Marvel Comics (1939) #1

Marvel Mystery Comics #1

by Carl Burgos, Bill Everett, Paul Gustavson

The one that started it all, featuring the first appearances of both the the android Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner!

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, Science Fiction

65 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1939

About the author

Max Finkelstein created Jim Hamond, the Human Torch, for Timely Comics (later evolved into the Marvel Comics) in 1939, using the pen-name Carl Burgos. He also created the Thunderer for Daring Mystery Comics. Both series were published by Timely Comics, the forerunner of Marvel. He was drafted in 1942 and did mostly commercial art in subsequent years, occasionally drawing science fiction stories for Marvel, by that time known as Atlas. He also drew the first story featuring the Beetle (Abner Jenkins) in Strange Tales #123, starring Johnny Storm, the second Human Torch. Two years later, in Fantastic Four Annual #4, Marvel published a battle between the two Human Torches, resulting in the death of Jim Hamond. Although his daughter tried to preserve as much as possible, Burgos set fire to much of the Human Torch materials he had retained from the 1940s, considering the story an excuse to reassert trademark on a character they were not using simply to spite him.

Reviews

[Tiag⊗ the Mutant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first comic book published by Marvel, five stars for its significance. I found the Human Torch and Namor stories oddly entertaining, the others are very dated, Angel is such cheap rip-off of Superman, with a moustache, lol.

[Victor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great historical value. I like the drawing strokes in the original version. They felt natural, with a personal touch that the reedited version lacks.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

If anyone ever asked you if the very first Marvel comic holds up, it doesn't. It was kind of neat seeing the origins of some characters that have been around this long, but the stories are mostly out of touch with today, and that's fine.

The Human Torch: Honestly I had no idea that the Human Torch was introduced so early in the existence of Marvel comics, being their first character, I guess. This story was fun, just about a science experiment man being used by his creator and others in service to make some cash. Human Torch has other ideas and wants to be the first fire themed superhero. Incidentally, he's consistantly mistaken as a villain for that reason.

The Angel: this one was kinda lame, just a super-man type. I did like that he seemingly solves his problems by hyper punching them in the face. This guy is a stone-cold fist-murderer. In that he murders the "Six Big Men" with his fists.

The Sub-Mariner: The Ultra-man of the Deep! This was probably the best and weirdest story here. I didn't know that Namors species name was Sub-Mariners, kinda weird. Makes sense. I think my favourite part of this story is that Namor is tasked with leading the surface war against the white race because we bombed the fuck outta their homelands. Sound about right!

The Masked Rider: I don't really care about westerns or cowboys at all, so this was my least favourite so far. I love how absolutely FREAKED the men get about someone being masked and this interaction;
"but killin' and burnin' thet's goin too far!"
"shut up! What right have you to think?"

Jungle Terror: this was the worst one! It's weird that in the same volume as you have a man declaring war against the white race, then in the same book there's a story about white folks stealing ancient artifacts from a native culture of South America. And then the artist gave the native people horns! Yikes! Like our main characters were just as villainous as the actual villains!

Ka-Zar!: Marvels first attempt at a Mowgli-Tarzan type and it was.. Fine? The tragedies young Rand went through made me laugh more than I should have. I also like how they name all the Beasts of the jungle in a way that almost makes it seem like there's only the one lion, Zar.

[Paulina ☾ (Taylor’s Version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed to read the first one of all. The one who started it all. For being from 1939 it wasn't bad at all. I'm still surprised by the detail from the characters. Still, it was a little weird for me the 'different stories' in one shot.
Still, nothing to get worried about. I really enjoyed it. Now I am curious in how people from this time enjoyed this without knowing what it was coming...

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these comics were really fun to read, but others fell flat. Overall it was enjoyable, and I'm keen to read more about The Human Torch

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange, out-dated, and oddly morbid, but the stories have a charm to them.

[Apollo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Human Torch | ★★★
The Angel | ★★★.5
The Sub-Mariner | ★★★
The Masked Raider | ★★.75
Jungle Terror | ★
Burning Rubber | ★★.75
Adventures of Ka-Zar The Great | ★★

Average Rating: ★★.5

[Mars Fargo · Rating 3 out of 5]

In short, Namor and the Human Torch had good stories, Kazar not so much.
Because of how this book is formatted, in that there are 3 ongoing storylines that are separate, I will review each one separately.

NAMOR THE SUBMARINER clearly has the beginning of an ongoing arc that will play out nicely. I like the visual contrast between underwater and above water; the blue filter of everything underwater contrasts with the bright white daylight of the land. It visualizes the differences between these civilizations, ideologically and structurally - fitting, since warring cultures and races against oppression/revolution seems to be the primary thematic idea of this story.

THE HUMAN TORCH story here is good, it just doesn't seem designed with longevity. It doesn't seem to have a uniform structure like Namor, but it has an overall thematic arc that works visually on a scene to scene basis. One scene contributes to the whole, the next one building where the last one ended, etc. It's not a uniform visual metaphor like Namor, but it is an arc. The arc just seems to end as his story in this issue ends, with the ultimate metaphor for contrasting forms of greed wanting to commoditize power playing out to its natural conclusion. I wonder if that could hurt it down the road, since that doesn't leave it a blueprint to build off any further.

KAZAR is terrible. This whole story is just racist shlock. Even if it weren't racist, it'd still be schlock. There is no artistic effort put into its visuals for some larger meaning, the characters are unrealistically frankensteined into situations for plot convenience, and it just doesn't work.

Across the board with all three stories is that the dialogue doesn't necissarily integrate well with the visuals. Really, its just a thing of comics from this period, writing them and drawing the panels at the same time. Beautiful panels are littered with so much text in some of these stories that I never even end up looking at them. Namor at least characterizes its dialogue to him, but in the other two its somewhat stilted.

Read this magazine for the NAMOR THE SUBMARINER stories. Skip the rest. Plain and simple.

[K G · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would be better without the racism, colonialism, and fatphobia

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only the Human Torch & Namor story are really worth the read imo

[Britt Halliburton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously, you have to give this book credit for its mere existence, but honestly a couple of the stories ain’t even bad. The Human Torch was actually pretty good, though we’re talking about the OG Torch here, not Johnny Storm. Name is a decent read, and while the art isn’t top tier, it has a fascinating use of shadow and colour that give it an elevated presence in this anthology. Ka-Zar was okay, but held too much exposition - a whole lot of telling over showing. The other stories… yikes. Cowboys? Bleh. It’s not even good, even if you do like the subject matter. The hero, generic cowboy guy, isn’t even clearly shown for several panels, just looks like everyone else on the page. Then there’s an adventure story about guys travelling to the jungle to rescue an old guy, chased by other guys, who all get attacked by native guys and then the guys steal the other guys’ plane and the old guy stole the native guys’ diamond. It was that basic, and I feel I may have told that story better than the comic itself did. There is also The Angel story, which I think is just okay. The best comparison, weirdly, is probably The Punisher. I know that might seem weird off the bat, but Angel is basically a guy that murders criminals, that’s his whole thing. The villain’s plot is dumb as a sack of spuds though.

[Riley Sipes · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Marvel Comics #1 (1939) is where it all began — a messy, pulpy, fascinating origin point. From the fiery fury of the Human Torch to Namor’s underwater wrath, this anthology is more chaotic curiosity than cohesive storytelling, but it bursts with raw imagination and bold ideas. The art is stiff by today’s standards, and the writing is pure Golden Age melodrama, but there’s something thrilling about watching the foundation of the Marvel Universe being poured in real time. A historical artifact, full of strange power.

[Teal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally got a hold of this one. Like most anthologies, a real mixed bag. Some compelling ideas, some actually good stories but some real stinkers too. One of the things that shocked me was the sheer blood-thirstiness. The western story and the Tarzan knockoff somehow managed to be the least mean-spirited of the bunch but some of those superhero stories had my jaw on the floor.

All in all, would recommend for the historical significance but don't expect much in terms of quality.

[PD Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than worth the price

This is an excellent example of a golden age comic book. It tells the origins of two major characters but also the origins of two minor characters, a prose story and a two others stories. It is well worth the price!!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was kind of adorable. Storytelling was pretty clunky but it gets points for its historicity.

Plus, bonus points for Namor totally wanting to end the "White man's race." Clearly a hero ahead of his time.

[April Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty hard to read at times. We’ve really come a long way as a society. The only reason I gave this one 3 stars is because it contained the origins of the Human Torch and Namor, the Sub-Mariner. Otherwise, though? A very inauspicious start to Marvel Comics.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in an attempt to start a comic read-a-thon online and ultimately failed in doing that. While this story is hard to read through 2024 eyes, I can just imagine the wonder that would've been brought by this story in 1939.

[Hannahmale · Rating 3 out of 5]

The human torch and Namor were decent, but the others were either boring or racist.

[Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want more of Dr. Sendach. My guy legit created Vampires.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously enjoyed this, the comic that started them all. It was an odd little mix of stories, and I loved seeing the beginning of The Human Torch and Namor the Sub-Mariner.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated, but oddly charming. Some very abrupt transitions and endings which I found a bit jarring, but overall a fun and fascinating place to start my Marvel Comics journey.

[Kurami Rocket · Rating 1 out of 5]

The very first comic that Marvel released and boy, what a disappointment. I would have rated it higher, but some of the stories were full of racism, colonization and one of them was pretty sexist.

[Ty Zwisler · Rating 2 out of 5]

very interesting to see where it started, but reading this actually gave me a headache. nearly every panel includes a written description of what is going on within the panel. crazy stuff

[Alex Rodriguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

el primer comic de marvel

[Jolie Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic, of course. It's the very first. I didn't appreciate reading the racist remarks/stories in it though.

[antonella (taylor's version) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

podré leerlos todos? ya veremos

[Lisa Denkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first marvel comic EVER deserves nothing but 5 stars.

[Decent Tiger]

DNF. Only "Human Torch".

[Mchyla]

Obviously very dated, the art of indigenous people making them look like animals was atrocious--but I would die for my good-hearted himbo, the Human Torch

[Emma Bossuyt]

ah yes, 1939 comic set in Africa: enter racism