Pep Comics 052

Where the first patriotic superhero debuted — a full year before Captain America.

Pep Comics launched in January 1940 from MLJ Comics (later Archie Comics) as home to the Shield — the first patriotic superhero in comics, predating Captain America by over a year. The series is historically pivotal: in issue #22 (1941), Archie Andrews made his debut, eventually taking over the title and transforming MLJ into Archie Comics. Early issues with the Shield are now extremely valuable, while the transition issues are key pieces of comics history.

About This Issue

• Series: Pep Comics
• Publisher: MLJ / Archie Comics
• Genre: Superhero / Humor
• Era: 1940–1987
• Collector Note: Early issues sell for $200–$3,000+; Archie's first appearance worth $10,000+

Your Download

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• 💰 Print copies of this series sell for hundreds to thousands of dollars — read the original for $0.99