MLJ Magazines: the Golden Age superhero publisher that became Archie
Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 1 min read
Short answerMLJ Magazines was founded in 1939 by Maurice Coyne, Louis Silberkleit and John Goldwater (the initials) and published Golden Age superheroes — the Shield in Pep Comics #1 (January 1940), the first patriotic hero, and Steel Sterling in Zip Comics #1 (February 1940). Archie Andrews debuted in Pep Comics #22 (December 1941) and so outsold the heroes that the company renamed itself Archie Comic Publications in 1946.
The superhero years
MLJ's first title was Blue Ribbon Comics (November 1939). Pep Comics introduced the Shield, a red-white-and-blue hero fourteen months before Captain America. Zip Comics starred Steel Sterling; Top-Notch Comics had the Black Hood and Bob Phantom. The company also published the Hangman and the Wizard, and its covers ran to lurid crime and torture scenes that make certain issues prized by Golden Age collectors.
Archie
Bob Montana's Archie, introduced as a backup in Pep Comics #22, became the cover feature within a year and had his own title by 1942. By 1946 the humour line dominated and the name changed. The superheroes were revived periodically — as the Mighty Comics line in the 1960s, Red Circle in the 1980s, and Dark Circle in the 2010s.
Collecting MLJ
- Pep Comics #1 — first Shield; a major Golden Age key.
- Pep Comics #22 — first Archie; one of the most valuable Golden Age books outside the superhero genre.
- Zip Comics — early issues are scarce; a Zip Comics #3 in CBCS 3.5 is in the store.
- Pep Comics #17, #36 and other classic covers — collected for the covers as much as the contents.
Browse MLJ Magazines in the store and the Golden Age collection.
Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.
