Canadian publisher F.E. Howard did some unusual Archie Comics reprint in Canada during WWII , which remain extremely sought - after today .
We ’ve discussed a number of Golden Age Canadian publishers about which little is know during our late posts on Canadian comical books , includingAl Rucker , Lou Ruby , Morris Ruby , and Pioneer Publications of London Ontario . We ’ve verbalize a piddling minute aboutFrank E. Howardas well , whose struggles to get theSuper Duper Comics # 3into the U.S. ended up in a judicature legal proceeding , all of which likely facilitate make that consequence the last Golden Age Mr. Monster and Nelvana . Aside from that subject ofSuper Duper Comics , Howard ’s best - known releases were his unusualSuper Comicsreprints of Archie and other MLJ material .
Howard was a salesman for the Toronto Type Foundry prior to record put out himself . The first signaling of Howard ’s publishing activities is 1942’sStep Lively , which is likely a digest - sized cartoon pin - up and gag book the like of which were common during WWII . Howard then published a small range of short - lived deed of conveyance 1943 - 1948 . last for six issues , Super Comicswas by far the most successful of these .
TheSuper Comicsstory begins with Montreal entrepreneurLouis H. Citren ’s Citren News Company , which write a individual outcome 1941Super Comics , a black - and - snowy reissue ofPep Comics # 22 , the first appearing of Archie , and with the Shield ’s costume on the cover modified to boast the Union Jack . While exceptions could be granted , this comic book ( and most of those that would pursue ) in all likelihood violated the War Exchange Conservation Act . It ’s obscure what , if any , connexion Frank E. Howard had with Louis H. Citren , but Howard pick up theSuper Comicstitle and concept , reprinting stories fromPep Comicsincluding Archie , along with altered back and possibly altered interiors . Howard also publish single - issue MLJ reprint titlesArchie Comics , Captain Commando Comics , andBlack Hood .
Super Comicsmay have been ended by want of newspaper publisher access . In September 1945 , Howard wasfined by the Canadian governmentfor the overuse of 62.65 stacks of theme in the printing ofSuper Comicsand three other strip . Howard had the dubious preeminence of being catch up in the U.S. War Production Board ’s former 1945 " state of war against the smuggled market in paper " that same year .
Frank E. Howard exited the comic book publishing business around 1949 - 1950 , but his unusualSuper Comicsissues featuring other Archie reprint in Canada persist highly sought - after by Archie collectors today . There arefour issuesof F.E. Howard’sSuper Comics , including thehighest - graded way out V2 # 1andV2 # 2 , up for auction sale at the 2025 March 13Canadian Golden Age Comics ShowcaseAuction # 40290 .
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