Timely Comics

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Timely Comics was the earliest comic book division of American publisher Martin Goodman's company, which would evolve by the 1960s into Marvel Comics. Founded in 1939, during the Golden Age of Comic Books, Timely Comics is best known for introducing characters such as Captain America, The Human Torch, and Namor the Sub-Mariner.

History

Timely Comics was founded in 1939 by Martin Goodman, a pulp magazine publisher who expanded into the emerging and highly popular new medium of comic books. The company's first publication, Marvel Comics #1 (cover-dated October 1939), featured the first appearances of the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner. The issue was a significant success, leading to a second printing and the establishment of Timely Comics as a major player in the comic book industry.

During the early 1940s, Timely introduced several notable characters, including Captain America, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Captain America Comics #1 (cover-dated March 1941) was an immediate hit, with the cover depicting Captain America punching Adolf Hitler months before the United States entered World War II.

Key Characters

• Captain America: Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, Captain America is a patriotic super-soldier who fought the Axis powers during World War II.
• The Human Torch: An android superhero created by Carl Burgos, who can control and engulf himself in flames.
• Namor the Sub-Mariner: Created by Bill Everett, Namor is the half-human/half-Atlantean prince of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis.

Transition to Marvel Comics

In the late 1940s, the popularity of superhero comics began to wane, and Timely Comics transitioned to other genres such as horror, Westerns, and romance. By the early 1950s, the company was known as Atlas Comics. It wasn't until the early 1960s, under the guidance of editor Stan Lee, that the company rebranded itself as Marvel Comics and ushered in the Silver Age of Comic Books with the creation of the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and other iconic characters.

Legacy

Timely Comics laid the foundation for what would become one of the most influential comic book publishers in history. The characters and stories introduced during this era have endured and evolved, remaining popular with readers and inspiring numerous adaptations in other media.

Related Pages

• Marvel Comics
• Golden Age of Comic Books
• Captain America
• The Human Torch (android)
• Namor the Sub-Mariner
• Stan Lee
• Jack Kirby
• Joe Simon
• Atlas Comics (1950s)