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Lev Gleason Publications
Lev Gleason Publications' current logo, as of 2021. (Will replace with actual).
Founded1939
2021 (Revived)
FounderLeverett Stone Gleason
Defunct1956
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationToronto, ON
Denton, TX
Former:
New York City
DistributionDiamond Comic Distributors
Key peopleFadi Hakim
Publication typesComic books
Novels
Fiction genresSuperhero, Action, Adventure, Horror, Fantasy
ImprintsComic House
New Friday
Lev Gleason Library

Lev Gleason Publications, founded by Leverett Stone Gleason (1898–1971),[1] was the publisher of a number of popular comic books during the 1940s and early 1950s, including Daredevil Comics, Crime Does Not Pay, and Boy Comics. In 2021, Lev Gleason was revived by Fadi Hakim, and acquired the former Chapterhouse Comics and Anglo-American Publishing.

Background[edit]

Lev Gleason Publications, founded by Leverett Gleason in 1939,[2] was based in Manhattan, New York City, and was among the first to produce comic books aimed at an adult audience.[citation needed] He labeled some of his books "illustories" to suggest that they were a new, different form.[citation needed]

Gleason began his career in 1931 as an artist and advertising director for Open Road for Boys magazine. from 1932 to circa 1934, he served as advertising manager under Harry Wildenberg at Eastern Color Printing, a printer that became a comics-publishing pioneer in 1933 with the first American comic books. Becoming an editor at the newspaper syndicate United Feature, Gleason in 1936 launched the early comic book Tip Top Comics, which ran through 1938.[1] He later became business manager at publisher Dan Gilmor's company Your Guide Publications, Inc., which was affiliated with Gilmor's Friday, Inc. and New Friday, Inc.[3][4]

Gleason, the treasurer of New Friday,[1] purchased the comic-book series Silver Streak Comics and Daredevil Comics (no relation to the Marvel Comics character Daredevil) from that company circa 1942.[3] Under the imprint Comic House Inc., Gleason continued the numbering of Silver Streak Comics with a crime comic, Crime Does Not Pay, which premiered with issue #22 (cover-dated July 1942).[5] Also that year, Gleason briefly published the left-wing political magazine Reader's Choice.[1]

The first and most successful crime comic, Crime Does Not Pay spawned dozens of imitators. Gleason's crime titles (along with horror titles produced by EC Comics) became targets of increasing criticism of the influence of comic books. This pressure led to the formation in 1948 of the Association of Comics Magazine Publishers (ACMP) in an effort to avoid external regulation. Gleason was a founding member. The ACMP was the first step toward the establishment of the Comics Code Authority in 1954.

In April 1949, Lev Gleason Publications — at this point located ar 114 East 32nd Street in Manhattan — began publishing a comics magazine for adults, Tops, carrying "stories illustrated in the style and technique of comic strips."[6] The first-issue features included an excerpt from the Billy Rose book Wine, Women and Words.[6]

Gleason went out of business in 1956. Its final publications were the teen-humor comic Jim Dandy #3 (Sept. 1956), and the children's Western comedy Shorty Shiner #3 (Oct. 1956). Both were published under the imprint Dandy Magazines Inc., as A Dandy Comic.[7]

Revival[edit]

Lev Gleason® Incorporated emerged as a new entity after Lev Gleason Publications ceased operations, introducing four distinct imprints inspired by the legacy of the renowned publisher: COMIC HOUSE, COMIC HOUSE ARCHIVES, LEV GLEASON LIBRARY, and NEW FRIDAY. These imprints manage distribution through Diamond Comics, Diamond Books, and Ingram Content Group.

The journey commenced in 2020 with the release of "AMERICAN DAREDEVIL," a comprehensive biography of Lev Gleason published by Chapterhouse Publishing and authored by Brett Dakin, Gleason’s great-nephew. The biography delves into Gleason's life and his role as a progressive activist, drawing from family archives and FBI files.

COMIC HOUSE, reminiscent of Gleason’s early ventures, merges existing Chapterhouse superhero properties with reboots of classic Gleason characters like Silver Streak, Crimebuster, and Daredevil. The imprint introduces a monthly 80-page anthology titled "Lev Gleason Presents," debuting in April 2021.

COMIC HOUSE ARCHIVES is dedicated to the restoration and publication of Lev Gleason's complete line of books, starting with its superhero archives, with a commitment to providing digitally restored collections for free on the company's website.

The LEV GLEASON LIBRARY, inspired by Gleason’s eponymous imprint, focuses on prose works. Its first release, "Death Takes Centre Stage featuring Daredevil" by D.K. Latta, was launched in April 2021.

NEW FRIDAY serves as a platform for creator-owned books, paying homage to one of Lev Gleason’s early companies. The imprint debuted with "HΩME Volume 1" by the Michaud Brothers, with additional titles scheduled for release.[8]

Characters and Creators[edit]

Character Debut Modern Age Debut Creator
Captain Canuck (Tom Evans) Captain Canuck 001 (July 1975) Captain Canuck 001 (May 2015) Richard Comely & Ron Leishman
Captain Canuck (Darren Oak) Example Example Example
Captain Canuck (David Semple) Example Example Example
Commander Steel (Bryan Dwyer) Example Example Example
Captain Battle (Juan Baca) Example Example Example
Example Example Example Example
Example Example Example Example
Example Example Example Example
Example Example Example Example
Example Example Example Example

Personnel[edit]

Beginning December 15, 1947, Lev Gleason Publications' advertising director was Gilbert G. Southwick, who had resigned as food advertising manager for Seventeen magazine.[9] He left in September the following year to become vice president and general manager of the Roselle Park, New Jersey, toy manufacturer Childhood Interests, Inc.[10] In 1953, Gleason vice president E.A. Piller resigned to open his own office as a publishers' representative, with Gleason among his clients.[11]

List of Lev Gleason Publications titles[edit]

Comic House[edit]

Main article: List of Comic House Titles
  • Captain Canuck (2015 - Present)
  • The Pitiful Human-Lizard (2015 - 2018)
  • Northguard (2016 - Present)
  • Agents of P.A.C.T. (2017)
  • Fantomah (2017 - Present)
  • Freelance (2017 - Present)
  • Fallen Suns
  • Canuck Beyond (2020 - Present)
  • Captain Battle (2020 - Present)
  • "The Greatest Name in Comics" Daredevil (2021 - Present)
  • Silver Streak (2021 - Present)
  • Equilibrium (2022 - Present)
  • West Coast Canuck (2023 - Present)
  • Crimebuster (2023 - Present)
  • PACT Academy (Upcoming)
  • Paradox Arms (Upcoming)
  • Pirate Prince Sabre (Upcoming)
  • The Deadly Dozen (Upcoming)
  • Young Robinhood (Upcoming)
  • Star Rise (Upcoming)
  • Kane's Crusaders (Upcoming)
  • Crime: The Casefiles of Dr. Destine (Upcoming)
  • The Completely Ordinary Family Hale (Upcoming)[12]

New Friday[edit]

Main article: List of New Friday Titles
  • Fantomesque
  • Hero Business Compendium
  • 1903 Manhunt
  • Red Leaves
  • Frog Boy
  • The Pursuer
  • Scratcher
  • The 5100
  • Home
  • The Fourth Planet
  • Celery Stalks
  • Minerva's Map
  • Blood & Motor Oil
  • Frankenaut
  • Overshare (Upcoming)
  • 5 Hundred
  • Eki
  • I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp
  • Pieces of Hate
  • Black Sheep (Upcoming)
  • Good Bastard (Upcoming)
  • Nash (Upcoming)[13]

Lev Gleason Library[edit]

Main article: List of Lev Gleason Library Titles
  • American Daredevil: Comics, Communism, and the Battles of Lev Gleason (2021 Eisner nominated for Best Comics-Related Book)
  • Death Takes Center Stage: A Lev Gleason Daredevil Novel
  • The "I" of the Needle: A Captain Canuck Novel
  • Deadly Waters: A Silver Streak Novel[14]

Golden Age Archives[edit]

Main article: List of Comic House Archive Titles
  • Adventures in Wonderland (1955 - 1956) 5 Issues
  • Black Diamond Western (1949 - 1956) 52 Issues
  • Boy Comics (1942 - 1956) 117 Issues
    • Giant Boy Book of Comics (1945) 1 Issue
    • Squeeks (1953 - 1954) 5 Issues
    • Slugger (1956) 1 Issue
  • Boy Loves Girl (1952 - 1956) 33 Issues
  • Boy Meets Girl (1950 - 1952) 24 Issues
  • Buster Crabbe (1953 - 1954) 4 Issues
  • Captain Battle Comics (1941) 2 Issues
  • Captain Battle Jr. (1943 - 1944) 2 Issues
  • Crime and Penalty (1948) 1 Issues
  • Crime and Punishment (1948 - 1955) 74 Issues
  • Crime Does Not Pay (1942 - 1955) 126 Issues
    • Crime Does Not Pay Annual (1953) 1 Issue
    • Best of Crime Does Not Pay (1944 - 1952) 2 Issues
  • Cutie Pie (1955 - 1956) 5 Issues
  • Daredevil Comics (1941 - 1956) 134 Issues
    • Dilly (1953) 3 Issues
  • Desperado (1948 - 1949) 8 Issues
  • Dime Comics (1946) 1 Issue
  • Fun Yearbook (1945) 2 Issues
  • Horsefeathers (1947 - 1948) 4 Issues
  • Jim Dandy (1956) 3 Issues
  • Lovers' Lane (1949 - 1954) 41 Issues
  • Shorty Shiner (1956) 3 Issues
  • Silver Streak Comics (1939 - 1946) 23 Issues
  • Spooky Mysteries (1946) 1 Issue
  • Tops (1949) 2 Issues
  • Uncle Charlie's Fables (1952) 5 Issues[15]


References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Bails, Jerry; Ware, Hames, eds. "Gleason, Lev". Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2014. {{cite web}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Comics through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas [4 volumes] by M. Keith Booker, p. 163
  3. ^ a b Lev Gleason: Your Guide Publications, Inc. (Indicia Publisher) at the Grand Comics Database. "Your Guide Publications, Inc. is not an actual division of Lev Gleason. It was a company owned by Arthur Bernard and Morris Latzen which published comics in 1939-1941, and in 1946."
  4. ^ Lev Gleason: New Friday Publications, Inc. (Indicia Publisher) at the Grand Comics Database
  5. ^ Crime Does Not Pay (Lev Gleason, 1942 Series) at the Grand Comics Database
  6. ^ a b "Advertising News and Notes: Notes". The New York Times. April 4, 1949. Retrieved April 20, 2013. Abstract only; full article requires payment or subscription
  7. ^ Lev Gleason Publications at the Grand Comics Database
  8. ^ https://www.levgleason.com/about
  9. ^ "Advertising News and Notes: Personnel". The New York Times. December 10, 1947. Retrieved April 20, 2013. Abstract only; full article requires payment or subscription
  10. ^ "Business Notes". The New York Times. September 6, 1948. Retrieved April 20, 2013. Abstract only; full article requires payment or subscription
  11. ^ "Advertising & Marketing News". The New York Times. April 20, 1953. Retrieved April 20, 2013. Abstract only; full article requires payment or subscription
  12. ^ https://comichouse.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Comic_Series
  13. ^ https://www.levgleason.com/newfriday
  14. ^ https://www.levgleason.com/lev-gleason-library
  15. ^ https://www.comics.org/publisher/77/

External links[edit]

Category:Comic book publishing companies of the United States Category:Defunct comics and manga publishing companies Category:Crime comics

  1. ^ Brett Dakin (2020). "American Daredevil: Comics, Communism, and The Battles of Lev Gleason. Chapterhouse Publishing. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
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