Real Fact Comics

The educational comic genre emerged as a response to criticism of comic books from a Chicago children's book author, Sterling North. In a May 1940 article for the Chicago Daily News, North referred to comics as "a poisonous mushroom growth", "sex-horror serials", and "graphic insanity".{{Cite web|url=http://crisisofinnocence.library.ryerson.ca/index.php/items/show/201|title=A National Disgrace · The Innocence Project|website=crisisofinnocence.library.ryerson.ca|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-07}} North's suggestion was to replace comic books with other forms of literature, either classic literature, or works of established children's authors. In somewhat of a rebuke to North, the Parents' Magazine Institute created True Comics, the first educational comic, in April 1941. The genre became popular with publishers by 1946,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rj2vCgAAQBAJ&q=real+fact+comics&pg=PT76|title=Creating Comics as Journalism, Memoir and Nonfiction|last1=Duncan|first1=Randy|last2=Taylor|first2=Michael Ray|last3=Stoddard|first3=David|date=2015-10-08|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317913184|language=en}}{{cite book |last=Benton |first=Mike |date=1989 |title=The Comic Book in America |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nxruAAAAMAAJ&q=%22real+fact+comics%22 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |page=41 |isbn=9780878336593}} but Real Fact Comics was DC's only effort to enter the field.{{cite book |last=Crawford |first=Hudson H |date=1978 |title=Crawford's Encyclopedia of Comic Books |location=Middle Village, New York |publisher=Johnathan David Publishers, Inc |pages=40–41 |isbn=0824602218}}

Prior to the release of the first issue, DC secured the trademark to Real Fact Comics through an ashcan mockup in February 1946 that reused black and white artwork from the cover of Boy Commandos #1. At least ten copies of the ashcan were produced, though none featured any interior pages.{{cite magazine|title=Absolutely Amazing DC Ashcans|last=Colabuono|first=Gary|page=24|date=September 1999|issue=71|publisher=Gemstone Publishing, Inc|magazine=Comic Book Marketplace|volume=2|location=Coronado, CA}}

Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, who would go on to become some of the comics industry's most influential creators, worked on stories in the first two issues of the magazine together, with Kirby returning to draw a story in issue #9.{{Cite web|url=https://www.comics.org/issue/215792/|title=GCD :: Issue :: Real Fact Comics #9|website=www.comics.org|access-date=2018-08-20}} For a time, comics historians believed the third issue contained the first letter column to appear in a DC comic,{{cite book |date=2005 |title=Heritage Comics Auctions, Dallas Signature Auction Catalog #819 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fczcDsuwJLQC&q=%22real+fact+comics%22&pg=PA106 |publisher=Heritage Capital Corporation|page=106 |isbn=9781599670218}} but older examples have since been found.{{cite book |last=Overstreet |first=Robert M |date=2011–2012 |title=Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, 41st edition |location=Timonium, Maryland |publisher=Gemstone Publishing |page=808 |isbn=9781603601337}} The sixth issue included a fan letter from science fiction writer Harlan Ellison. While not a professional work, it is his earliest known published writing. In addition to educational material covering historical figures like Harry Houdini and H. G. Wells, the anthology also included some science fiction stories with characters such as Tommy Tomorrow.{{cite book |last1=Duncan |first1=Randy |last2=Taylor |first2=Michael Ray |last3=Stoddard |first3=David |date=Oct 8, 2015 |title=Creating Comics as Journalism, Memoir and Nonfiction |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rj2vCgAAQBAJ&q=%22real+fact+comics%22&pg=PT76 |publisher=Routledge |page=31 |isbn= 9781317913184}}

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Category:DC Comics titles