In the 1st 8 issues of Marvel Mystery Comics..... 0

[telerites]

Just curious how quickly sales numbers were readily available to the publisher to know how  a book was doing and if a character was more popular.  For instance, Action #1 had Supes but his next cover appearance was #7 and he missed a few others even after that.  I realize publication frequency had a part to play but would they have seen data after just a month or several months?

Or was it based more or also on letters from readers?  Just can't imagine that many letters coming in but maybe just a few weighed over those series/characters that didn't receive any.

 

[gadzukes]

12 hours ago, Primetime said:

Yes and Goodman quickly found out Subby and the Torch were the stars of the title. 

If 8 months is "quick" then yes, Goodman was quick about finding out who were the stars of the title.  

After issue 12 it was all Torch and Subby.  By contrast it took DC 19 issues until they figured out to put Superman on the front of every issue of Action comics.

[Ameri]

Angel meets Submariner in Human Torch 4

 

[Primetime]

1 hour ago, Ameri said:

Angel meets Submariner in Human Torch 4

 

[N e r V]

2 hours ago, gadzukes said:

If 8 months is "quick" then yes, Goodman was quick about finding out who were the stars of the title.  

After issue 12 it was all Torch and Subby.  By contrast it took DC 19 issues until they figured out to put Superman on the front of every issue of Action comics.

Not apples to apples comparison however.

Superman was the first of the modern superheroes that pretty much started the Golden-Age of comic book superheroes where as by the time Marvel Mystery comics was finding its footing in those early months of 1940 we at least had a few super folks (including the big 2 Superman and Batman) around so Martin like many other early publishers was testing the waters to see what might stick. Superheroes were becoming popular sales items by then but which ones was the question.

When old Superman appeared back in June 1938 no one thought he was going to become a massive hit that kickstarted an industry or a icon like Mickey Mouse was becoming. He was a lead strip in Action comics that everyone hoped would sell but by how much was in question in 1938. In 1940 it was becoming clear superheroes were becoming it for comic publishers.

 

 

[Ameri]

sketch from an early Rocket's Blast

 

[Silver Surfer]

23 hours ago, Sqeggs said:

They're out of order. 

And they are not even in high grade. 

[Cat-Man_America]

15 hours ago, Ameri said:

Angel meets Submariner in Human Torch 4

 

What happened to Angel's cape?