Quality Comics was a major force in the Golden Age of Comic Books, operating from 1937 to 1956. The company produced many titles and characters that are still recognized and appreciated today. Quality Comics was founded by Everett M. « Busy » Arnold, a printer who saw the potential of the comic book medium. In 1937, Arnold formed Comic Favorites, Inc. with three newspaper syndicates, which published Feature Funnies. This publication was the start of a series of comics that would become an important part of American pop culture.

Quality Comics was responsible for some of the most iconic characters of the Golden Age. These characters include Blackhawk, G.I. Combat, Heart Throbs, Military Comics/Modern Comics, Plastic Man, Police Comics, Smash Comics, and The Spirit. Quality Comics published many titles, and the quality of the comics they produced was apparent in the popularity of their characters.

Quality Comics had some of the most notable creators of the Golden Age of Comics. Jack Cole, Reed Crandall, Will Eisner, Lou Fine, Gill Fox, Paul Gustavson, Bob Powell, and Wally Wood were all associated with the company. These creators helped shape the style and storytelling of comics, influencing generations of artists and writers.

Quality Comics was known for its dedication to producing quality comics. The company would buy features from Eisner & Iger, a prominent « packager » that produced comics on demand for publishers. Quality introduced such superheroes as Plastic Man and Kid Eternity, as well as non-superhero characters like Blackhawk.

The name Quality Comics first appeared on the cover of Crack Comics #5 (Sept. 1940). The Quality Comics Group was a trademarked name, encompassing Comic Favorites Inc., E.M. Arnold Publications, Smash Comics, and any other imprints owned by Arnold. By the mid-1950s, however, interest in Quality’s characters had declined considerably, and the company ceased operations with comics cover-dated December 1956.

Many of Quality’s character and title trademarks were sold to National Comics Publications, now DC Comics. DC Comics kept only four series running: Blackhawk, G.I. Combat, Heart Throbs, and Robin Hood Tales. The original copyrights for Quality’s publications have never been renewed by either Arnold or DC, leaving those original stories in the public domain. The trademarks to the characters, and to the titles of the various comic book series, however, were sold to DC in late 1956.

In conclusion, Quality Comics was a major publisher of the Golden Age of Comics. The company produced some of the most iconic characters of the era, and its dedication to quality comics set a standard for the industry. The influence of Quality Comics can still be seen today in the comic book industry.