Imagine reading comics in early 1938. You have titles that had cowboys and detectives and funnies. There were no superheroes yet. Imagine reading your copy of New Adventure Comics #27,which in itself says how long comics had been going if it was published monthly or semi-monthly, in 1938 and coming on this ad for a new comic book series. It featured a guy who lifted a car above his head. It was phenomenal at the time. Trying to put myself in that position, I just get shivers. Superman was first appearing, and he was not a smash yet. He had been denied publication in other magazines. National Comics took a chance on him. Just imagine being a kid. Would I have thought, "Ah, no way!" Would I have wondered how he could do that? Would I have said, "Neato." Regardless, another comic book would have been great. It featured other stories besides Superman. Action Comics #1 was on its way.
The next issue of New Adventure Comics, #28, came and again there was an ad for the next Action Comics. Superman was already pushed off the cover. The publisher didn't trust in Superman as a sales generator yet and went with one of their tried and true adventure strips as a cover. Imagine a world where Superman wasn't on the cover of his only magazine.
This is history.
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