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Publishers / Quality Comics / Police Comics (1941) / #1
1August 1941
$0.10

Police Comics #1

Quality Comics · August 1941 · on sale May 14, 1941

First appearance: Plastic ManFirst appearance (cover): Eel O'BrianFirst appearance (cover): Phantom LadyOrigin: 711
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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
Police Comics (Quality Comics, 1941 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
August 1941
Key date
August 1941
On-sale date
May 14, 1941
Indicia publisher
Comic Magazines 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 Plastic Man - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance (cover) of Eel O'Brian - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of Phantom Lady - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

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

First appearance (cover) of The Human Bomb - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of Roy Lincoln - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

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

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

First appearance (cover) of Rod Reilly - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

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

First appearance of Senator Henry Knight - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

First appearance (cover) of Bill Perkins - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

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

First appearance of 711 - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

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

Origin story on record for: 711, Dan Dyce, Eel O'Brian, Plastic Man, Roy Lincoln.

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
0Introducing the Firebrandcover1pencils: Gill Fox; inks: Gill FoxFirebrand First, The Human Bomb First, Sandra Knight First, Roy Lincoln First, The Mouthpiece First, Eel O'Brian First, Bill Perkins First, Phantom Lady First, Plastic Man First, Rod Reilly First
2Introducing the Firebrandcomic story11script: S. M. Iger; pencils: Reed Crandall; inks: Reed CrandallFirebrand First, Rod Reilly First
3The Origin of #711comic story6script: George Brenner; pencils: George Brenner; inks: George Brenner711 First, Dan Dyce First
4Dr. M. Balm's Man-Eating Plantcomic story1script: Gill Fox; pencils: Gill Fox; inks: Gill FoxSuper Snooper (introduction); Dr. M. Balm (villain)
5The Attack of Ali Haridcomic story7script: Witmer Williams; pencils: Witmer Williams; inks: Witmer WilliamsEagle Evans First
6The Legend of the Black Baroncomic story6script: Vern Henkel; pencils: Vern Henkel; inks: Vern HenkelChic Carter First
7The Origin of Plastic Mancomic story6script: Jack Cole; pencils: Jack Cole; inks: Jack Cole; letters: Jack ColeEel O'Brian First, Plastic Man First
8The Redemption of Steele Kerrigancomic story6pencils: Al Bryant; inks: Al BryantSteele Kerrigan First
9The Alien Smuggling Racketcomic story6script: Fred Guardineer; pencils: Fred Guardineer; inks: Fred Guardineer; letters: Fred GuardineerThe Mouthpiece First, Bill Perkins First
10Vengeancetext story2script: Robert HyattDick Mace First
11The Coming of the Phantom Ladycomic story6pencils: Art Peddy; inks: Art PeddySandra Knight First, Senator Henry Knight First, Phantom Lady First
12-comic story1script: John Devlin; pencils: John Devlin; inks: John Devlin; letters: John DevlinDewey Dip (introduction); Mr. Drip; Mrs. Drip; Lulu (Dewey's girl)
13The Origin of the Human Bombcomic story6script: Paul Gustavson; pencils: Paul Gustavson; inks: Paul Gustavson; letters: Paul GustavsonThe Human Bomb First, Roy Lincoln First

Plus 3 pages of advertisements and other matter across 3 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
The Great Comic Book Heroes #[nn]1965On eBay ›
DC Special #151971On eBay ›
A Smithsonian Book of Comic-Book Comics #[nn]
ISBN 0-87474-228-5; 0-8109-0696-1		1981On eBay ›
Plastic Man 80-Page Giant #1
ISBN 1-4012-0114-8		2004On eBay ›
Millennium Edition: Police Comics No. 1 #[nn]2000On eBay ›
Plastic Man Archives #1
ISBN 1-56389-468-8		1999On eBay ›
Secret Origins of the Super DC Heroes #[nn]1976On eBay ›
Comic Reprints #[5]1974On 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 127#2 ›

Sources

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