DC's Big Town comic book ran 50 issues, from January 1951 to March–April 1958.
The comic book was edited by Whitney Ellsworth, and the contributing artists included Dan Barry, Carmine Infantino, Gil Kane, John Lehti, Manny Stallman and Alex Toth, with most of the later scripts written by John Broome.
Based on a popular radio program in which Edgar G. Robinson gave voice to Steve Wilson, the crusading editor of a major newspaper in an unnamed town it eventually also became a film, a television series (but without Robinson) and a comic book series at DC.
This would be about as close as DC would come to the then very popular and very disreputable “Crime Comic” genre, most examples of which did not really last all that long.
Big Town however, being based on a popular radio & TV series, and coming from the home of Superman, lasted far longer than average.
During it’s publication in 50’s it served as an outlet for many of the talents
of the coming Silver-Age.
Based on the TV and radio show of the same name. This installment includes the following:
"Deadly Nightmare!" ("fighting editor" Steve Wilson, making his DC debut, solves a food poisoning mystery); "Forgotten Men of Skid Row!"; "I Fight Crime with My Camera!"; and "The Flag of Doom!" Scripts by Dave Wood and France E. Herron, pencils by Dan Barry, inks by Sy Barry. Cover by Carmine Infantino and
Frank Giacoia. Cover price $0.10.
Big Town
DC, 1951 Series
Publication Dates:
January 1951 - March-April 1958
Number of Issues Published: 50 (#1 - #50)
Color: Color
Dimensions: Standard Golden Age U. S.; Later Standard Silver Age U. S.
Paper Stock: Glossy cover; Newsprint interior
Binding: Saddle-stitched
Publishing Format: Was Ongoing Series
Publication Type: magazine
Pages.: 52 Indicia Frequency: monthly
Notes
- Licensed title based on the radio and television shows.
- Actual editors: Jack Schiff (#1-2); Julius Schwartz (#3-50). Script and art credits confirmed by copies of DC editorial records received by Gene Reed from E. Nelson Bridwell in 1986. Changes in the handwriting on the editorial records indicate that Schwartz started keeping the records with one story in issue #3 and all records thereafter. This would indicate that Schwartz took over and finished work on issue #3 and assumed full assignment of script and art and editorial with issue #4.
Authors:
Script:
Dave Wood, Ed Herron, John Broome, H. T. Elmo,
Pencils:
Dan Barry, Henry Boltinoff (signed), Win Mortimer, H. T. Elmo,
Manny Stallman, Gil Kane,
