Price: 0.25 USD
Pages: 100
On-sale Date: 1939-04-30
Editing: Vin Sullivan (credited as Vincent A. Sullivan) (editor)
Cover Thumbnail for New York World's Fair Comics (DC, 1939 series) #[1] Edit Cover
Cover Gallery 
Cover Thumbnail for New York World's Fair Comics (1939 series) #[1] [15¢]

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents)

cover / 1 page

Pencils:
Fred Guardineer (head views)
Inks:
Fred Guardineer (head views)
Colors:
?
Letters:
typeset
  • Genre:superhero
Characters:
Butch the Pup (inset)
Reprints (8)

Indexer Notes

Sullivan credit verified by the artist. Guardineer credit from Craig Delich.

This issue has 1 variant

Issue Data

Indexer Notes

Copyright on title page:

Theme Buildings, mural and sculpture, copyright, New York World's Fair 1939, Inc. Entire contents, copyright, 1939 by Detective Comics, Inc.

The copyright registration for this issue lists April 29, 1939 as the publication date. This was sold only at the New York World's Fair, which opened April 30.

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents: 1)

blank page(s) / 1 page

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover.

[New York World's Fair Comics]
(Table of Contents: 2)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page

Script:
?
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
Synopsis:
This title page cordially welcomes visitors to the Fair.
Reprints (2)

Superman at the World's Fair
(Table of Contents: 3)

Superman / comic story / 12 pages

Script:
Jerry Siegel (credited)
Pencils:
Joe Shuster (credited)
Inks:
Joe Shuster (credited)
Colors:
?
Letters:
  • Genre:superhero
Characters:
Nick Stone (villain)
Synopsis:
Lois and Clark are assigned to cover the Fair, but after Lois is kidnapped, Superman has to take over, both to rescue her from a wanted criminal and make sure the Fair is covered properly for the paper.
Reprints (7)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit added by Craig Delich.

Fairs 1851-1939
(Table of Contents: 4)

cartoon / 1 page

Script:
?
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
Characters:
Synopsis:
This page features Uncle Sam atop "the world" of the 1939 N.Y. World's Fair, and to the center of fifteen "worlds" depicting Fairs of the past.
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

The New York World's Fair covers 1,216,000 acres at a cost of $156,000,000 and expects 60,000,000 visitors.

From the Fair Corners
(Table of Contents: 5)

cartoon / 1 page

Script:
?
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
Synopsis:
Information about the trylon and the perisphere.
Reprints (2)

Chuck Warren Goes to the New York World's Fair
(Table of Contents: 6)

Chuck Warren / comic story / 6 pages

Script:
Tom Hickey (credited)
Pencils:
Tom Hickey (credited)
Inks:
Tom Hickey (credited)
Colors:
?
Letters:
  • Genre:adventure
Characters:
Chuck Warren
Synopsis:
Chuck and his college teammates have earned the right to compete in the mile relay at the Fair, but they go through hair-raising adventures even before they arrive!
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit added by Craig Delich.

Hanko Goes to the World's Fair 3000 Miles on Horseback
(Table of Contents: 7)

Hanko the Cowhand / comic story / 2 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:humor
Characters:
Hanko
Synopsis:
Hanko is awarded a key to the city and $1000 cash for riding to the Fair all the way from San Francisco on horseback.
Reprints (2)

History of the New York World's Fair 1939
(Table of Contents: 8)

text article / 6 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Creig Flessel (signed as CF) (illustrations)
Inks:
Creig Flessel (signed as CF) (illustrations)
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
typeset
  • Genre:non-fiction
Synopsis:
This article discusses how the theme and purpose of the Fair were conceived, how it was built, and a brief explanation of each of the different expositions showcased at the Fair.
Reprints (2)

Would You Believe It
(Table of Contents: 9)

cartoon / 2 pages

Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
Synopsis:
Seven different Fair facts: 1) snowstorms out of clear skies; 2) 1,000,000 tulips and 100,000 pansies were planted on the grounds; 3) if all the summer visitors passed through one turnstile, it would click three times each second, twenty-four hours a day; 4) there will be re-enactments of old-style prizefights on Bowling Green; 5) it features the world's tallest murals; 6) the two nautical pylons at the Maritime building stand 30' higher than the bow of the "Normandie"; and 7) if it has its expected 60,000,000 visitors, it will be the largest concentration of people in so small an area ever.
Reprints (2)

Butch the Pup at the New York World's Fair
(Table of Contents: 10)

Butch the Pup / comic story / 4 pages

Script:
Fred Schwab (credited)
Pencils:
Fred Schwab (credited)
Inks:
Fred Schwab (credited)
Colors:
?
Letters:
  • Genre:anthropomorphic-funny animals
Characters:
Butch the Pup
Synopsis:
Butch is at the World's Fair and suffers through a series of mis-adventures looking for food.
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

Writer and letterer credits added by Craig Delich.

Cuffnotes from the Fair
(Table of Contents: 11)

cartoon / 2 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

The Fair has moving chairs that take people through a building so they don't have to walk; over 10 miles of sanitary sewers, 20 miles of storm sewers, and 15 miles of water mains were laid at the Fair; the "Railroad Exhibit" features the largest working miniature railroad in the world; the Fair features a small plot of land devoted to the growing of wheat whose scientific cultivation will make it the most valuable wheat field for its size in the world; if the 7 million cubic yards of material moved from grading the Fair grounds were concrete, it would be enough to pave a highway from New York to Daytona Beach; paintings done at the Fair are destroyed every night and re-created the next day; there are 17 miles of roads on the Fair grounds; the Fair has an architectural model of New York City a city block long and the Empire State Building appears 23' high.

Ginger Snap at the New York World's Fair
(Table of Contents: 12)

Ginger Snap / comic story / 2 pages

Script:
Bob Kane (credited)
Pencils:
Bob Kane (credited)
Inks:
Bob Kane (credited)
Colors:
?
Letters:
  • Genre:humor; children
Characters:
Ginger's father; Ginger's mother
Synopsis:
Daddy takes Ginger to the Fair, much to his chagrin.
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit added by Craig Delich.

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents: 13)

Scoop Scanlon / comic story / 6 pages

Script:
Bill Ely (credited)
Pencils:
Bill Ely (credited)
Inks:
Bill Ely (credited)
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:adventure; detective-mystery
Characters:
Bill Wesley; Jim; the Bat's Wing [Mr. Bronson] (villain)
Synopsis:
Scoop must investigate and solve a threat made against a futuristic plane designer NOT to exhibit his new bomber plans at the Fair.
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

Scoop Scanlon, Five Star Reporter

Wonders at the Fair
(Table of Contents: 14)

cartoon / 2 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
Synopsis:
Nine of the many different exhibits at the Fair are illustrated and discussed, including a Flash Gordon style rocketship that will take visitors to Mars, bobsledding in the summer, 80 different restaurants on the Fair grounds to feed visitors, and over 3000 miles of frankfurters will be sold during the Fair's run.
Reprints (2)

A Day at the World's Fair with Jim and Jane
(Table of Contents: 15)

comic story / 8 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
Characters:
Uncle George; Jim; Jane
Synopsis:
Uncle George takes Jim and Jane to many of the Fair's exhibits, giving them helpful information along the way.
Reprints (3)

Tidbits from the Fair
(Table of Contents: 16)

cartoon / 2 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
Synopsis:
An illustrated, informational look at nine of the strange facts about exhibits at the Fair, including a fountain that sings, murals that change color as you look at them, an orange grove on the grounds that was transported from Florida, a village inhabited entirely by midgets, and a tremendous discharge of 10 million volts of electricity.
Reprints (2)

Slam Bradley at the World's Fair
(Table of Contents: 17)

Slam Bradley / comic story / 12 pages

Script:
Jerry Siegel (credited)
Pencils:
Joe Shuster (credited)
Inks:
Joe Shuster (credited)
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:detective-mystery
Characters:
Tony Spinelli (villain)
Synopsis:
After rounding up a gang of tough thugs, Slam is given a $1000 reward, so he decides that he and Shorty will visit the World's Fair as a part of a well-deserved vacation. Unfortunately for them, their vacation turns sour right away.
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

In the story, Shorty mentions that Slam lives in Cleveland, Ohio, the hometown of the writer/artist team on the strip.

Curiosities from the Fair
(Table of Contents: 18)

cartoon / 2 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
Synopsis:
Through text and illustration, eight more of the little known facts about the Fair are revealed, including the fact that the Fair has a separate telephone exchange with 8000 lines installed, that 8000 benches were placed on the grounds, the Rocketship Exhibit can take visitors to Venus, that 10,000 trees & 250,000 shrubs were planted on the Fair grounds, and more.
Reprints (2)

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents: 19)

Sandman / comic story / 10 pages

Script:
Gardner Fox (credited as Larry Dean)
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:superhero
  • Feature Logo:THE SANDMAN
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:A high executive of the Dodds-Bessing Steel Corporation--
  • Universe:DC : mainstream
Characters:
George Henry (Secret Service agent); Mr. Evarts (villain, President of the Dodds-Bessing Steel Corporation); Boris Leland (villain)
Synopsis:
Wes and one of the executive officers at the Dodds-Bessing Steel Corporation are to meet several government agents at the Fair and turn over to them plans for a new raygun.
Reprints (3)

Indexer Notes

First Sandman story to appear in print, before Adventure Comics #40.

Wonders at the Fair
(Table of Contents: 20)

cartoon / 2 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
Characters:
J. H. Ozum
Synopsis:
Eight more fascinating facts about the Fair are revealed, to include the fact that the original Consitution of the United States will be on display, J. H. Ozum is driving his 1900 automobile to the Fair from California and the parking lots there will hold all of the registered cars in the State of New York, and the Fair features a parachute jumping ride for visitors.
Reprints (2)

The World's Fair Exhibit
(Table of Contents: 21)

Zatara / comic story / 12 pages

Script:
Pencils:
Fred Guardineer (credited)
Inks:
Fred Guardineer (credited)
Colors:
?
Letters:
Fred Guardineer (credited)
  • Genre:adventure; fantasy-supernatural; superhero
Characters:
Elmer Gordon; Hu Song (villain); Rodgers (villain)
Synopsis:
Zatara the Master Magician and Tong are ordered to go to inner Mongolia to obtain a fabled jade necklace of the Princess Ti-Lo and get it to the Fair for exhibit.
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents: 22)

illustration / 1 page

Script:
?
Pencils:
Creig Flessel (signed)
Inks:
Creig Flessel (signed)
Colors:
?
Letters:
typeset
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:We trust this book will serve to remind you...
Synopsis:
Closing page to the Fair attendee, hoping that this comic would remind them of the great things they experienced, and hoping that it, in some small way, would help strengthen and promote peace and friendship among the nations of the world.
Reprints (2)

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents: 23)

blank page(s) / 1 page

Indexer Notes

Inside back cover.

[New York World's Fair Comics]
(Table of Contents: 24)

illustration / 1 page

Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
typeset
Characters:
Father Knickerbocker
Reprints (1)

Indexer Notes

Artist credit per Craig Delich; we previously credited Raymond Perry. Found on the back cover.

my.comics.org
Tracked in 9 collections.
Issue at www.comics.org
View Change History
Table of Contents ToC
    Table of Contents
  1. [no title indexed]
  2. [no title indexed]
  3. [New York World's Fair Comics]
  4. Superman at the World's Fair
    Superman
  5. Fairs 1851-1939
  6. From the Fair Corners
  7. Chuck Warren Goes to the New York World's Fair
    Chuck Warren
  8. Hanko Goes to the World's Fair 3000 Miles on Horseback
    Hanko the Cowhand
  9. History of the New York World's Fair 1939
  10. Would You Believe It
  11. Butch the Pup at the New York World's Fair
    Butch the Pup
  12. Cuffnotes from the Fair
  13. Ginger Snap at the New York World's Fair
    Ginger Snap
  14. ["Rusty, I've interviewed celebrities today until I'm black in the face--"]
    Scoop Scanlon
  15. Wonders at the Fair
  16. A Day at the World's Fair with Jim and Jane
  17. Tidbits from the Fair
  18. Slam Bradley at the World's Fair
    Slam Bradley
  19. Curiosities from the Fair
  20. ["A high executive of the Dodds-Bessing Steel Corporation--"]
    Sandman
  21. Wonders at the Fair
  22. The World's Fair Exhibit
    Zatara
  23. ["We trust this book will serve to remind you..."]
  24. [no title indexed]
  25. [New York World's Fair Comics]
Related Links
Issue was modified by, among others
  • mcomics
  • John Censullo
  • Pat Conolly
  • Steve Dasinger
  • Craig Delich
  • Gregory Fischer
  • Juan Gonzalez
  • Katy Hayhurst
  • Bob Hughes
  • Jerzy Kiekrz
  • Mike Nielsen
  • Tony R. Rose
  • Per Sandell
  • Ramon Schenk
  • Daniel Thingvold
  • Jim Van Dore
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