Pep Comics

Pep Comics
Pep #411, March, 1987 (final issue)
Publication information
Publisher	Archie Comics
Schedule	Nine times a year
Publication date	January 1940-March 1987
Number of issues	411
Creative team
Artist(s)	Dan DeCarlo, Bob Montana, Stan Goldberg, others

The publication Pep Comics was a comic book series from MLJ Magazines (later called Archie Comics after the company's most durable character), published from January, 1940, to March, 1987.

The first issue introduced a line of superheroes and other characters: The Shield (the first patriotic superhero according to Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide) by Irving Novick; The Comet (the first superhero to die in the line of duty) by Jack Cole; Jocko, a funny animal picture story by Dick Ryan. Sergeant Boyle (Henry "Hank" Boyle), a one man army who could have won the war by himself, given time. He fought with the British as the Americans were not in WWII at the time. He paired up with Captain Twerp who was the comic relief, and was like a private under Boyle. Corporal Collins would sometimes appear in the stories. He was another gung-ho character and he and Boyle were rivals; The Queen of Diamonds has a character named The Rocket crash his rocket in her diamond empire. The haughty queen tries to have him put to death in an arena but he stops a plot to overthrow her, so wins favour with her; Fu Chang is a Chinese detective who gets his information from tiny chessmen figures which can be animated by his "god"; There is the inevitable 2 page text story (Murderer's Brew) so the comic can be sent cheap rate through the mail; Bentley of Scotland Yard was a whodunnit with apparently supernatural themes; A page on Jack Dempsey; The Press Guardian appears as The Falcon only in the first story with a slightly ridiculous costume. He helps reporters of the Daily Express newspaper. In the second issue with just a mask and hat, he is revealed as Perry Chase, playboy son of the Express' publisher; A page of Animal Antics by Dick Ryan; The Midshipman is about the ups and downs of heroic Midshipman, Lee Samson/Sampson at a Naval Academy; Kayo Ward. After seeing him in action, fight manager Lew Black takes Eddie Ward under his wing, to make him a champion boxer.

The funny animals stories vanished in the second issue. The next big change was issue 12 where the Press Guardian and Fu Chang went and in their place; Fireball. Fireman Ted Tyler is unconscious in a room filled with chemicals in a fire started by arsonist, The Bug. He wakes up with the same powers as Timely's the Human Torch. He wore a costume as the Fireball but people knew he was Tyler. The other replacement was Danny in Wonderland where the Queen of the Fairies whisks Danny off to a magical land. In his first story, he manages to burn an evil giant to death. He has a dog named Snapper and acquires a dwarf named Kupkake as a companion. Issue 12 was the last appearance of the Rocket who was replaced by Lucky Larson, a two-fisted test pilot in #13 to #15. In issue 16 he was replaced by Madame Satan, previously Tyra, a woman who had poisoned her husband to be's parents, only to be killed by him when he found out. She tempts men to do evil and has a kiss of death. Brother Sunbeam, a monk on a donkey tries to stop her evil ways. Issue 16, the Midshipman finally graduates. The Danny In Wonderland story is borrowed from Disney's Pinocchio film from the previous year where boys are taken to an island where they can do what they want, only to find they grow jackass ears and start turning into donkeys.

Issue 17 has The Comet killed by gangsters bullets to save his brother Bob Dickering (The Comet could have disintegrated the bullets). The story was under the banner of The Hangman which may have given a clue that The Comet would not be around for long. Over his brother's body, Bob promises to be the killer's hangman. The guilty man, Big Boy Malone is finally hanged by the state. Hangman also started appearing on the covers, with The Shield and Dusty. Issue 17 was also noticeable for a change in Kayo Ward. The strip had gone about as far as it could in its present form and Ward was due to marry Connie Hodges at the end of #16. In #17, a fire breaks out in the church and Kayo gets Connie out safely but is terribly disfigured by the flames getting his manager out. She wants to go ahead with the wedding but he thinks she feels sorry for him and slips away from his hospital bed and becomes a hobo. In a fight elsewhere, the terrible scars on his face are reopened. We never see the scarred face but a doctor he helps in issue 19, fixes his face in issue 20 so he is back to normal again. Issue 20 had no Danny in Wonderland.

Issue 21 was the last Madame Satan and in its place featured Jolly Roger and his Sky Pirates, sometimes just Jolly Roger. Roger is an American flyer who is in charge of an Englishman, a Scot and an Australian flier, all of whom are racially stereotyped here. Ward is back with his manager again. Issue 22 is notable for the first appearance of Archie Andrews. Real name Archibald but prefers the name Chick (this issue only). Also appearing was Jughead (Forsythe P Jones) and Betty Cooper whose family has just moved into the neighbourhood and Archie hits on her straight away, and upsets her father, which he does frequently. Issue 23 has The Hangman hypocritically saying: "You can't take the law into your own hands!" He also said the same in issue 35. Danny (in Wonderland)'s sword turns out to be magic and will easily cut through metal but in the hands of others will not harm another. Issue 25 saw Archie's (unnamed) Principal arrive, and he upset him immediately. Only appearance as Weatherbee was Principal in #27 onwards. Veronica Lodge and her family turned up in #26. Issue 26 had a "Remember Pearl Harbor" cover. Though dated April 1942, the issue would typically have come out December 1941 or at latest, early January 1942, giving it time to sell before May when it would end up as a return if not sold.

The Shield had his origin in issue 29 and loses his powers which just wear off. Issue 31 has Sergeant Boyle visiting the MLJ offices. The Danny story in issue 33 had similarities to Disney's The Sorcerer's Apprentice. MLJ did seem to copy a lot. Issue 34 has a one page text story about MLJ editor, Harry Shorten. Issue 37 Archie story has similarities to Disney's 101 Dalmatians. 1942 onwards, The Shield was at his best and the artwork bore more than a passing resemblance to Al Avison's art on Captain America. Captain Commando (and his Boy Soldiers), really John Grayson, who first appeared in Pep #30 looked more like DC's The Guardian and the Newsboy Legion as time went on.

Issue 40 introduced Monstro the Martian into Shield stories. Though he only lasted 3 issues before returning to Mars, he was certainly a forerunner of DC's Martian Manhunter, a Martian stranded on Earth who had super powers and could disguise himself as human. Sgt Boyle and Danny vanished and were replaced by Catfish Joe, a L'il Abner parody with the end of each adventure starting the next comic's adventure. Ended #48. Also Lil Chief Bugaboo (and his pet mountain lion) (ended #47), another comedy strip as Pep started becoming a comedy comic. Archie was a regular on the cover from #41 onwards. Betty was back at the end of the story in #43 after a long absence and Reggie made his first appearance in Pep in issue 44. Issue 41 was the last Bentley which was replaced by Marco Loco, Adventurer in 42. No 47 was the last Hangman and he was replaced by The Black Hood in 48. The Shield's last cover appearance was #50, then Archie took over completely. Issue 52 saw the arrival of the shapely Suzie by Harry Sahle. A Torchy take off, who could never keep a job long. She replaced The Black Hood who in issue 51, a one page ad said would be back next issue. The was a BH text story in 52 but no more comic stories in Pep till issue 59, which was after he had revealed his secret identity to the world so he is now just a detective rather than a costumed hero. Issue 53 continued in the comedy vein with Twiddles, that's Talbert and Tootsie Twiddles with their cat Tommy. Family humour. Pokey Oakey was another Li'l Abner take off. This was a continued story (from Top Notch), with hillbilly humour. He missed out issue 54 and made an appearance in 55. Also Willy the Wiseguy, juvenile humour and a page of Jest Jokes. Captain Commando had gone (though he did pop back for issues 54 and 56) and the comic was now mostly humour strips.

With 57 came Hotfoot the Hobo and Dotty and Ditto. Issue 58, in her last appearance, Dotty dreams of MLJ characters including The Shield. Gloomy Gus (GG & Gabby are dead and live in Heaven. They go to Earth and inhabit bodies with disastrous results) replaced her in 59 and he (and Suzie) is replaced by Katy Keene (a female model strip with lots of posing) in issue 60 as MLJ looked for something successful. Also in 59 is The Black Hood. Having revealed his identity in BH 19, he is now an ordinary detective, helped by assistant Barbara. He lasted just 3 issues before being replaced by Li'l Jinx, a brat kid strip, which was introduced in issue 62.

Issue 64, The Shield story was reprinted from issue 53. The first 2 pages (of 11) were cut and the third had a new, large title panel. Issue 65, The Shield story was reprinted from issue 57 with the first title page removed and a small panel on the second page used for a title for this nine page story.

In the wake of Robin's introduction as Batman's sidekick, comic companies scrambled to endanger fictional youngsters by giving various heroes boy sidekicks. Joe Simon who created Captain America said that he created Bucky, otherwise Captain America would be talking to himself a lot of the time, which was probably the main reason for sidekicks. The Shield's sidekick Dusty first appeared in issue #11. The comic continued to introduce other characters for some time, eventually phasing out their superheroes, discontinuing most by The Shield's final appearance in #65, as the comic had been progressively taken over by a character named Archie. Pep Comics began the trend that other comic groups followed, getting rid of superheroes for other themes. It is possible that after WWII, people had had enough of unrealistic heroes who could not fight in the real war. Pep lasted until #411 Mar 1987.