Their first published comic, Blue Ribbon Comics, was published in September of 1939. MLJ originally focused on superheroes and war stories. However, a plucky redhead and his whoopee cap-wearing best friend made their appearance as a backup story in Pep Comics #22. Archie, Jughead, and Betty were a hit with readers, and MLJ took note. Today the company is known as Archie Comics, but its history as a hero publisher should not be overlooked.
Characters like Hangman, Black Hood, and The Shield (who was the cause of a minor run-in with Timely Comics, and is the reason Captain America had to drop his tri-point shield) are still important today. In this Showcase Auction, Heritage is offering a ton of graded and ungraded MLJ comics. Here are some of my personal favorites from this auction!
Blue Ribbon Comics #1 CGC 8.5
Blue Ribbon Comics might not be on everyone’s grail list, but this is the first comic MLJ ever published. If it weren’t for this book, I don’t know if Archie would be who they are today. Blue Ribbon Comics introduced Dan Hastings, Richy the Amazing Boy, and Rang-A-Tang the Wonder Dog. This book doesn’t come up for sale very often, but it turns heads when it does. There are only 18 blue-label copies graded on the CGC census, making this a hard book to come by.
This CGC blue label 8.5 has Cream to Off-White pages, and a beautiful bold, yellow cover. The last time a similar example sold was in September 2019 for $1,716. If you’re looking to add this key to your collection, I don’t think you’ll be breaking the bank on it.
Pep Comics #26 CGC 2.5
This is one of my favorite Golden Age comics of all time and one of the grails in my own collection. Pep Comics #26 is the first appearance of Veronica Lodge, the raven-haired debutant who consistently steals Archie away from Betty. Veronica in the Golden Age seemed much more vicious compared to her modern-day self, but we love her for it.
The cover is also notable as it tells us to “Remember Pearl Harbor”, as the attack on Pearl Harbor has just happened mere months prior. This is a key grail for both Golden Age and Archie collectors.
This book has shot up in value in recent years, but the right buyer may get lucky with this book. This CGC blue label 2.5 features Cream to Off-White pages and loads of character on the cover. The last time a 2.5 example was sold was in February of 2018 for $6,573. By comparison, a 5.0 sold in May of 20121 for $19,200, and a 1.8 example sold for $7,500 in September of 2021. This book will absolutely break its previous record.
Top Notch Comics #27 Ungraded
If you’re looking for a book most people will overlook, this is it. Top Notch Comics #27 was the last time the series would be called that before switching to Top Notch Laugh Comics in issue #28. The comic was moving into a more teen-humor direction and ended all but two of the action stories from the series. Black Hood and Kardak the Mystic Magician remained, tho their time was limited.
Issue #28 would introduce Suzie, who would become another early teen staple in the early Archie lineup. Laugh Comics would ultimately come to an end in issue #48, though Archie Comics would keep the Laugh Comics alive in spirit until 1991.
Heritage states that this book is between Good and Very Good condition, and they have noted that tape and extra staples have been added to the book. There is no sales data on low-grade examples of this book – in fact, CGC has only graded 8. For a lucky buyer, this could be the most affordable book in the auction.
