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Motion Picture Funnies Weekly
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| Motion Picture Funnies Weekly | |
|---|---|
 Planned premiere issue (1939) Cover art by Fred Schwab | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | First Funnies, Inc. |
| Format | Anthology |
| Publication date | 1939 |
| No. of issues | 1 (unpublished) |
| Main character(s) | Sub-Mariner, American Ace |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Bill Everett Paul J. Lauretta |
| Artist(s) | Bill Everett Paul J. Lauretta |
Motion Picture Funnies Weekly is a 36-page American comic book created in 1939, and designed to be a promotional giveaway in movie theaters. While the idea proved unsuccessful, and only a handful of sample copies of issue #1 were printed, the periodical is historically important for introducing the enduring Marvel Comics character Namor the Sub-Mariner, created by writer-artist Bill Everett.
Production history
[edit]Motion Picture Funnies Weekly was produced by First Funnies, Inc., one of the 1930s–1940s Golden Age of comic books "packagers" that would create outsourced comics on demand for publishers. The company, founded by Centaur Publications art director Lloyd Jacquet and later named Funnies Inc., planned to be a publisher itself, with Motion Picture Funnies Weekly as its initial product.[1] While the postal indicia gives the publisher as First Funnies, Inc., the back cover, a house ad, directs interested parties to contact Funnies, Inc.[2]
The comic, with black-and-white pages and a color cover[3] and designed to be distributed to children in movie theaters, was never published, although samples were printed to show theater-owners.[4][5] Either eight[3] or nine[5] samples exist (sources differ). All but one were discovered at the late Jacquet's estate sale in 1974.[3][6] One sample, dubbed the "Pay Copy", contains written payment information for the various creators who contributed to the comic.[7] Additionally, proof sheets were found there for the covers of issues #2–4.[8]
The discovery of the hitherto forgotten Motion Picture Funnies Weekly rewrote an early part of the history of comics, and caused a sensation at the time.[6] Marvel Comics, in 1978, describing the creation of its superhero the Sub-Mariner, wrote:
Sub-Mariner's first story, eight pages long, was written, penciled, inked and lettered by the late William Blake "Bill" Everett, for publication in the pilot issue of a small giveaway comic book titled Motion Picture Funnies Weekly. This comic was the first item produced by the Lloyd V. Jacquet art shop, Funnies, Inc. (then called First Funnies, Inc.); the Sub-Mariner story was dated April 1939. It was the idea of those who operated Funnies, Inc. to distribute Motion Picture Funnies Weekly through movie theaters to attract customers. Apparently the theater owners thought little of the venture and the project was unsuccessful.[8]
The "Comic Books on Microfiche" collection of the University of Tulsa's McFarlin Library lists Centaur Publications' Amazing Man Comics #5 (Sept. 1939), the premiere issue, as continuing the numbering of Motion Picture Funnies Weekly,[9] but this is unconfirmed.[10]
No copy was filed with the Library of Congress.[6]
Contents
[edit]
The first issue included Bill Everett's original eight-page Sub-Mariner origin story,[5][7][11][12][13] which was expanded by four pages when it eventually saw print in Marvel Comics #1 (Oct. 1939) – the first publication of Marvel Comics' Golden Age predecessor, Timely Comics, the contents for which were supplied by Funnies, Inc. The final panel on page 8 contained a box reading "Continued Next Week", as well as a notation indicating an April 1939 date for the art. The box remained, sans words and colored in, when reprinted as part of the 12-page story in Marvel Comics #1 (Oct. 1939), and reprinted as the original eight-page story in Marvel's The Invaders #20 (Sept. 1977).[14][15] As historian Les Daniels writes,
Early in 1939 a bizarre character called The Sub-Mariner ... had been featured in the black-and-white Motion Picture Funnies Weekly, a failed promotional giveaway that Funnies, Inc. had produced. The creator of that story was a struggling young artist from Massachusetts named Bill Everett. ... [The character] became the first Marvel hero: he was created by Everett before any other comic book character published by the [Martin] Goodman group. Everett and his fish-man might have been dead in the water, but happily for all concerned, the story from the theater giveaway was repackaged for the first issue of Goodman's first comic book."[4]
Another Timely character that debuted in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly was writer-artist Paul J. Lauretta's aviator hero the American Ace,[11][16] whose origin eventually appeared in two six-page stories in Marvel Mystery Comics #2–3 (Dec. 1939 – Jan. 1940), following the renaming of Marvel Comics after issue #1.
Additional features in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 were "Spy Ring", starring a masked, non-costumed crimefighter, the Wasp, drawn and likely written by Arthur Pinajian under the pseudonym Jay Fletcher and reprinted as the feature "The Wasp" and the story titled "The Spy Ring Case" in Silver Streak Comics #1 (Dec. 1939);[17][18] "Kar Toon and his Copy Cat" by Martin Filchock, and an activity page, "Fun-o-graphs," by Vernon Miller, both reprinted in Pelican Publications' Green Giant Comics #1 (1940);[19] and "Jolly the Newsie" by George Peter.[2]
Cartoonist Fred Schwab drew the cover.[2][20][n 1] Another cartoonist, Martin Filchock, drew the covers of #2 and #4, and Max Neill the cover of #3,[8] with each of these latter covers signed by the artist.[21]
Notes
[edit]- ^ One source, Marvel Comics Index (see below), credits Martin Filchock, without attribution; Filchock signed his confirmed covers, for issues #2 and #4. The Grand Comics Database entry for issue #1 notes, "[T]he mustachioed cowboy on the 'now playing' posters and (to a lesser degree) the surprise lines coming from the fellow on top of the ladder's head are dead giveaways for Schwab. ... " The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (see below) credits Schwab.
References
[edit]- ^ Motion Picture Funnies Weekly (First Funnies, Inc., 1939 Series) at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ a b c Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ a b c "Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 (First Funnies, Inc., 1939), Lot 5194". (description), Heritage Auction Galleries. July 4–7, 2002. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011.
- ^ a b Daniels, Les (1991). Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics. New York: Harry N. Abrams. p. 22. ISBN 0-8109-3821-9.
- ^ a b c "The Origins of Subby". Scoop: "Did you Know ... ?" (column), Gemstone Publishing / Diamond International Galleries. October 4, 2002. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011.
- ^ a b c Weist, Jerry (2004). 100 Greatest Comic Books. Whitman Publishing. p. 51: "Number Thirty-Four: Motion Picture Funnies Weekly No. 1". ISBN 978-0-7948-1758-9.
- ^ a b "Heritage to Auction Legendary 'Pay Copy' of Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1!". Heritage Auctions press release. September 16, 2005. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c "[Sub-Mariner entry]". Marvel Comics Index. 1 (7B). Marvel Comics Group. 1978. Reprinted at Chivian, J. (ed.). "The Deep Six Project". Archived from the original on May 29, 2010.
- ^ "Comic Books on Microfiche". Special Collections Department, McFarlin Library, University of Tulsa. Archived from the original on July 19, 2010.
- ^ Overstreet, listing for Motion Picture Funnies Weekly asks "Amazing Man No. 5 on?"
- ^ a b Nevins, Jess. "The Timely Comics Story". Archived from the original on March 9, 2010. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ Gifford, Denis (1984). The International Book of Comics. New York: Crescent Books. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-517-43927-2.
... Bill Everett drew the first adventure of 'Sub-Mariner' for No. 1 of Motion Picture Funnies Weekly, a promotional project that misfired.
- ^ Goulart, Ron (2004). Comic Book Encyclopedia. New York: Harper Entertainment. p. 316: The Sub-Mariner "was the creation of artist/writer Bill Everett, and, after a single appearance in the short-lived Motion Picture Funnies Weekly, Sub-Mariner was reintroduced in Marvel Comics #1 in the autumn of 1939". ISBN 0-06-053816-3.
- ^ Marvel Comics #1 (Oct. 1939 – 1st Print; Nov. 1939 – 2nd Print) at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Invaders, The #20 (Sept. 1977) at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Paul J. Lauretta at the Lambiek Comiclopedia. Archived from the original November 8, 2011.
- ^ Silver Streak Comics #1 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ "The Wasp" (page 1) from Silver Streak Comics #1 at the Digital Comic Museum
- ^ Green Giant Comics at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Overstreet, Robert M., ed. (2012). Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (42nd ed.). Gemstone. p. 301. ISBN 978-1-60360-136-8. Schwab drew many gag strips for DC Comics' Adventure Comics and others periodicals, including for the inside front cover of Marvel Comics #1.
- ^ Covers of Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #2, #3 and #4, possibly colorized, at ComicBookRealm.com. Archived from the originals on April 21, 2012: #2, #3 and #4
External links
[edit]- Martin Filchock (Phil Chalk, Martin Chock, Frank Filchock) at the Lambiek Comiclopedia. Archived from the original November 8, 2011
- Nelson, Matt. "Marvel #1 vs. Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1: The Chicken or the Egg?". Classics Incorporated. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
Motion Picture Funnies Weekly
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Publication History
Development and Concept
In 1938, Lloyd Jacquet founded Funnies Inc. as a packaging studio in New York City, aimed at supplying complete comic book content—including stories, artwork, and editorial direction—to publishers new to the medium.[3] The company operated from 49 West 45th Street and quickly became one of the earliest and most influential comic packagers during the late 1930s, providing material for titles from publishers like Centaur, Marvel, and Fawcett.[3] Funnies Inc.'s inaugural project was Motion Picture Funnies Weekly, conceived as a 36-page weekly anthology comic book designed for free distribution as a promotional giveaway at movie theaters to draw in family audiences.[2] The format featured black-and-white interior pages with a color cover, measuring approximately 6.5 by 9.5 inches, and was intended to evoke the style of newspaper funnies sections through its mix of adventure serials, humor strips, and gag features.[2] Issue #1 was targeted for an April 1939 launch, with preliminary copies prepared for theater chains, reflecting Jacquet's vision to leverage the popularity of motion pictures by tying comic content to filmgoing experiences.[1]Production Details
The single produced issue of Motion Picture Funnies Weekly was printed in early 1939 by Funnies Inc., an independent packaging studio that assembled the comic as a promotional giveaway for movie theaters.[4] Only 8 to 9 sample copies were created, serving as "pay copies" or salesman's proofs intended to demonstrate the product to potential theater chain partners and secure distribution agreements.[4] These limited proofs were produced under tight deadlines to facilitate rapid pitching, reflecting the freelance-driven nature of comic packaging at the time.[2] One notable example among these samples is the "pay copy," which includes handwritten notations documenting freelance compensation to creators, such as payments to Bill Everett for his contribution.[4] This office copy, discovered in the estate of publisher Lloyd Jacquet, provides direct evidence of the production's financial structure, with amounts recorded in longhand alongside the printed pages.[4] The issue features black-and-white interior artwork printed on newsprint-style paper, typical for cost-effective promotional comics of the era, totaling 36 pages in an anthology format with multiple short features.[4] The full-color cover, illustrated by Fred Schwab, depicts a vibrant movie-themed scene integrating comic characters with a theater setting to emphasize the giveaway's promotional intent.[4] The content combined original material created for the project with potential adaptations from newspaper strips, assembled to appeal to a broad audience under Funnies Inc.'s oversight.[2]Intended Distribution and Cancellation
Motion Picture Funnies Weekly was conceived as a weekly promotional comic book series, with distribution planned to begin in April 1939 through giveaways at participating movie theaters across the United States, aimed at boosting attendance by attracting younger audiences.[2] The 36-page issues were to be provided free of charge to theater chains, leveraging the popularity of motion pictures to promote the content.[5] Lloyd Jaquet's Funnies, Inc. packaged the series and produced sample copies of issue #1 to pitch the concept to prospective theater operators and chains, seeking commitments for ongoing sponsorship and distribution contracts.[2] These preliminary copies served as promotional previews to demonstrate the potential draw of the comic strips tied to film themes.[2] Despite these efforts, theater managers rejected the giveaway proposal, citing insufficient interest or viability, which prevented the securing of necessary partnerships.[2] The project was subsequently canceled, with no full print run of issue #1 or any subsequent issues ever executed for public release.[5] Advance planning for the series extended to issues #2 through #4, as indicated by surviving proof sheets of their covers, though no interior artwork or complete production occurred beyond the initial samples.[2] An unconfirmed theory posits that the numbering from these unpublished issues may have influenced the starting point of Centaur Publications' Amazing Man Comics #5 in September 1939, but no evidence confirms any material transfer or wide distribution.[6]Contents and Features
Stories in Issue #1
Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 features an anthology of adventure and humor strips in black-and-white, designed as a 36-page promotional giveaway for movie theater audiences without any advertisements.[7][8] The contents emphasize entertaining young readers with a mix of origin stories, espionage tales, and comedic gags, reflecting the era's pulp influences and aimed at quick, engaging reads during film screenings. The issue opens with the 8-page lead feature "Here is the Sub-Mariner!", an origin story written and drawn by Bill Everett, where Prince Namor discovers humanity's past destruction of his underwater realm and declares war on the surface world, showcasing his superhuman strength and aquatic prowess. Following this is "Origin of the American Ace," a 7-page aviation adventure penciled and inked by Paul Lauretta, introducing pilot Perry Webb as he combats European spies amid a conflict ignited by a scheming queen's plot for domination. "Spy Ring," a 6-page espionage thriller illustrated by Art Pinajian, stars the masked vigilante the Wasp—secretly reporter Burton Slade—who infiltrates a clandestine group attempting to steal U.S. Army airplane blueprints from an exclusive club. In contrast, the humor segment includes the 4-page gag strip "Kar Toon and his Copy Cat" by Martin Filchock, depicting a young artist's drawn feline companion springing to life and mimicking his antics in chaotic, slapstick scenarios involving chases and mishaps. Another lighthearted entry, "Jolly the Newsie," spans 6 pages with artwork by George Peter, following an orphaned newsboy who aids a reporter during a fiery building emergency, ultimately rescuing a trapped woman and securing a newspaper position through his bravery and quick thinking. The issue concludes with the 1-page "Fun-o-graphs" activity feature by Vernon Miller, presenting cut-out cartoon faces, puzzles, and single-panel jokes for interactive amusement.Character Introductions and Origins
Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 introduced several characters that would influence the superhero genre, beginning with Namor the Sub-Mariner, an Atlantean prince created by writer-artist Bill Everett. Namor possesses superhuman strength and the ability to fly propelled by small wings on his ankles, traits that set him apart as a hybrid oceanic powerhouse. His origin centers on a profound hatred for the surface world, stemming from humanity's pollution and bombardment that sank Atlantis, motivating his vengeful emergence from the depths. This eight-page black-and-white tale marked Namor's first printed appearance, later expanded and recolored to twelve pages in Marvel Comics #1. Supporting Namor in this narrative is the Holy One, later known as Thakorr, his grandfather and a former Atlantean ruler who guides the young prince.[9][2] The issue also debuted the American Ace, real name Perry Webb, a patriotic aviator hero crafted by writer-artist Paul J. Lauretta. Originating as a U.S. pilot stationed in pre-World War II Europe, the character combats foreign spies and saboteurs through daring aerial exploits, embodying themes of American interventionism and heroism. His seven-page origin story highlights Webb's resourcefulness and commitment to thwarting international threats, reflecting the era's rising tensions.[10][11][2] In the six-page "Spy Ring" feature, the Wasp appears as an early insect-themed adventurer, a masked crimefighter named Burton Slade who employs agility, fighting skills, and disguise in a thriller against espionage networks. Created by Jay Fletcher, the Wasp's introduction fuses pulp spy intrigue with vigilante action, predating more famous insect heroes.[2][7] Contrasting these adventure archetypes is Jolly the Newsie, a humor-driven character created by George Peter, whose six-page story portrays the everyday escapades of a plucky newsboy navigating urban life without superhuman elements. Jolly's lighthearted origins emphasize relatable kid antics and street smarts, providing comic relief amid the issue's bolder introductions.[12][2] These character origins in the 1939 prototype comic blend pulp adventure serials—evident in the aviator and spy motifs—with emerging superhero tropes like enhanced abilities and moral crusades against societal ills, foreshadowing the genre's boom in Timely Comics publications.[10]Creative Contributors
Key Artists and Writers
Bill Everett served as the writer, penciler, inker, and letterer for the eight-page "Sub-Mariner" feature in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1, creating the character Namor as an anti-heroic figure in his debut story.[7] A young artist from Massachusetts born in 1917, Everett had prior experience illustrating for pulp magazines before transitioning to comics, bringing a dynamic, shadowy style influenced by his pulp roots to the emerging comic book medium.[13] Paul J. Lauretta provided the artwork and writing for the aviation adventure strip "American Ace," which occupied seven pages in the issue, showcasing his specialization in high-flying, action-oriented narratives featuring pilot protagonists.[7] Born in 1917 and active as a freelance illustrator from the late 1930s, Lauretta drew from his background in adventure illustration to craft detailed aerial combat scenes, later contributing similar work to Timely Comics publications like Marvel Mystery Comics.[10] Fred Schwab created the cover illustration for Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1, signing his name on a vibrant scene promoting the comic's characters amid a theatrical movie backdrop, capturing the promotional intent of the giveaway publication.[7] Working as a freelance artist through studios like Chesler in the late 1930s, Schwab's cover design blended cartoonish energy with promotional flair, reflecting his experience in commercial illustration.[14] Among other contributors, Vernon Miller created the "Fun-o-graphs" activity page, while Martin Filchock scripted and drew the "Spy Ring" adventure story and the humor strip "Kar Toon and His Copy Cat," both adapting concise, episodic formats suited to the comic's structure.[15] These creators operated under Funnies, Inc., a packaging studio that commissioned freelance talent on a per-page basis, with payments tracked via detachable stubs included in "pay copies" of the issue distributed to artists upon completion.[4] The artists' work in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 drew heavily from the bold, narrative-driven styles of newspaper comic strips, such as those in Sunday funnies sections, which many had emulated in their earlier careers; this adaptation to the tabloid comic book format emphasized larger panels and serialized adventure elements to suit the promotional giveaway's broad appeal.[16]Production Roles
Lloyd Jacquet founded Funnies Inc. (initially known as First Funnies, Inc.) in 1938, serving as its editor-in-chief and overseeing the packaging of comic book content for potential publishers and distributors.[3] In this role, Jacquet directed the development of stories and features, coordinating the assembly of complete issues while pitching them to clients such as movie theaters for promotional use.[3] For the Motion Picture Funnies Weekly, Jacquet managed the production of a 36-page sample issue in 1939, intended as a free giveaway to attract theater sponsorship.[7] Funnies Inc. functioned as a bullpen studio, relying on a network of freelance writers and artists rather than in-house creative staff to generate original material.[3] Freelancers handled scripting, penciling, and inking, with the studio providing editorial guidance, lettering, and final production assembly to create polished packages.[3] No dedicated writers were employed internally for features like the Sub-Mariner, which were developed entirely by external talent such as Bill Everett.[1] On the business side, John F. Mahon served as Funnies Inc.'s business manager, assisting Jacquet in negotiations for distribution deals, including the theater giveaway concept for Motion Picture Funnies Weekly.[3] The company budgeted for speculative sample production without full sponsorship, printing limited copies to demonstrate viability to potential partners like theater chains.[2] When theaters declined the proposal, the project was canceled, but Jacquet secured creator payments through pay copies distributed to contributors.[17] After the cancellation, Funnies Inc. transitioned to packaging content for established publishers, including sales of the unused Motion Picture Funnies Weekly material to Martin Goodman for Timely Comics' Marvel Comics #1, thereby influencing the early comic book industry's development.[17] The studio continued operations into the 1940s, supplying features to clients like Centaur and Fawcett, adapting its freelance model to meet growing demand for comic packaging.[3]Legacy and Significance
Discovery and Historical Recognition
In 1974, copies of Motion Picture Funnies Weekly were discovered at the estate sale of Lloyd Jacquet, the founder of Funnies, Inc., following his death in 1970. Approximately six copies surfaced, including one incomplete example missing six pages. A unique "Pay Copy" annotated with payment records for the contributors was discovered later in 1992.[2][18] Comic book collectors and historians promptly authenticated the finds through examination of production details, artwork styles, and associated documents, confirming the comic's creation and printing in April 1939.[18] This verification established Motion Picture Funnies Weekly as the original venue for Bill Everett's Sub-Mariner story, predating its reprint in Marvel Comics #1 (cover-dated October 1939) by roughly six months and thereby reshaping scholarly and collector understanding of superhero origins in American comics.[17] From the mid-1970s onward, the rediscovered copies garnered attention in comic book periodicals and high-profile auctions, where they were hailed as essential proto-comic book artifacts linking promotional publishing experiments to the dawn of the superhero genre.[19] The comic's prior obscurity stemmed in part from the absence of any deposit copy filed with the Library of Congress, as it was produced solely as unsolicited samples for potential theater partners rather than for public distribution or formal copyright.[20]Rarity and Collectibility
Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 is among the rarest comics from the Golden Age, with nine copies graded by Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) as of November 2025, of which eight are complete.[21] These include five unrestored universal copies and four restored examples, spanning grades from 0.5 to 9.0.[21] The highest-graded copy, a pay copy in VF/NM 9.0, represents a unique variant used for production accounting and remains the pinnacle of preservation for this title.[22] Auction history underscores its scarcity. The CGC 9.0 pay copy sold for $43,125 at Heritage Auctions in October 2005. Subsequent public sales include a CGC FN- 5.5 for $20,315 at Heritage Auctions in February 2009 and a CGC VG/F 5.0 for $15,800 at ComicConnect in December 2016; no public sales have been recorded since.[22][23][19] Demand is propelled by the issue's status as the first appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner, making it a key cornerstone for Marvel collectors. Condition challenges arise from the comic's newsprint stock, which is prone to degradation over time, yet the surviving examples often achieve high grades owing to their minimal historical handling and lack of public distribution.[21] Collectors also pursue production proofs of covers for issues #2–4, of which at least three sets are documented, offering insight into the canceled series' planned direction, though no interiors were ever produced.[5] CGC's grading of all known copies has cemented the title's recognition as a foundational rarity in Golden Age comics, influencing standards for evaluating pre-distribution prototypes.[21]| CGC Grade | Universal Copies | Restored Copies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 7.5 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 7.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 3.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 5 | 4 | 9 |