Which characters and series occupied the mainstream in the 1940s? 1 1

[L'Angelo Misterioso]

We all know that the best-selling costumed guys were Captain Marvel, Superman, and Batman. They're extremely popular now, and it seems they were even in their formative years. How did other golden age material, currently hot among collectors like us, take in popular culture? Were the Nedor characters like Black Terror and Miss Masque household names? If you were to say "Fiction House" or "Planet Comics" to a young person on the street, would they have recognized that? Did the Human Torch, Submariner, and the Angel even hold a candle to Captain America in terms of recognition? Other than the most notables (Cap, Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel), what else were people talking about?

My understanding is that the most popular IPs at the time were the newspaper strip stuff.

[AJD]

Perhaps @Marty Mann could give us some insight into that question?

[sfcityduck]

Donald Duck.

Romance.

I don’t think sf was ever that big.  
 

[aardvark88]

Newspaper strip related and movie serial hyped comics like Mickey Mouse, Shadow, Prince Valiant, Donald Duck, Tarzan, cowboys, Lone Ranger, Buck Rogers, Batman and Robin.