History ComicBook / MarvelMysteryComics

* BreakoutCharacter: Both the [[ComicBook/HumanTorch1939 Human Torch]] and the ComicBook/SubMariner got their start in this series, and they immediately became the company's biggest stars alongside the latter ComicBook/CaptainAmerica. They ended up getting their own individual comics shortly afterwards, while also having stories in ''Marvel Mystery Comics'' -- not only that, but both characters would end up also being mainliners in the ''Human Torch'' comics, ''All Winners Comics'', ''All Select Comics'' (although Sub-Mariner would only appear in half of the issues), and the late ''Daring Comics''. The Human Torch and Toro were also featured in most of ''Captain America Comics'' Vol 1's run (where Sub-Mariner would replace them for a few issues), as well as minor ''Mystic Comics'' Vol 2 and ''Sub-Mariner Comics'' issues.

After the war's end, the success and sales of superhero comics rapidly declined: to counteract it, Timely's other former best-seller ''Franchise/CaptainAmerica'' joined the rest of the cast (replacing the long-running superhero ''Angel'') -- and later, most importantly, the anthology had a girl-centered ToneShift with the new features ''Blonde Phantom'', ''Sun Girl'' and ''Venus'', as well as the new sidekicks ''Namora'' (Sub-Mariner) and ''Golden Girl'' (Captain America) headlining covers and issues. However, that wasn't enough to recover the company's old superhero-themed success: by issue #93, the comic underwent a retool, retiring its superhero lineup in favor of an ''Creator/ECComics''-style horror anthology called ''Marvel Tales''.

** The Angel, while being a detective with no superpowers, has a costume that is obviously patterned after Franchise/{{Superman}}.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/25514c43098cb158e345740d06290e95.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Oh come on, he just wants a hug.]]

The popularity of the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks superhero genre]], as well as the patriotic impact of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, eventually removed lasting side features such as ''[[RobotSuperhero Electro]]'', ''Terry Vance the [[KidDetective School Boy Sleuth]]'' and ''[[DreamLand Jimmy Jupiter]]'' to focus in purely super-heroic characters like ''Vision'', ''Patriot'', ''Miss America'' or the sidekick-centered ''Young Allies'' along the series' mainstays ''Human Torch'', ''Sub-Mariner'' and ''Angel''. Also, during this time, Torch and Sub-Mariner became popular enough to star in many other spin-offs besides ''Marvel Mystery Comics''.

''Marvel Mystery Comics'' (Oct. 1939-Aug. 1957, 159 issues) was the first superhero comic book published by Timely Comics, which would eventually become known as Creator/MarvelComics. The first issue is the debut of both the ComicBook/SubMariner (created by Bill Everett) and the [[ComicBook/HumanTorch1939 Human Torch]] (created by Carl Burgos).[[note]]Similar in name and powers, but unrelated to the more famous [[ComicBook/HumanTorch Johnny Storm]] from decades later. This early torch would eventually be given the name Jim Hammond[[/note]]

By issue #93, the comic underwent a retool, retiring its old superhero lineup in favor of a horror anthology called ''Marvel Tales''.

In 2019, in celebration of [[MilestoneCelebration its 80th anniversary]], Marvel Comics released ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsOneThousand'', which retroactively established [[LegacyCharacter a legacy for the Masked Raider]] by revealing his mask is actually cosmic in origin.

* BreakoutCharacter: Both the [[ComicBook/HumanTorch1939 Human Torch]] and the ComicBook/SubMariner got their start in this series, and they immediately became the company's biggest stars alongside the latter ComicBook/CaptainAmerica. They ended up getting their own individual comics shortly afterwards, while also having stories in ''Marvel Mystery Comics'' -- not only that, but both characters would end up also being mainliners in the ''Human Torch'' comics, the SuperTeam ''All Winners Comics'', ''All Select Comics'' (although Sub-Mariner would only appear in half of the issues), and the late ''Daring Comics''. The Human Torch and Toro were also featured in most of ''Captain America Comics'' Vol 1's run (where Sub-Mariner would replace them for a few issues), as well as minor ''Mystic Comics'' Vol 2 and ''Sub-Mariner Comics'' issues. After the original series folded, Torch would get a [[LegacyCharacter successor]] in the form of the ComicBook/FantasticFour's Johnny Storm... Not too long afterwards, the revamped Marvel universe's success would be able to bring back the Sub-Mariner (as well as Captain America), making all of them popularity to this day.
** The Angel, while never a major hit, successfully managed to last through most of the comic's run becoming the third-longest feature after the Human Torch and Sub-Mariner, and it even managed to expand beyond ''Marvel Mystery Comics'': The Angel became ''Sub-Mariner Comics''[='=] supporting feature through most of its run, as well the attempted star of the short-lived ''Mystic Comics'' Vol 2, and even a secondary member of the first ''All Winners Comics'' teamup issue (alongside the minor character "Black Marvel" of ''Mystic Comics'' fame)[[note]]Both of them would be immediately replaced by Whizzer and The Destroyer, of ''Mystic Comics'' and ''U.S.A. Comics'' fame[[/note]].
** Miss America was also popular enough to be the only ''Marvel Mystery Comics'' star outside the Human Torch and Namor to have her own solo comic book, although her short-lived series was quickly overshadowed by the supporting feature ''ComicBook/PatsyWalker''. She was also the only woman who managed to join the ''All Select Comics'' pseudo-team during its very last issues.

* BreakoutCharacter: Both the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner got their start in this series, and both ended up getting their own individual comics. Human Torch would also make appearances in the original ''Captain America'' comics, issues of ''All Select Comics'', ''All Winners Comics'', ''Daring Comics'', ''Mystic Comics'', and ''Young Allies'' Comics. Even after their original series folded, Torch would get a [[LegacyCharacter successor]] in the form of the ComicBook/FantasticFour's [[ComicBook/HumanTorch Johnny Storm.]]
** Miss America was also popular enough to be the only ''Marvel Mystery Comics'' star outside the Human Torch and Namor to have her own comic book, although her short-lived series was quickly overshadowed by the supporting feature ''ComicBook/PatsyWalker''.

** The Patriot was basically a way to have Timely's own Captain America in ''Marvel Mystery Comics'' without having to leave his own best-selling comic book. Note that, not too long after The Patriot was removed from the comic book, Captain America and Bucky indeed became part of the anthology -- the similarities were used by Marvel writers decades later to justify a retcon where Patriot became Captain America after {{WWII}}.

* DistaffCounterpart: In the last post-war issues, the Human Torch and Captain America briefly replaced their kid sidekicks with Sun Girl (also the star of her own short-lived comic book) and Golden Girl (''Captain America''{{'}}s Betsy Ross). Namor, which never had a sidekick before, was also joined by Namorita.

* LaterInstallmentWeirdness: The series was retooled from #93 and onward into "Marvel Tales", a horror anthology series that rode the coat tails of the then hot horror series like [[Creator/ECComics Tales from the Crypt]].

* FlatCharacter: The Human Torch started off as a blank slate with a very naive outlook, but he gradually gained a personality as he made more appearances. By the end of his first story, he wises up and not only goes after the mobsters who took advantage of him, but turns his back on his own creator once he realized he planned to exploit his powers for money.

''Marvel Mystery Comics'' (Oct. 1939-Aug. 1957, 159 issues) was the first superhero comic book published by Timely Comics, which would eventually become known as Creator/MarvelComics. The first issue is the debut of both the ComicBook/SubMariner (created by Bill Everett) and the [[ComicBook/HumanTorch1939 Human Torch]] (created by Carl Burgos).[[note]]Similar in name and powers, but unrelated to the more famous [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Johnny Storm]] from decades later. This early torch would eventually be given the name Jim Hammond[[/note]]

* BreakoutCharacter: Both the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner got their start in this series, and both ended up getting their own individual comics. Human Torch would also make appearances in the original ''Captain America'' comics, issues of ''All Select Comics'', ''All Winners Comics'', ''Daring Comics'', ''Mystic Comics'', and ''Young Allies'' Comics. Even after their original series folded, Torch would get a [[LegacyCharacter successor]] in the form of [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Johnny Storm.]]

* HumanPopsicle: The Torch's creator, once he discovered his defect that sets him ablaze, seals him inside a block of concrete with no air and buries him underground until he can find a way to fix his defect. Some time after, an air shaft and crack forms in the concrete, giving the torch just enough oxygen to trigger his fire abilities and break free.

* TragicMonster: While the Human Torch definetely wasn't evil, his initial appearance was a far cry from that of a superhero--his fire abilities unwittingly cause a lot of destruction, and he even accidentally kills someone.

!Tropes:

''Marvel Mystery Comics'' (Oct. 1939-Aug. 1957, 159 issues) was the first superhero comic book published by Timely Comics, which would eventually become known as Creator/MarvelComics. The first issue is the debut of both the ComicBook/SubMariner (created by Bill Everett) and the [[ComicBook/TheHUmanTorch1939 Human Torch]] (created by Carl Burgos).[[note]]Similar in name and powers, but unrelated to the more famous [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Johnny Storm]] from decades later. This early torch would eventually be given the name Jim Hammond[[/note]]

''Marvel Mystery Comics'' (Oct. 1939-Aug. 1957, 159 issues) was the first superhero comic book published by Timely Comics, which would eventually become known as Creator/MarvelComics. The first issue is the debut of both the ComicBook/SubMariner (created by Bill Everett) and the Human Torch (created by Carl Burgos).[[note]]Similar in name and powers, but unrelated to the more famous [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Johnny Storm]] from decades later. This early torch would eventually be given the name Jim Hammond[[/note]]

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Given it's one of the oldest comics published by Marvel (as it became known later on, as these comics were actually published by its precursor, Timely Comics), there's plenty to go around:

** Instead of a comic centered on one character, it's an anthology of several different stories, some of which aren't superhero related at all. Two of them would sometimes be a cartoon comic strip and a two page prose story.
** For some reason, despite the Human Torch and the Sub Mariner obviously being the headlining stars of the first comic, several early issues tried to shill the more standard issue, vanilla superhero "The Angel" as the series main star, even giving him top billing and appearances on several covers. Once it became clear that Torch and Namor were the series real breadwinners, Angel was [[DemotedToExtra busted back down to a mere recurring character]], and vanished altogether after several more issues.

* CompilationRerelease: The first 28 issues have been reprinted across several volumes as part of Marvels hardcover Masterworks series.

* CanonDiscontinuity: The Ka-Zar stories featured in these early comics are considered non-canon to both the later Ka-Zar series, and the Marvel Universe as a whole. The Golden Age Ka-Zar was called "David Rand" and was active in Africa, while the Silver Age (and still appearing) Ka-Zar was called "Kevin Plunder" and was active in the Savage Land, a fictional region of Antarctica. Besides the shared code-name, they have little in common.

* CanonDiscontinuity: The Ka-Zar stories featured in these early comics are considered non-canon to both the later Ka-Zar series, and the Marvel Universe as a whole.

* BusCrash: The Human Torch stories had this out of the starting gate. Issue #1 introduced Professor Horton and his creation The Human Torch. At the end of the story The Torch is tired of everyone, including the professor, of using him for their own personal gain. As a result, he escapes Professor Horton's lab by burning a hole through the roof, leaving the professor behind staring in shock at what happened. The Human Torch story in issue #2 starts with recap of the events in the first story with the addition of us being told that Professor Horton was now dead, though apparently he still had the presence of mind to type up his experience while his house burned down around him. Though he would later be revived (briefly) in the 1970s, this would be his only living appearance during the Golden Age Timely/Atlas era.

** The Angel, while being a detective with no superpowers, has a costume that is obviously patterned after ComicBook/{{Superman}}.
** The Ka-Zar of these early comics is a shameless ripoff of Tarzan. His own name is just two letters shy of Tarzan's own name.
** The Masked Raider, an early western comic included in these anthologies, is also an ersatz of TheLoneRanger.

* MilestoneCelebration: On the 70th anniversary of this series, issue #1 was reprinted on it's own as a hardcover 70th anniversary edition.

* CaptainErsatz: The Angel, while being a detective with no superpowers, has a costume that is obviously patterned after ComicBook/{{Superman}}.

* TurnedAgainstTheirMasters: In the first issue, The Torch desired to return to the scientist who created him, but turned his back on him and goes it alone once he realizes he just wanted to exploit him like the mobsters he just dealt with.

** Instead of a standalone character, it's an anthology of several different stories, some of which aren't superhero related at all. Two of them are even a cartoon comic strip and a two page prose story.

''Marvel Mystery Comics'' (Oct. 1939-Aug. 1957, 159 issues) was the first superhero comic book published by Timely Comics, which would eventually become known as Marvel Comics. The first issue is the debut of both the ComicBook/SubMariner (created by Bill Everett) and the Human Torch (created by Carl Burgos).[[note]]Similar in name and powers, but unrelated to the more famous [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Johnny Storm]] from decades later. This early torch would eventually be given the name Jim Hammond[[/note]]

** Instead of a standalone character, it's an anthlogy of several different stories, some of which aren't superhero related at all. Two of them are even a cartoon comic strip and a two page prose story.

* BreakoutCharacter: Both the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner got their start in this series, and both ended up getting their own individual comics. Human Torch would also make appearances in the original ''Captain America'' comics, issues of ''All Select Comics'', ''All Winners Comics'', ''Daring Comics'', ''Mystic Comics'', and ''Young Allies'' Comics.