Mystic Comics is the name of threecomic book series published by the company that eventually becameMarvel Comics. The first two series weresuperheroanthologies published by Marvel's 1930–1940s predecessor,Timely Comics, during what fans and historians call theGolden Age of comic books.[1] The third, simply titledMystic, was ahorror-suspense anthology from Marvel's 1950s forerunner,Atlas Comics.
| Mystic Comics | |
|---|---|
 Mystic Comics #10 (cover-dated Aug. 1942), featuring theDestroyer. Cover art byAl Gabriele andSyd Shores. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Timely Comics |
| Schedule | (Vol. 1) Monthly (Vol. 2) Bimonthly |
| Format | Series |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Publication date | (Vol. 1) March 1940 – August1942 (Vol. 2) October 1944 – March 1945 |
| No. of issues | (Vol. 1) 10 (Vol. 2) 4 |
| Main character(s) | (Vol. 1)Blazing Skull,Destroyer,Black Widow,Thin Man, Blue Blaze, Flexo the Rubber Man,Terror (Vol 2)Destroyer,Angel,Young Allies,Human Torch, Tommy Tyme |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Various |
| Artist | Various |
| Editor(s) | (Vol. 1)Martin Goodman,Joe Simon,Stan Lee (Vol. 2)Vincent Fago |
The first two series titledMystic came during the 1940sGolden Age of Comic Books from publisherMartin Goodman, whoseTimely Comics by the early 1960s would evolve intoMarvel Comics. The first four issues were nominally edited by Goodman, but the contents came almost entirely from either theFunnies, Inc., orHarry "A" Chesler studios.[2] Editor Joe Simon relaunched the series after a seven-month gap, with future Marvel chiefStan Lee taking over with issue #8 or #9 after Simon left the company. It ran 10 issues (March 1940 – Aug. 1942).[3]
A superhero anthology with no regular starring feature,Mystic Comics introduced at least three notable characters: theBlazing Skull (issue #5, March 1941), who made appearances both in the Golden Age and in the 2000s;[4][5] and theDestroyer (issue #6, Oct. 1941),[6] noted by comics historian and former Marvel editor-in-chiefRoy Thomas as "Stan's most popular superhero creation before the Fantastic Four".[7] The Destroyer was cover-featured for the last half of the run. TheBlack Widow is one of comic books' first super-powered, costumed female characters[citation needed]; She appeared inMystic Comics #4 (Aug. 1940) and #5 (Mar. 1941), as well as #7 (Dec. 1941). An antihero who killed evildoers to deliver their souls to Satan, her master, she is unrelated to Marvel Comics' later superspy character, Black Widow.
Additional superheroes introduced in this initial series include theThin Man, by artistKlaus Nordling and an unknown writer (issue #4, Aug. 1940); the Blue Blaze, a living dead man who disappeared into a swamp in his final appearance, by Harry Douglas who signed his name "Harry / Douglas" leading to much confusion and many theories over the possibility of two creators.[8] (#1-4); therobot hero Flexo the Rubber Man (#1-4); theBlack Marvel (#5-9), by artistAl Gabriele and an unknown writer (not Stan Lee as often mis-attributed);[9] and theTerror (#5-10) by writer Phil Sturm and pencilerSyd Shores.[10] The non-superhero trio of detectives the 3X's [sic] (issue #1) comprised Timely's first team feature.[3]
Timely's second series titledMystic Comics was a shorter-lived superhero anthology that ran four issues (Oct. 1944 – March 1945). This later revival was edited byVincent Fago as Lee had left formilitary duty in early 1942.Paul Gustavson's costumed detective theAngel was cover-featured for the first three, with one or two stories in each, and theYoung Allies on issue #4. Timely star theHuman Torch appeared in the first two issues, andtime traveler Tommy Tyme in the first three. The Destroyer was the only character with a story every issue.[11]
Aone-shot publication,Mystic Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1 (Oct. 2009), featured a new 22-page story of the Golden AgeVision by writer-artistDavid Lapham, and reprints ofSub-Mariner, Human Torch and Vision stories fromMarvel Mystery Comics #12 and 14.[12]
| Mystic | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Atlas Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Series |
| Genre | Horror |
| Publication date | March 1951 – Aug. 1957 |
| No. of issues | 61 |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Various |
| Artist | Various |
| Editor | Stan Lee |
Titled simplyMystic and published by Marvel's 1950s iteration,Atlas Comics, this was a 61-issue horror-suspense anthology (March 1951-Aug. 1957).
Mystic debuted shortly before Atlas'Strange Tales, increasing the company's science fiction/fantasy/horror line from four titles to six. Begun prior to the creation of the comic-book industry's self-censorship board, theComics Code Authority,Mystic softened its horror when it went under the auspices of the Comics Code beginning with issue #37 (May 1955). The series' contributors included artistsBill Everett andJohn Severin.[13]
Mystic ran until the collapse ofAmerican News Company, Atlas' distributor, which forced Atlas to undergo drastic restructuring and the cancellation of most of its titles.[14]