The Presentation and Representation of Police Officers in comic books – The 1930’s

Guest blog by Sergeant Clayton Brown

The 1930’s – The ‘Golden Age’ of comic books

In 1931, the New York Police Department initiated ‘modern’ communication systems such as implementing use of the teletypewriter system. This new system would be used to coordinate the efforts of all police departments, State and Municipal (reference New York State Website). In 1933, the NY State police began operating its own AM Radio Station and some of the cars at that time were equipped to hear the broadcasts. By the end of the decade, all vehicles would be equipped to hear the broadcasts. In 1934, female NYCPD officers began to have pistol practice with male officers. In 1935, the Legislature in New York State authorized the formation of a dedicated Bureau of Investigation to provide investigative expertise and assistance to local departments. In 1938, the first civil service exam for the title ‘policewoman’ was given. Almost 5,000 women took the exam and of the 5,000 women taking the exam 300 were successful in passing it. In Ontario in 1939, the OPP was providing special protection to hydroelectric plants and supervised many volunteer organizations to protect the province (reference OPP Museum Website). And in the United States, as the decade drew to a close, there was a dramatic increase in the number of requests for assistance from the FBI and the War Department looking into espionage and subversive activities.

The 1930’s was the start of the “Golden Age” of comics. This was the start of everything that has led to where we are now, not only in terms of comic books and characters but also the precursor to digital comics and television and feature movies. All that happened back then has led to a worldwide cultural phenomenon of super-heroes, different publishing companies and franchises, products and other applications of these characters and their images. It all started back in the 1930’s and specifically 1938 and 1939 with the introduction of Batman and Superman.  

In 1933, Famous Funnies was released and it was the first publication to resemble what we know today as a ‘comic book’ in that it had a full colour cover and full colour interior pages.  Famous Funnies was either given away or sold at Woolworths Department Store (information on this is unclear). It was followed by Famous Funnies #1 (which really was #2 in terms of the title but not the format) in 1933 — a large size format with 68 pages (compared to a current comic book which is roughly 20 – 24 pages) and sold for 10 cents. Keep in mind that at that time the average person was taking home less than $25 a week and at that time a dime could buy a meal. Even at the high cost, for the time, the first issue sold 180,000 copies. New Fun Comics #1 (which would later become DC Comics) was published in 1935 and was the first comic that contained all new material. This title would later see the first appearance of such characters as The Spectre — alter ego Detective Jim Corrigan (we’ll get to more on him in the 1940’s), Doctor Fate, Green Arrow and Aquaman. This was the first DC comic and put in motion the groundwork for the global comic industry we know today.

The two most significant comic book events of the 1930’s happened in 1938 and 1939. These were the years of the debut of the two most famous characters in the history of comics; Superman and Batman. Their importance cannot be over-emphasized. They were both instant huge hits and when Superman went from comic books to comic strips in newspapers, his appeal went from just kids to entire families. Once radio started and Superman crossed over to that new medium, the pop culture explosion had begun. He has since gone on to appear in novels, movies, clothing and his image is recognized worldwide. 

These characters are icons that cross over cultural, ethnic and social divides and the money made in print, film, and merchandizing is in the billions. It is unlikely that without these two characters being created there would be a comic industry today. It certainly would not be the same industry that we currently know. Many publishers started in the 1930’s, however of all of the publishers from that era only Marvel and DC still exist as comic publishers today. Most stopped making comics or went out of business or were absorbed by other companies as societal dictates changed over the decades. 

So, how do the police fit into the entertaining world of comic books and how were they portrayed during this era?  

We were introduced to Dick Tracy on October 4, 1931. Tracy was created by Chester Gould and arguably he was the cop that started it all. While I do believe that there would have been many other costumed superheroes without the creation of Tracy, I also believe that there would not be other police officers as lead characters or supporting characters in ongoing books. The public was fascinated by his groundbreaking trailblazing stories and the subsequent interest (albeit embellished) in Police, Detective and Crime Stories. Tracy was created as a reaction to the rampant corruption and urban decay of Depression-era America. He was a modern-day hero tasked with protecting society. He was not handsome; he had a square jaw and a broken nose and beady eyes – he certainly didn’t have leading man looks, but he didn’t need to be pretty to do his job and crush crime. He was very much a hero for the times and reflected the era and society that he was created in. If he saw corruption, he broke its jaw and if someone was being threatened, he risked life and limb to protect them. He was a very simple hero.  

He was an honourable man that used every weapon in his power to fight for justice. He set the standard for every cop, hero and vigilante that followed in his comic book footsteps over the next 80 years. His use of technology set the inspiration for Batman and James Bond and he had a rogues gallery that set the standard for future comic book heroes’ rogues galleries such as is now common in Batman, Spider-Man and other super-hero tales. Wherever crime would appear he would be there with fists swinging and guns blazing. He was not a ‘super-hero’. He was the first comic book cop and was very much in step with the generation he was created in.

 In 1939 we are introduced to Police Commissioner Jim Gordon of Gotham City. Gordon first appeared in Detective Comics #27 and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. Batman and Jim Gordon have been fighting crime for almost the same amount of time, close to 80 years, and where Gordon doesn’t have Batman’s athleticism or hi-tech weaponry, he has (had) his (at that time) revolver, his instinct and his dedication to his city and to justice. He was the first Batman support character to be introduced in the Batman book. He has faced all the assorted villains that Batman has faced and he has never backed down. He has worked with Batman to clean up the corruption in his police service and has become just as much a symbol for justice in his own way as Batman. For someone who does not let people get close to him, Gordon has always been shown as one of the most important people in Batman’s life. Through eight decades and all the different artists and writers that this character has been through, Jim Gordon has always been portrayed as the embodiment of everything that a good cop should stand for. As Police Commissioner for Gotham City, Gordon shares a deep commitment to ridding his city of crime and is typically shown as having full trust in Batman (although not always of his methods). “He is law and order personified, the tough, world-weary warrior who still believes in the badge despite everything he’s seen. Jim Gordon is good police” (The 6 Most Badass Cops in Comics – Sean Ian Mills – Henchman-4-Hire: Geeky News, reviews and rants – Webpage posted September 16^th 2019). Jim Gordon is still being used as a character 80 years later in comics, cartoons and movies.

In October 1939, we are introduced to Jim Hammond who is better known as the (original) Human Torch. He was created by Carl Burgos and first appeared in Marvel Comics #1. Ironically, the ‘Human’ Torch was actually an android that possessed the ability to surround himself with flame and fly. In his secret identity, he was a Police Officer with the New York City Police Department. For his time, the Human Torch was one of three Timely Comics, later Marvel Comics, signature characters along with Captain America and Namor. Unfortunately, unlike those other characters, the original Human Torch faded into obscurity by the 1950’s and Marvel repurposed his name to Johnny Storm, a member of the Fantastic Four. Over the years, the character has been brought back on a few occasions but he has never returned to his day job of being a police officer. In all his later portrayals, he was only shown as being a full-time super hero and then often faded away again. 

Join us next month when the ongoing special about Policing in Comics continues with a look at the 1940’s