 | |
| Founded | 1940; 85 years ago (1940) |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 1968; 57 years ago (1968) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | New York City |
| Key people | Teddy Epstein, Mike Bleier,Joe Simon,Jack Kirby |
| Publication types | Comic books,magazines |
| Fiction genres | Romance,Horror,Superhero,Westerns |
| Imprints | Prize Group |
Crestwood Publications, also known asFeature Publications, was a magazine publisher that also publishedcomic books from the 1940s through the 1960s. Its titlePrize Comics contained what is considered the first ongoinghorror comic-book feature,Dick Briefer's "Frankenstein". Crestwood is best known for itsPrize Groupimprint,[1] published in the late 1940s to mid-1950s through packagersJoe Simon andJack Kirby, who created such historically prominent titles as the horror comicBlack Magic, the creator-ownedsuperherosatireFighting American, and the firstromance comic title,Young Romance.
For much of its history, Crestwood's publishers were Teddy Epstein and Mike Bleier. In the 1940s the company's general manager was Maurice Rosenfeld,[2] and in the 1950s the general manager was M.R. Reese.[3] In the mid-1950s, the company office manager was Nevin Fidler (who later became Simon & Kirby's business manager).
In addition to Simon and Kirby, notable Crestwood/Prize contributors includedLeonard Starr,Mort Meskin,John Prentice,Joe Maneely,John Severin,Will Elder,Carmine Infantino,Bruno Premiani,Dick Ayers,George Klein,Jack Abel,Ed Winiarski, andDick Briefer.
In 1940, Crestwood'sPrize Publications, already established as a producer ofpulp magazines, jumped onto the superhero bandwagon with the new titlePrize Comics. The first issue (March 1940) featured the non-superpowered, costumed crime fighter K the Unknown, whose name was changed to theBlack Owl in issue #2 (April 1940).
InPrize Comics #7 (December 1940), writer-artistDick Briefer introduced the eight-page feature "New Adventures ofFrankenstein", an updated version of 19th-century novelistMary Shelley's much-adaptedFrankenstein monster.[4] Considered by comics historians, including Don Markstein, "America's first ongoing comic book series to fall squarely within thehorror genre",[5][6] the feature, set inNew York Cityc. 1930, starred a guttural, rampaging creature actually dubbed "Frankenstein" (unlike Shelley's nameless original monster).
Launched with acover date of September 1947, the Prize Group titleYoung Romance signaled its distinction from traditional superhero and genre comics with a cover banner stating the series was "designed for the more adult readers of comics". Told from afirst person perspective, underlining its claim to be recounting "true" stories, the title was an instant success, "becoming Jack and Joe's biggest hit in years" and selling "millions of copies"[7] and a staggering 92% of its print run.[8] Crestwood increased the print run by the third issue to triple the initial numbers, as well as upgraded the title from bimonthly to monthly through issues #13–72 (Sept. 1949 – Aug. 1954).[7][8][9]
Within a year and a half, Simon & Kirby were launching companion titles for Crestwood to capitalize on the success of this new genre. The first issue ofYoung Love (Feb. 1949) also sold well with "indistinguishable"[8] content from its parent-title.[3] Further spin-off titlesYoung Brides (married couples' stories) andIn Love ("book-length" stories) also followed from Crestwood/Prize, and were produced by the Simon & Kirby stable of artists and writers.[8]
The long-running horror/suspense titleBlack Magic debuted in 1950. According to Jack Kirby, the idea forSpider-Man originated with him and Simon, who developed a character called The Silver Spider forBlack Magic, who was subsequently not used.[10] Ironically, eventual Spider-Man co-creatorSteve Ditko drew a six-page story inBlack Magic vol. 4, #3 (Dec. 1953).
In 1954, a Crestwood/Prize salesman urged Kirby and Simon to launch their own comics company,Mainline Publications,[3][11] while the duo continued to produce work for Crestwood under contract.[11] When the duo rearranged and republished artwork from an old Crestwood story in the Mainline titleIn Love, Crestwood refused to pay Simon and Kirby.[12] After reviewing Crestwood's finances, Simon & Kirby's attorney stated that the company owed them $130,000 over the past seven years. Crestwood paid them $10,000 in addition to their recent delayed payments.[13]
Crestwood gave up publishing comics in 1963, selling off its remainingromance comics to publisherDC Comics.[14] It continued to publish humor magazines, such asSick, up until 1968 (whenSick was acquired by Hewfred Publications).
| Title | Series | Issues | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All for Love | #1 – vol. 3, #4 [#17][15] | 1957–1960 | Went on hiatus, relaunched asYoung Love. | |
| Black Magic | #1 – 50 | 1950–1961 | RenamedCool Cat. | |
| Cool Cat | #51 – 53 | 1962 | ||
| Charlie Chan | #1 – 5 | 1948–1949 | ||
| Fighting American | #1 – 7 | 1954–1955 | ||
| Frankenstein Comics | #1 – 33 | 1945–1954 | ||
| Headline Comics | #1 – 77 | 1943–1956 | ||
| Justice Traps the Guilty | #1 – 92 | 1947–1958 | ||
| Prize Comics | #1 – 68 | 1940–1948 | ||
| Prize Comics Western | #69 – 119 | 1948–1956 | Continues fromPrize Comics. | |
| Strange World Of Your Dreams | #1 – 4 | 1952–1953 | ||
| Treasure Comics | #1 – 12 | 1945–1947 | ||
| Western Love | #1 – 5 | 1949–1950 | ||
| Young Brides | #1 – 30 | 1952–1956 | ||
| Young Love | Series 1 | #1 – 73 | 1949–1957 | |
| Series 2 | #18 – 126 | 1960–1963 | Continued fromAll For Love,continued atDC Comics. | |
| Young Romance | #1 – 208 | 1947–1963 | Continued atDC Comics. |
