Skip to main content

Publishers & history

Atlas Comics: Marvel's 1950s horror, fantasy and science-fiction anthologies

Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Short answerAtlas was the name Martin Goodman's comics line used through the 1950s, between Timely and Marvel, after the Atlas News Company that distributed it. It published dozens of genre anthologies — Journey into Unknown Worlds, Strange Tales, Journey into Mystery, Adventures into Terror, Menace, Uncanny Tales — with art by Bill Everett, Joe Maneely, Russ Heath, Gene Colan, John Romita and Jack Kirby. Pre-Code Atlas horror is collected in its own right, and several Atlas anthologies later housed the Silver Age Marvel debuts.

The anthologies

TitleYearsLater significance
Journey into Unknown Worlds1950–1957Pre-Code science fiction and horror; began by continuing Teen Comics' numbering (#36–38), then restarted at #4 in 1951
Strange Tales1951–1968Later the home of the Human Torch, Doctor Strange (#110) and Nick Fury (#135)
Journey into Mystery1952–1966Later the home of Thor (#83)
Menace1953–1954Pre-Code horror; #1 has Everett, Heath and Maneely art
Tales to Astonish, Tales of Suspense1959–Started as monster books at the very end of the Atlas era; later Ant-Man, Hulk, Iron Man and Captain America

Pre-Code Atlas horror

Before the 1954 Code, Atlas published more horror titles than any other company. The best issues — with Everett, Maneely and Heath covers — are valued alongside EC and Harvey pre-Code horror, though Atlas stories are generally less celebrated than EC's. A Journey into Unknown Worlds #10 (1952) in CGC 8.0 is in the store.

The 1957 collapse

Goodman closed Atlas News in late 1956 and moved to American News Company, which collapsed within months. Goodman was forced into a distribution deal with Independent News — owned by DC — that limited him to eight titles a month for years. The company that survived that squeeze was the one Lee and Kirby rebuilt from 1961.

Dating an Atlas book

The Atlas globe logo appeared on covers from late 1951 to 1957; the Comics Code seal appears from 1955. The indicia names one of many Goodman shell companies rather than "Atlas".

See A short history of Marvel Comics and browse Atlas Comics in the store.

Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.

In the vault right now

Browse all listings →
SaleKey issueLast copy

Marvel Comics · Silver Age

Strange Tales #135

CGC 7.0 · Universal Blue

First appearance of Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

(0)
$1,203$1,473
Key issueLast copy

Marvel Comics · Silver Age

Strange Tales #110

CBCS 5.0 · Universal Blue

First appearance of Doctor Strange

(0)
$2,301
SaleKey issueLast copy

Atlas Comics · Golden Age

Journey Into Unknown Worlds #10

CGC 8.0 · Universal Blue

Pre-Code Atlas science fiction and horror

(0)
$820$1,080
Key issueLast copy

Marvel Comics · Silver Age

Journey Into Mystery #84

CGC 6.0 · Universal Blue

Second appearance of Thor; first appearance of Jane Foster

(0)
$2,412.70

Keep reading

  • Collecting

    What are the ages of comic books? Golden, Silver, Bronze, Copper and Modern explained

    Collectors divide American comics into eras: the Golden Age (1938 to the mid-1950s), the Silver Age (1956 to about 1970), the Bronze Age (about 1970 to 1985), the Copper Age (about 1985 to 1991) and the Modern Age (1991 to today). The boundaries are conventions rather than official dates, but each era has its own print runs, survival rates, paper and pricing, which is why listings and price guides always state one.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Collecting

    What was the Comics Code Authority?

    The Comics Code Authority (CCA) was a self-regulation body set up by American comic publishers in 1954, after a public campaign against crime and horror comics and a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing that year. Its seal on a cover certified that the contents met the Code's content rules. The Code ended the pre-Code horror era, was loosened in 1971 and 1989, and was abandoned by Marvel in 2001 and by DC and Archie in 2011, after which it ceased to exist.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • News

    The most expensive comic books ever sold: documented record sales

    The record for a single comic is 6 million dollars, paid for a CGC 8.5 copy of Action Comics #1 (1938) at Heritage Auctions in April 2024. Other documented milestone sales include a CGC 7.0 Superman #1 at 5.3 million dollars (private sale, 2022), a CGC 9.6 Amazing Fantasy #15 at 3.6 million dollars (Heritage, September 2021), a CGC 8.5 Action Comics #1 at 3.25 million dollars (ComicConnect, April 2021) and a CGC 9.4 Captain America Comics #1 at 3.12 million dollars (Heritage, April 2022).

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Characters

    What is the first appearance of Superman?

    Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1, cover-dated June 1938 and on sale in April 1938, created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster and published by Detective Comics, Inc., the company that became DC Comics. It is the first superhero comic and the most valuable comic book in the world: a CGC 8.5 copy sold for 6 million dollars in April 2024.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Characters

    What is the first appearance of Batman?

    Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27, cover-dated May 1939, in a six-page story titled “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate”, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and published by Detective Comics, Inc. (DC). Finger, who wrote the story and shaped the costume, was officially credited by DC as co-creator from 2015. A CGC 8.0 copy sold for 1.5 million dollars at Heritage Auctions in January 2022.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Characters

    What is the first appearance of Captain America?

    Captain America first appeared in Captain America Comics #1, cover-dated March 1941 and on sale in December 1940, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby for Timely Comics, the company that became Marvel. The issue is famous for its cover of Cap punching Adolf Hitler, published a year before the United States entered the Second World War, and it also introduced Bucky and the Red Skull. A CGC 9.4 copy sold for 3.12 million dollars at Heritage Auctions in April 2022.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026