Four Color (1939-1942 Dell 1st Series) comic books 1955 or before

Dick Tracy. Stories and art by Chester Gould. The very first issue of Dell's long-running "series" of one-shots, which, in its second series, ran for more than 1300 issues. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints classic Sunday episodes of the comic strip Dick Tracy. Tracy is on the trail of escaped fugitive Boris Arson. On the run, Arson tries to swindle the family of Tracy's friend, Native American cop Chief Yellowpony. When that fails, it leads to showdown between Arson, Tracy and Yellowpony at Arson's cave hideout, which is guarded by two wildcats. Dick Tracy on the Trail of the Arson Gang; Dick Tracy Cleans Up Homeville. 64 pages, Full Color. 10c cover price. Cover price $0.10.

Don Winslow of the Navy. Story by Frank Martinek. Art by Leon Beroth. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints color Sunday pages of the comic strip Don Winslow of the Navy, featuring nautical adventure. Supervillain Doctor Centaur tricks Don Winslow into abandoning his ship, and then takes it over. Don and and his sidekick Red seek refuge aboard a passing ship, unaware that it's smuggling munitions. Don Red stow away aboard a pirate submarine, but their refusal to fire a torpedo at American ships reveals they are spies. 64 pages, Full Color. 10c cover price. Cover price $0.10.

Myra North, Special Nurse. Cover by Charles Coll. Stories by Ray Thompson. Art by Charles Coll. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints color Sunday pages of the comic strip Myra North, Special Nurse, about a nurse with some truly bizarre adventures. Myra assists Dr. Duval with a brain operation, but then she learns that the patient is an ape that Duval plans to use for a bank robbery! Twins get Myra involved with a kidnapping case. Myra finds murder in a nightclub called the Purple Slipper. 64 pages, Full Color. 10c cover price. Cover price $0.10.

Donald Duck. Cover by Tom Wood? Stories by Bob Karp. Art by Al Taliaferro. Featuring reprints of over 100 daily Donald Duck strips (King Features Syndicate). 68 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Smilin' Jack. Stories and art by Zack Mosley. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints classic episodes of the aviation comic strip Smilin' Jack. Jack enters a transcontinental air race, but he doesn't know that twins Bat and Rat are planning to pull a fast one with their identical planes. Dude Duncan tries to woo Dixie away from Jack. Von Bosch sabotages Jack's plane by filing the control wires. 64 pages, Full Color. 10c cover price. Cover price $0.10.

Dick Tracy. Stories and art by Chester Gould. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints classic Sunday episodes of the comic strip Dick Tracy. Tracy tries to protect wealthy but clueless Johnny Mintworth from a string of con artists and outright thieves. But Mintworth gets involved with gangster Danny Supeena's gang. When he gets in too deep, Johnny and his family pay the price. 64 pages, Full Color. 10c cover price. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Jim Chambers. Gang Busters. Stories and art by Tom Hickey, Jim Chambers, Al McWilliams and Bill Ely. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints the crime drama based on Philip H. Lord's radio program (later a TV show) that appeared in Popular Comics. The Gang Busters go after the Markey Brothers gang. His gang captured, Jack Markey tries to lay low, but he keeps bootlegging. G-Man John Winston has a showdown in Baltimore with the Tri-State Gang. 64 pages, Full Color. 10c cover price. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart FR 1.0 $329.95 or Best Offer View scans Interior tearing. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by humble cow

Dick Tracy. Stories and art by Chester Gould. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints classic Sunday episodes of the comic strip Dick Tracy. On vacation at Pop Gaines' health resort, Tracy goes back into action when Pop's son Mickey gets involved with gangster Nails Wolley. After a shootout between Nails and Tracy, Mickey goes on the run. This leads to a dangerous showdown atop a dam. 64 pages, Full Color. 10c cover price. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart FR/GD 1.5 $110.00 View scans 4" Cumulative spine split. Centerfold detached. Tape and glue on interior cover. Oxidation. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by Bud Plant

Add to cart FR 1.0 $75.00 View scans Cover and centerfold detached. Water damage. Soiling. Mold. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by Bud Plant

Terry and the Pirates. Stories and art by Milton Caniff. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints color Sunday pages of Milton Caniff's influential comic strip Terry and the Pirates. Pat's friend Normandie Drake supports her new husband Sandhurst in his dispute with a Chinese city, until she realizes that he's cut off their supplies just to teach them a lesson. As winter sets in on the northern Chinese town, Pat, Terry and Connie are taken in by the locals, who are none too pleased that Sandhurst has cut off their winter food supply. When Sandhurst's house of cards collapses and people are calling for his head, Pat has to get Normandie and Sandhurst out of town, by force if necessary. 64 pages, Full Color. 10c cover price. Cover price $0.10.

Smilin' Jack. Stories and art by Zack Mosley. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints classic episodes of the aviation comic strip Smilin' Jack. Bonita's kiss-and-claw approach distracts Smilin' Jack while he's trying to navigate his plane through the Andes. Smilin' Jack learns the secret of the Legion of Forgotten Pilots. Dude convinces Dixie to marry him instead of Jack, but then spends all their money on gambling and Sherry - his ex Sherry, that is. 64 pages, Full Color. 10c cover price. Cover price $0.10.

Smitty. Stories, Art and Cover by Walter Berndt. Featuring reprints of Smitty newspaper strips from 1936. George Bailey gives Smitty two shares of stock in his company for Christmas not realizing that his giving up those two shares costs him his position as majority stockholder. In gratitude for Smitty returning his shares of stock to George Bailey, restoring Bailey to his position as majority stockholder, the reinstated boss takes his office boy on a vacation to the North Woods. Wealthy Roger King plans to marry Mrs. Smith, whose husband disappeared years ago in an airline accident. Mr. Smith turns up as a helper to Roger King's gardeners, but with a case of amnesia, complicating the wedding plans. In further wedding woes, George Bailey does his best to extricate himself from an inadvertent promise to marry Miss Dolly Flutter. Also includes five additional Smitty 1-pagers. 64 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Little Orphan Annie. Cover by Harold Gray. Stories and art by Harold Gray. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints classic episodes of the adventure comic strip Little Orphan Annie. Accidentally stowing away on a semi truck, Annie and Sandy are abandoned in the midst of a raging blizzard. Then they find a woman and her baby in a snowdrift, and try to get them to safety. Later, Annie fears her friend Jack's going to kill himself with his reckless driving. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Walt Disney's Reluctant Dragon. Cover by Irving Tripp. Stories and art by Irving Tripp and others, plus an intro by Leopold Stokowski. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue presents adaptations of classic Walt Disney animated short films. A comics adaptation of the classic Disney animated short The Reluctant Dragon. A text adaptation of the classic Fantasia short The Sorcerer's Apprentice, with an introduction by Fantasia conductor Leopold Stokowski. Plus Old MacDonald Duck with Donald Duck, and How to Ride a Horse with Goofy. The Reluctant Dragon; The Sorcerer's Apprentice; Old MacDonald Duck; How to Ride a Horse. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Moon Mullins. Stories and art by Frank Willard. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue presents reprints color Sunday pages of the comic strip Moon Mullins, about the residents of a boarding house. The whole house is abuzz after Lord Plushbottom can't remember his night at the "El Gypolio" nightclub. Moon Mullins accidentally starts a fight with racketeer Manny the Muscle. Lady Plushbottom is overcome with curiosity when Lord Plushbottom gets a phone call from another woman. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Tillie the Toiler. Stories and art by Russ Westover. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue presents reprints color Sunday pages of the comic strip Tillie the Toiler, about the misadventures of a working girl in the early 20th century. Tillie goes to see Jim's new play, but doesn't realize he's playing the leading lady. Tillie loses her ring at the seashore and soon has the entire beach looking for it. Tillie and old flame Bill try to find a private place to talk at a fashion show. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Mickey Mouse Outwits the Phantom Blot. Stories and art by Floyd Gottfredson, Ted Thwaites, Bill Wright and Merrill De Maris. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue presents reprints a classic story from the Mickey Mouse comic strip. Mickey investigates stolen cameras, and encounters the supervillain called the Phantom Blot for the first time! Mickey assumes various disguises while tracking the Phantom Blot. A speedboat-plane chase leads to a dramatic showdown. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Walt Disney's Dumbo, the Flying Elephant. Cover by Irving Tripp. Stories and art by Floyd Gottfredson, Ted Thwaites, Irving Tripp, Manuel Gonzales, Hubie Karp, Al Taliaferro, and Merrill De Maris. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue presents reprints adaptations of classic Walt Disney animated films, including a short comics adaptation of the 1941 animated classic Dumbo. A young elephant's unusually large ears cause him to be ostracized from the other elephants in his traveling circus. That is, until Timothy Mouse discovers that the little elephant with big ears is surprisingly aerodynamic. A comics adaptations of one of Mickey's most famous cartoons, The Brave Little Tailor. Dumbo of the Circus; Pluto; The Brave Little Tailor; The Village Smithy. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Jiggs and Maggie. Stories and art by George McManus. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue presents reprints color Sunday pages of the comic strip Jiggs and Maggie, aka Bringing Up Father, featuring the astonishing artwork of George McManus. Jiggs summons a street-repair crew to drown out the sound of Maggie's singing. Jiggs moves his desk to the top of a high-rise construction site to get away from constant interruptions. Jiggs learns that "model" husbands Otto Nobetter and Dick Shunary are using him for an alibi for their carousing. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Barney Google and Snuffy Smith. Stories and art by Billy DeBeck. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue presents reprints color Sunday pages of the comic strip Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, about a hillbilly and his city-bred pal. Barney tries to get Snuffy motivated after Loweezy falls off a cliff and needs rescuing. Barney meets Loweezy's estranged brother Moe, who lives even more remotely than the Smiths. This was the first issue to include the title "Four Color" on the cover. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Tiny Tim. Stories and art by Stanley Link. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue presents reprints early episodes of the comic strip Tiny Tim, about a kid who's two inches tall. Tim and his sister Dainty Dotty are recruited by a circus, where they befriend Lotta Pounds and the other sideshow performers. Lotta is concerned about the tiny duo's new act, performing daredevil stunts in a toy plane. Tim discovers that Slick and Bullo's plot threatens the circus. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart FR 1.0 $79.95 or Best Offer View scans 5" Cumulative spine split (chew) with lateral spine tearing. Centerfold detached at one staple. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by humble cow

Add to cart PR 0.5 $54.95 or Best Offer View scan Restored (see item notes) INCOMPLETE. Pieces missing, interrupts art and story. RESTORATION. Spine rebuild, tear seals. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by humble cow

Dick Tracy. Stories and art by Chester Gould. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints classic Sunday episodes of the comic strip Dick Tracy. Tracy pursues Bronzen's slave operation in Chinatown. Soon he learns that the mayor of Chinatown is an impostor who's working with the slavers. Tracy goes undercover and infiltrates the gang in his identity as "Pete Reppoc." 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Don Winslow of the Navy. Story by Frank Martinek. Art by Leon Beroth. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints classic episodes of the comic strip Don Winslow of the Navy, featuring nautical adventure. Enemy agent Doctor Thor is still at large, and Don and his sidekick Red must track him down. Then they learn of an espionage plot to steal military secrets from the U.S. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Gang Busters. Stories and art by Jim Chambers, Erwin L. Hess, Dick Fletcher, and Dan Gormley. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints the crime drama based on Philip H. Lord's radio program (later a TV show) that appeared in Popular Comics. The Gang Busters target Jud Durk, the criminal called the Phantom. Bank robber Gus McGoig wants to out-Dillinger John Dillinger. Gangsters try to get boxer Rocky the Red Bomber to throw a fight. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Captain Easy. Stories and art by Roy Crane. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints color Sunday pages of the comic strip (Wash Tubbs and) Captain Easy, the groundbreaking adventure strip. Wash Tubbs' new pet anteater causes chaos when he brings him to the city. Mary Lancaster hires Wash and Easy to fly her over the Lost Canyon, where her father disappeared while seeking the lost Zwigi tribe. When she jumps out and parachutes into the Canyon, they have no choice but to follow her down. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Popeye. Stories and art by Elzie Segar. Four Color is the collective title for Dell's long, irregularly published series of one-shots. This issue reprints color Sunday pages of the comic strip Thimble Theater, which introduced Popeye the Sailor to the world. Popeye is puzzled by the oddball creature called Eugene the Jeep. Wimpy crashes a private dinner party for Popeye and Olive. Popeye enlists Wimpy to watch Swee'pea, but Wimpy is easily distracted by food. Final issue of the first series; Dell renumbered the series for an unknown reason, starting with Four Color (1942-1962 Dell 2nd Series) #1. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.