MORE Legendary Comic Book Publishers Brought Back to Life by PS Artbooks
- PS Artbooks
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
At PS Artbooks, we pride ourselves on preserving and republishing the incredible legacy of comic book storytelling—from the daring days of the Golden Age through the raw energy of the pre-Code era. While some names loom large in comic book history, others have faded into obscurity despite publishing extraordinary material.
We’re on a mission to bring these lost treasures back into the spotlight, delivering lovingly restored editions for new generations to enjoy. Let’s take a look at some of the legendary but often-overlooked publishers whose work we’ve brought back to life.
Harry A. Chesler Comics (World’s Greatest Comics)
Notable Titles: Dynamic Comics, Punch Comics, Bulls Eye Comics, Yankee Comics
Often hailed as the first comic book packager, Harry A. Chesler was a pioneer in the comic book industry. Rather than a traditional publisher, Chesler operated a studio that supplied entire books to publishers like Centaur, MLJ, and others.
His studio incubated a host of comic legends, including Charles Biro, Jack Cole, and Otto Binder. Characters such as Dynamic Man and the Green Knight brought fast-paced, no-holds-barred action to eager readers. The covers—often hyper-stylized and brimming with Golden Age charm—remain iconic today.
Comic Media
Notable Titles: Horrific, Weird Terror, Danger, War Fury
Short-lived but stylistically bold, Comic Media emerged in the early 1950s and quickly built a reputation for high-impact horror and action titles. Founded by Allen Hardy, the company employed a small but talented group of creators, including the legendary Don Heck.
The covers of Horrific alone are among the most memorable of the pre-Code era—often grotesque, dramatic, and surreal. Comic Media’s books pushed boundaries in both visuals and tone, making them cult classics among collectors today.
Fox Feature Syndicate
Notable Titles: Blue Beetle, Rulah - Jungle Goddess, Phantom Lady, Weird Comics
Victor Fox, the so-called “King of the Comics,” was an early and flamboyant figure in the Golden Age. A former accountant at DC Comics, he launched Fox Feature Syndicate in 1939 and quickly made waves.
Fox’s books were full of energy, pulp-inspired spectacle, and eye-popping covers. Blue Beetle was one of the earliest and most popular superheroes of the era. Other titles, such as Rulah, exemplified the “good girl” art trend and jungle adventure craze of the 1940s.
Hillman Publications
Founded by Alex L. Hillman, Hillman Publications was notable for combining high adventure with vivid, stylised storytelling. Though best known for their aviation hero Airboy, Hillman also published crime, romance, and war comics with consistent quality.
Airboy remains a standout character of the Golden Age—unique for his youthful energy, mysterious flying machine “Birdie,” and memorable villains like Valkyrie. Hillman’s crime titles, meanwhile, prefigured the gritty realism that Lev Gleason and others would perfect.
Stanley Morse (Key Publications)
Notable Titles: Weird Tales of the Future, Weird Mysteries, Mister Mystery
Stanley Morse was an independent publisher who thrived in the pre-Code horror boom of the 1950s. Operating under several imprints—Key, Aragon, and Gillmor—Morse’s output was raw, eerie, and often unsettling.
Morse’s comics were infamous for grotesque covers and brutal morality tales. These titles have become symbols of the lurid excesses that helped prompt the Comics Code Authority. Today, they're highly sought-after by collectors for their unfiltered horror aesthetic.
Lev Gleason Publications
Notable Titles: Daredevil, Crime Does Not Pay, Boy Comics, Crime and Punishment
Lev Gleason revolutionized the comic book industry by merging adult sensibilities with comic storytelling. With a team that included Charles Biro and Bob Wood, Gleason’s publications often tackled real-world issues and gritty narratives.
Crime Does Not Pay is considered the first true crime comic and helped spark an entire genre. Gleason's Daredevil (not to be confused with Marvel’s character) stood out with an all-kid sidekick team and wartime stories that didn't shy away from violence or social commentary.
Prize Comics Group
Notable Titles: Frankenstein, The Black Owl, Black Magic, Young Romance (co-created by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby)
An imprint of Crestwood Publications, Prize was one of the most versatile and forward-thinking comic publishers of its time. They produced romance, horror, superheroes, and early horror hybrids that stretched the medium’s boundaries.
With Simon and Kirby at the helm, Young Romance pioneered the romance genre in comics, selling millions of copies. Their contributions to Prize’s output also helped bridge superhero narratives with more mature emotional storytelling.
Skywald Publications
Though short-lived, Skywald made a big impact in the early 1970s. Founded by Sol Brodsky and Israel Waldman, the publisher embraced the magazine format to avoid the constraints of the Comics Code.
Skywald’s “Horror-Mood” branding emphasised psychological and existential horror, setting them apart from their more visceral competitors. Their black-and-white artwork and literary tone made them favourites among horror aficionados.
Standard Comics
Notable Titles: Startling Comics, Wonder Comics, The Unseen, Thrilling Comics
Standard (also known as Better Publications and Nedor Comics) was a prolific publisher whose output spanned nearly every genre popular at the time. Their stable of superheroes helped define the early 1940s.
error, Pyroman, and Miss Masque thrilled readers with daring exploits and vibrant artwork. Many of these heroes have been revived in modern series, but it’s the originals that still carry that Golden Age spark.
Ziff-Davis
Notable Titles: Lars of Mars, Space Busters, The Crime Clinic, Amazing Adventures
Best known for its magazine empire, Ziff-Davis also produced a line of vibrant and polished comics in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Their books were slick, science fiction-focused, and richly illustrated.
Ziff-Davis’ sci-fi books, particularly Weird Thrillers, featured imaginative alien worlds and pulp-flavored suspense. Their short time in comics left a visually rich and innovative legacy.
Preserving Comic Book History, One Page at a Time
Each of these publishers brought something unique to the comic book landscape—whether it was bold horror, pioneering crime stories, early superheroes, or lushly illustrated science fiction. At PS Artbooks, we’re thrilled to give these once-forgotten masterpieces the deluxe treatment they deserve.
With beautifully restored artwork and faithfully reproduced stories, our hardcovers and slipcase editions ensure that these comics will be enjoyed not just as historical artefacts, but as thrilling reads for collectors and fans alike.
Rediscover the raw imagination, daring art, and golden storytelling of these legendary publishers—one page at a time.
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