eccomic

Three Aces

Spy Smasher

Robin Hood

A wonderful group of Original Owner books published by Anglo American and came out of an attic circa 2006

Lucky Comics

Joke Comics

Grand Slam Comics

Freelance

Canadian Heroes

Dizzy Don

Captain Marvel

Dime Comics

Bing Bang Comics

Better Comics

Commando Comics

Next title is Active Comics

Not many people are aware that Canada published their own comics during the Golden Age. These wartime era comics hosted a stable of superheroes that where both analogous and indigenous to Canada. Such iconic heroes as Nelvana of the Northern Lights and her brethren spoke to Canada’s role on both the Home front and smashing the Axis abroad. These comics were published primarily from 1941-1946, as a result of the implementation of the War Exchange Conservation Act, wherein non-essential items were prohibited for import into Canada, including pulp literature. As a result, Canada started its own fledgling comic book industry. These comics were essentially published with colour covers, with interiors that were published in black and white, in order to defray costly publishing expenses. Hence, these comics are now referred to as “Canadian Whites” by both collectors and historians alike. That said, the very early issues of Wow Comics published by Bell Features and the very early issues of Better Comics published by Maple Leaf sport colour interiors. The first publisher was Maple Leaf Publishing books out of Vancouver, BC such as Better Comics, Rocket Comics, Bing Bang Comics and Lucky Comics. The aforementioned Maple Leaf comics introduced the first Canadian superhero in Better Comics # 1 in March of 1941 (The Iron Man). Maple Leaf comics are deemed to be the scarcest and command a premium when changing hands. Anglo American (Double “A”) Publishing in Toronto introduced Freelance and a host of Fawcett derived characters to Canada, including Captain Marvel and Spy Smasher. The next publisher was Bell Features in Toronto with Johnny Canuck, Nelvana, the Penguin and Thunderfist, etc. in such flagship titles as Dime Comics, Triumph Comics, Active Comics, and Commando Comics Finally, Educational Projects out of Montreal, Quebec introduced Canada Jack in its flagship title, Canadian Heroes. It is important to note that these vestiges of Canadian Pop Culture helped create a Canadian identity within their pages. Canada Jack was an athlete that battled the 5th column saboteurs on the Canadian home front in Canadian Heroes comic books. While he was not larger than life and not endowed with super powers, the Canadian youth of the Second World War at home could emulate and subsequently identify with Canada Jack. This sort of homegrown sentiment could also be likened to Johnny Canuck, who while also was not larger than life, helped smash the Axis abroad, including Hitler. Nelvana was the first superhero with a Canadian national identity, and graced the pages of Triumph Comics. In fact, Nelvana pre-dated Wonder Woman by almost four months! She came to aid of the indigenous peoples of the North West Territories in her early appearances, and could fly along the Aurora Borealis. Sadly, the War Exchange Conservation Act was repealed in 1946, and subsequently American comic books were allowed to be imported into Canada. Hence, Captain America and Superman and their brethren replaced their Canadian counterparts in full colour for only a dime. This ushered in the demise of the “Canadian Whites”, as the floundering industry could no longer complete. The last ditch efforts to produce Canadian homegrown comics in full color just did not stand up against their American predecessors Subsequently, many of the publishing houses in Canada folded, including Anglo-American publishing, Maple Leaf Publishing, and eventually Bell Features. BELOW ARE SOME SAMPLINGS FROM MY COLLECTION First up, Rocket comics featured Cosmo and others. The first issue was entitled "Name-It Comics" and with the second issued it became Rocket Comics accordingly.

SOLD VIA PM.

THE COMICS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY (1954) RARE BOOKLET FROM COMICS CODE AUTHORITY This is an incredibly rare 5.25" x 8.25" 8-page booklet called "THE COMICS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY" that was published in 1954 by the Comics Code Authority. It was released in the middle of the hysteria that gripped the United States when adults believed that comic books were corrupting the minds and morals of children. Much of the uproar was caused by the book The Seduction of the Innocent by Fredric Wertham. This booklet was designed to prove that comics were NOT the cause of juvenile delinquency.

😉 My complete run of Triumph-Adventure Comics numbers 1 to 6 featuring Nelvana of the Northern Lights Published by Hillsborough Studios, and is hands-down the most desirable and toughest set to acquire in the Canadian golden age

I present my copy of Frederic Wertham's personal reference copy of the 1951 New York Joint Legislative Committee to Study the Publication of Comics. This copy was housed in the Library of Congress amongst 220 boxes of personal correspondence and papers that were donated by Frederic Wertham's widow circa 1987. The Library of Congress retains on copy of any item and the duplicates are usually destroyed. The provenance on this (Frederic Wertham's personal reference copy) 1951 Report is magnificent in that he used several of the illustrations in the publication of Seduction of the Innocent in 1954. Gregg Van Vranken who worked for the LOC back in 1991 was given the daunting task of going through the "Wertham Papers" and rescued some of the duplicate ephemera accordingly. Gregg was kind enough to present Thommy Burns with some of the pieces. The 1951 Report has the tell-tale markings by Frederick Wertham in his red ink. The below link showing several pieces of Wertham's notes as well as markings, are present: http://www.tcj.com/warren-bernard-1954/... In 2011 the Wertham holdings at the Library of Congress were unsealed to the public and our esteemed fellow EC Fan Addict The second item that Thommy was kind enough to include in the trade was Wertham's copy of "What Your Parents Don't Know about Comic Books" large pamphlet in beautiful condition that is exceeding rare, never mind the provenance. Another copy sold THREE times on Heritage (THE SAME one THREE TIMES, in 2006, 2019, and 2020) and this is the only other copy I am aware of and the Heritage copy has a stamp on the back cover from the Baptist Convention. My copy lacks that stamp and I would maintain that this copy was retained by Frederic Wertham accordingly

Happy Independence Day to my American friends. I present my copy of THIS IS AMERICA This is America by Joseph W. Musial (1952) was planned as a promotional giveaway by Edu-Graph Productions, but was never published. Only sample copies were printed and few, possibly only one or two, still exist. This is America tells the story of a young woman, Sonja, who escapes to America from a totalitarian state. Once in America, she is given a tour of Washington, D.C. and in the process, learns about the freedoms now available to her as an American.

Glad to have picked this up in the recent Canadiana Auction on Ebay