]; George
14Jungle Episodetext story1.56script: Richard Martin; pencils: Fred Guardineer; inks: Fred GuardineerDick; Ted; a group of Kantu tribesmen
18Double Trouble [Part 2]comic story10script: Ken Fitch; pencils: Bernard Baily; inks: Bernard Baily; letters: Bernard BailyBob Daley, Tex Thomson
19The Walking Pawnshopcartoon1pencils: Sheldon Moldoff; inks: Sheldon MoldoffAlbert Orwin; Robert Collins Hoffman
20Colony Honored by Finns; Monument Set; New British Colonial; National Park Issuestext article0.7letters: typeset
22The Five Point Bank Holdupcomic story6pencils: Will Ely; inks: Will ElyRusty James, Scoop Scanlon
23The Zulu Diamond Minecomic story12script: Fred Guardineer; pencils: Fred Guardineer; inks: Fred GuardineerTigress, Tong, Zatara
24-cartoon0.67pencils: Gil Kesson; inks: Gil KessonBuffalo Bill Cody First, Wild Bill Hickok First
25-promo (ad from the publisher)0.33letters: typeset

Plus 3.07 pages of advertisements and other matter across 9 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Superman from the Thirties to the Eighties #[nn]
ISBN 0517551004
1983On eBay ›
Superman: The Action Comics Archives #1
ISBN 1-56389-335-5
1998On eBay ›
Superman Comics [ashcan] #[nn]1939On eBay ›
The Superman Chronicles #1
ISBN 1-4012-0764-2
2006On eBay ›
Action! Mystery! Thrills! Comic Book Covers of the Golden Age: 1933-45 #[nn]
ISBN 9781606994948
2011On eBay ›
Superman: The Golden Age Omnibus #1
ISBN 978-1-4012-4189-6
2013On eBay ›
Superman in Action Comics #1
ISBN 1-55859-595-3
1993On eBay ›
Superman: The Golden Age #1
ISBN 9781401261092
2016On eBay ›
The Golden Age of Comic Books #[nn]
ISBN 0-345-25535-6-695
1977On eBay ›
DC Finest: Superman: The First Superhero #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-77952-833-9
2025On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Golden-age paper is brittle. Ask about page suppleness and check edges for chips in the photos.
  • Check for trimmed edges, married covers, and clipped coupons - all common on books this old.
  • Confirm the indicia matches this plate; many golden-age titles changed names mid-run.

Series context

‹ #67 of 866#8 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com