The Adventures of Dick Cole

The Adventures of Dick Cole was a 1940s comic book series, created by Bob Davis. It was published by Novelty Press, and later, Star Publications. Dick Cole is a heroic cadet at the fictional Farr Military Academy. The character was introduced in the "Origin of Dick Cole," in the first issue of Novelty Press' Blue Bolt Comics (cover-dated June 1940).

Dick Cole
Joe Certa's cover illustration for Dick Cole #5 (Novelty Press, Aug./Sept. 1949)
Publication information
PublisherNovelty Press
Star Publications
First appearanceBlue Bolt Comics #1 (June 1940)
Created byBob Davis
Dick Cole
Series publication information
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing series
GenreAdventure
Publication dateDec./Jan. (1949) 1948 – June/July 1950
Number of issues10
Creative team
Artist(s)Bob Davis, Al McWilliams, Joe Certa, Jim Wilcox, Al Fagaly, Jack Hearne
Editor(s)L.B. Cole

Publication history

Billed as "America's Number One School Star", Dick Cole starred in a backup feature in Novelty Press' Blue Bolt[1] (and later 4 Most), with regular stories about the young hero appearing until 1949. The character got his own book with five issues of Dick Cole (Novelty Press/Star Publications, 1948-1949), illustrated by L.B. Cole, Joe Certa, Jim Wilcox, Al Fagaly, Jack Hearne, and others.[2] L.B. Cole continued the title for five more issues at Star Publications in 1949–1950. (Many of the stories published in the Star issues were reprints from Blue Bolt and another Novelty Press title, Target Comics.)

Fictional character biography

Dick was an orphan left at the Farr Military Academy, and taken in by Professor Blair, who wants to bring him up to be a physical marvel. After years of training, Dick becomes super-strong and acrobatic. He uses these skills to fight crime.[3]

Radio

In 1942, the Dick Cole feature was adapted into a 30-minute syndicated juvenile adventure radio program that followed the adventures of Dick (Leon Janney) at the Farr Military Academy. When Cole wasn't winning football games, he tracked evildoers with an assist from his Academy pals Simba and Ted. The announcer was Paul Luther. Lew White provided the background music.[4] The program was transcribed and syndicated[5] by the World Broadcasting System.

Radio Daily's 1946 publication, Shows of Tomorrow, listed the transcribed series Adventures of Dick Cole at Farr Military Academy[6] as being available for the 1946-1947 radio season. The series, produced by Charles Michelson Inc., consisted of 52 half-hour episodes.[7]

References
  1. Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 109. ISBN 978-1605490892.
  2. Markstein, Don. "Dick Cole, The Boy Wonder" at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved July 11, 2008. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015.
  3. Nevins, Jess (2013). Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes. High Rock Press. p. 296. ISBN 978-1-61318-023-5.
  4. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 9.
  5. Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-09-11. The Adventures of Dick Cole.
  6. http://www.radioechoes.com/?page=series&genre=Kids&series=The%20Adventures%20Of%20Dick%20Cole
  7. "Radio Daily presents the Seventh Annual Edition of Shows of Tomorrow" (PDF). Radio Daily. 1946. p. 71. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
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