The Funnies #1 for Sale - First Appearance of Alley Oop - Where to Buy

Identification plate

Series: The Funnies (Dell, 1936 series)
Issue: #1
Publication date: October 1936
Key date: 1936-10-00
On-sale date: 1936-09-10
Indicia publisher: Dell Publishing Co. 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 Alley Oop - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Desdemona - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Cicero - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Dinny - 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.

Seq	Story	Type	Pages	Credits	Characters
0	-	cover	1	pencils: Gene Ahern; inks: Gene Ahern	Mutt
1	Seconding the Motion; The Rub-Off; Oh, That's Different; Heroes are Made-Not Born	cartoon	1	script: J. R. Williams; pencils: J. R. Williams; inks: J. R. Williams; letters: J. R. Williams
2	-	comic story	1	script: Norman Marsh; pencils: Norman Marsh; inks: Norman Marsh; letters: Norman Marsh	Dan Dunn, Secret Operative 48; Heinie (crook); airplane pilot; Shanghai (crook); Babs; Jug (crook)
3	-	comic story	1	script: Norman Marsh; pencils: Norman Marsh; inks: Norman Marsh; letters: Norman Marsh	Babs; Jug (crook)
4	-	comic story	1	script: Norman Marsh; pencils: Norman Marsh; inks: Norman Marsh; letters: Norman Marsh	Dan Dunn (posing as The Silver Kid); Heinie (crook); Shanghai (crook); Jug (crook); Babs
5	-	comic story	1	script: Norman Marsh; pencils: Norman Marsh; inks: Norman Marsh; letters: Norman Marsh	Dan Dunn (posing as The Silver Kid); Heinie (crook); Senor Blanco; airplane pilot; Jug (crook); Babs
6	-	comic story	0.67	script: Bud Fisher; pencils: Bud Fisher; inks: Bud Fisher; letters: Bud Fisher	Jeff, Mutt
7	Baby - Angel or Devil?	comic story	0.33	script: Bud Fisher; pencils: Bud Fisher; inks: Bud Fisher	Desdemona First
8	-	comic story	0.6	script: Gene Byrnes; pencils: Gene Byrnes; inks: Gene Byrnes	Jimmie Dugan; Pinhead Duffy; Bullseye the dog; Curley; Bump Hudson; Ma Duffy; Puddinhead Duffy
9	-	comic story	0.4	script: Gene Byrnes; pencils: Gene Byrnes; inks: Gene Byrnes; letters: Gene Byrnes	Daisybelle
10	The Great Ant-Eater; The Skunk	comic story	1	script: William Ferguson; pencils: William Ferguson; inks: William Ferguson; letters: William Ferguson
11	-	activity	1	script: A. W. Nugent; pencils: A. W. Nugent; inks: A. W. Nugent
12	-	comic story	1	script: Edgar Martin; pencils: Edgar Martin; inks: Edgar Martin; letters: Edgar Martin	Boots; Jimmy; Opal; Ferdy; Tip
13	-	comic story	1	script: Edgar Martin; pencils: Edgar Martin; inks: Edgar Martin; letters: Edgar Martin	Boots; Ferdy; Opal
14	-	comic story	1	script: Edgar Martin; pencils: Edgar Martin; inks: Edgar Martin; letters: Edgar Martin	Boots; Cora
15	-	comic story	1	script: Edgar Martin; pencils: Edgar Martin; inks: Edgar Martin; letters: Edgar Martin	Boots; Jimmy; Ferdy; Tip
16	-	comic story	0.6	script: Hal Forrest; pencils: Hal Forrest; inks: Reynold Brown, Hal Forrest	Tailspin Tommy Tomkins; Taggart; Betty Lou
17	-	comic story	0.4	script: Hal Forrest; pencils: Hal Forrest; inks: Hal Forrest; letters: Hal Forrest
18	-	comic story	0.6	script: Hal Forrest; pencils: Hal Forrest; inks: Reynold Brown, Hal Forrest	Tailspin Tommy Tomkins; Betty Lou
19	-	cartoon	0.4	script: Hal Forrest; pencils: Hal Forrest; inks: Hal Forrest; letters: Hal Forrest
20	-	comic story	0.6	script: Hal Forrest; pencils: Hal Forrest; inks: Reynold Brown, Hal Forrest	Tailspin Tommy Tomkins; Betty Lou; Taggart; Koroloff
21	-	cartoon	0.4	script: Hal Forrest; pencils: Hal Forrest; inks: Hal Forrest; letters: Hal Forrest
22	-	comic story	0.6	script: Hal Forrest; pencils: Hal Forrest; inks: Reynold Brown, Hal Forrest	Tailspin Tommy Tomkins; Betty Lou; Crandell; Taggart; Koroloff; Dan
23	-	cartoon	0.4	script: Hal Forrest; pencils: Hal Forrest; inks: Hal Forrest; letters: Hal Forrest
24	-	comic story	0.5	script: Gladys Parker; pencils: Gladys Parker; inks: Gladys Parker; letters: Gladys Parker	Betty; Nancy
25	Practice Makes Perfect	comic story	0.5	script: Small; pencils: Small; inks: Small; letters: Small	Salesman Sam; Duzz
26	-	cartoon	0.16	script: Gene Ahern; pencils: Gene Ahern; inks: Gene Ahern; letters: Gene Ahern	Ches Nut; Wal Nut
27	-	cartoon	0.04	script: Gene Ahern; pencils: Gene Ahern; inks: Gene Ahern; letters: Gene Ahern	Mr. Blotto
28	-	comic story	0.8	script: Gene Ahern; pencils: Gene Ahern; inks: Gene Ahern; letters: Gene Ahern	Alvin; Uncle Amos
29	-	comic story	0.5	script: Fred Harman; pencils: Fred Harman; inks: Fred Harman; letters: Fred Harman	Bronc Peeler; Coyote Pete; Shorty; "Pappy" Peters
30	-	cartoon	0.5	script: Fred Harman; pencils: Fred Harman; inks: Fred Harman; letters: Fred Harman
31	-	comic story	2	script: Ray Thompson; pencils: Charles Coll; inks: Charles Coll	Myra North; Jack Lane; Major Hyster; Lew Wen; Emperor Hiro Matilo; Doctor Devries
32	-	comic story	0.6	script: Gene Byrnes; pencils: Gene Byrnes; inks: Gene Byrnes	Jimmie Dugan; Pinhead Duffy; Puddinhead Duffy; Curley; Bullseye the dog
33	-	comic story	0.4	script: Gene Byrnes; pencils: Gene Byrnes; inks: Gene Byrnes; letters: Gene Byrnes	Daisybelle; Evangeline; Daisybelle's mom
34	-	cartoon	0.16	script: Gene Ahern; pencils: Gene Ahern; inks: Gene Ahern; letters: Gene Ahern	Wal Nut; Ches Nut
35	-	cartoon	0.04	script: Gene Ahern; pencils: Gene Ahern; inks: Gene Ahern; letters: Gene Ahern	Mr. Blotto
36	-	comic story	0.8	script: Gene Ahern; pencils: Gene Ahern; inks: Gene Ahern; letters: Gene Ahern	Major Hoople; Uncle Amos; Alvin
37	-	comic story	0.2	script: Bill Zaboly; pencils: Bill Zaboly; inks: Bill Zaboly; letters: Bill Zaboly	Otto Honk
38	-	comic story	0.8	script: Williams; pencils: Williams; inks: Williams; letters: Williams	Lil
39	-	text story	1	script: Hal Cochran; pencils: George Scarbo; inks: George Scarbo	Coppy; Duncy; Scouty
40	King Edward	comic story	1	script: Richard W. Thomas; pencils: Walter Galli; inks: Walter Galli
41	-	comic story	1	script: Roy Crane; pencils: Roy Crane; inks: Roy Crane; letters: Roy Crane	Captain Easy
42	-	comic story	1	script: Roy Crane; pencils: Roy Crane; inks: Roy Crane; letters: Roy Crane	Captain Easy
43	-	comic story	1	script: Roy Crane; pencils: Roy Crane; inks: Roy Crane; letters: Roy Crane	Captain Easy
44	-	comic story	1	script: Roy Crane; pencils: Roy Crane; inks: Roy Crane; letters: Roy Crane	Captain Easy
45	-	comic story	0.5	script: Gladys Parker; pencils: Gladys Parker; inks: Gladys Parker; letters: Gladys Parker	Betty; Nancy
46	Maybe They Better Take the Sign Down	comic story	0.5	script: Small; pencils: Small; inks: Small; letters: Small	Sam Howdy; Duzz
47	"Laugh, Clown, Laugh!"	comic story	0.7	script: Bud Fisher; pencils: Bud Fisher; inks: Bud Fisher	Mutt; Jeff
48	A Very Rainy Day	comic story	0.3	script: Bud Fisher; pencils: Bud Fisher; inks: Bud Fisher	Cicero's cat
49	-	comic story	0.8	script: V. T. Hamlin; pencils: V. T. Hamlin; inks: V. T. Hamlin; letters: V. T. Hamlin	Dinny First, Alley Oop First
50	Long-horned Bison	cartoon	0.2	script: V. T. Hamlin; pencils: V. T. Hamlin; inks: V. T. Hamlin; letters: V. T. Hamlin
51	-	comic story	0.8	script: V. T. Hamlin; pencils: V. T. Hamlin; inks: V. T. Hamlin; letters: V. T. Hamlin	Dinny First, Alley Oop First
52	Gorgosaurus	cartoon	0.2	script: V. T. Hamlin; pencils: V. T. Hamlin; inks: V. T. Hamlin; letters: V. T. Hamlin
53	-	comic story	0.8	script: V. T. Hamlin; pencils: V. T. Hamlin; inks: V. T. Hamlin; letters: V. T. Hamlin	Dinny First, Alley Oop First
54	Polacanthus	cartoon	0.2	script: V. T. Hamlin; pencils: V. T. Hamlin; inks: V. T. Hamlin; letters: V. T. Hamlin
55	-	comic story	0.8	script: V. T. Hamlin; pencils: V. T. Hamlin; inks: V. T. Hamlin; letters: V. T. Hamlin	Dinny First, Alley Oop First
56	Flying Lizards	cartoon	0.2	script: V. T. Hamlin; pencils: V. T. Hamlin; inks: V. T. Hamlin; letters: V. T. Hamlin
57	-	comic story	2	script: Blosser; pencils: Blosser; inks: Blosser; colors: Blosser; letters: Blosser	Freckles; Salty; Nutty
58	-	comic story	1	script: Richard W. Thomas; pencils: Walter Galli; inks: Walter Galli
59	-	text story	1	script: Hal Cochran; pencils: George Scarbo; inks: George Scarbo	Coppy; Duncy; Scouty
60	-	comic story	1	script: Clyde Lewis; pencils: Clyde Lewis; inks: Clyde Lewis; letters: Clyde Lewis	Herky; Mr. Morrill
61	-	comic story	0.2	script: Bill Zaboly; pencils: Bill Zaboly; inks: Bill Zaboly; letters: Bill Zaboly	Otto Honk
62	-	comic story	0.8	script: Williams; pencils: Williams; inks: Williams; letters: Williams
63	-	cartoon	1	script: Beck; pencils: Beck; inks: Beck; letters: Beck
64	Concluding "Death Masquerade"	text story	2	script: George Baker; pencils: George Baker; inks: George Baker
65	The Attack!	comic story	1	script: Edwin Alger	Ben Webster; Briar (a dog); Elmer Avery
66	The Hostages!	comic story	1	script: Edwin Alger	Ben Webster; Briar (a dog); Elmer Avery
67	The Warning!	comic story	1	script: Edwin Alger	Ben Webster; Briar (a dog); Elmer Avery
68	-	comic story	0.25	script: Bob Moore; pencils: Carl Pfeufer; inks: Carl Pfeufer	Tad; Patty; Bozano; Larkin
69	Giraffe	activity	0.15	script: Bob Moore; pencils: Carl Pfeufer; inks: Carl Pfeufer; letters: Carl Pfeufer
70	-	comic story	0.6	script: Bob Moore; pencils: Carl Pfeufer; inks: Carl Pfeufer	Don Dixon; Matt; Dr. Lugoff; Simbi
71	-	comic story	0.25	script: Bob Moore; pencils: Carl Pfeufer; inks: Carl Pfeufer	Tad; Slim; Emma the elephant
72	The Monkeys	activity	0.15	script: Bob Moore; pencils: Carl Pfeufer; inks: Carl Pfeufer; letters: Carl Pfeufer
73	-	comic story	0.6	script: Bob Moore; pencils: Carl Pfeufer; inks: Carl Pfeufer	Don Dixon; Matt; Dr. Lugoff; Simbi; Milos, High King of Pharia
74	-	comic story	0.25	script: Bob Moore; pencils: Carl Pfeufer; inks: Carl Pfeufer	Tad; Slim; Emma the elephant
75	Zebras	activity	0.15	script: Bob Moore; pencils: Carl Pfeufer; inks: Carl Pfeufer; letters: Carl Pfeufer
76	-	comic story	0.6	script: Bob Moore; pencils: Carl Pfeufer; inks: Carl Pfeufer	Don Dixon; Matt; Dr. Lugoff; Simbi; Milos, High King of Pharia; High Priest Azel; Princess Wanda
77	-	comic story	2		Happy Mulligan; Dandelion; Shorty
78	-	comic story	2		'Sparagus; Chubby
79	-	comic story	1	script: Clyde Lewis; pencils: Clyde Lewis; inks: Clyde Lewis; letters: Clyde Lewis	Herky; Pop; Andy the dog
80	-	activity	1	script: A. W. Nugent; pencils: A. W. Nugent; inks: A. W. Nugent; letters: A. W. Nugent
81	Toucans; Water Buffalo	comic story	1	script: William Ferguson; pencils: William Ferguson; inks: William Ferguson
82	-	comic story	0.67	script: Bud Fisher; pencils: Bud Fisher; inks: Bud Fisher; letters: Bud Fisher	Jeff, Mutt
83	Bubbles	comic story	0.33	script: Bud Fisher; pencils: Bud Fisher; inks: Bud Fisher; letters: Bud Fisher	Cicero First, Desdemona First
84	-	comic story	0.6	script: Gene Byrnes; pencils: Gene Byrnes; inks: Gene Byrnes	Jimmie Dugan; Pinhead Duffy; Puddinhead Duffy; Bullseye the dog; Curley; Bump Hudson; Ma Duffy
85	-	comic story	0.4	script: Gene Byrnes; pencils: Gene Byrnes; inks: Gene Byrnes	Daisybelle
86	Ches Nut Clothes Pressing Co.	cartoon	0.16	script: Gene Ahern; pencils: Gene Ahern; inks: Gene Ahern; letters: Gene Ahern	Wal Nut; Ches Nut
87	-	cartoon	0.04	script: Gene Ahern; pencils: Gene Ahern; inks: Gene Ahern; letters: Gene Ahern	Mr. Blotto
88	-	comic story	0.8	script: Gene Ahern; pencils: Gene Ahern; inks: Gene Ahern; letters: Gene Ahern	Major Hoople; Uncle Amos; Alvin [unnamed here]
89	Ancient City - New Name; The Great Marquis; The Flying Dutchman	text article	1	script: I. S. Klein
90	-	comic story	0.5	script: Fred Harman; pencils: Fred Harman; inks: Fred Harman; letters: Fred Harman	Bronc Peeler; Coyote Pete
91	-	comic story	0.17	script: Fred; pencils: Fred; inks: Fred; letters: Fred	Uncle Bill; Martha
94	Smoke Gets in Your Nose	comic story	0.5	script: Small; pencils: Small; inks: Small; letters: Small	Salesman Sam; Duzz
97	Funnies; Popular Comics	promo (ad from the publisher)	0.08	letters: typeset
99	-	activity	0.16
100	The Funnies; Popular Comics	promo (ad from the publisher)	1	pencils: ? (various); inks: ? (various); colors: ? (red tones); letters: typeset

Plus 1.59 pages of advertisements and other matter across 6 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

Collection	Year
All-American Comics #5	1939	On eBay ›
All-American Comics #8	1939	On eBay ›
All-American Comics #10	1940	On eBay ›
The Comic Book in America: An Illustrated History #[nn] ISBN 0-87833-659-1	1989	On 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

1 of 64#2 ›

Sources

Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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