PLUS: The first appearances of Phantom Lady, the Human Bomb, and MORE… — (For POLICE COMICS: An 85th Anniversary Celebration in 13 COVERS, click here.) — By PETER BOSCH Less than two weeks after Quality Comics released Military Comics #1 (which introduced Blackhawk), the publisher came out with another action winner in the form of Police Comics #1 on May 14, 1941, 85 years ago. That first issue introduced a number of superheroes, including one that comic fans would cherish ever after — Plastic Man. The contents of that first issue were: Quality’s editors were quick to realize they were wrong in backing Firebrand for the cover feature and lead story. With Issue #5, his cover position was supplanted by Plastic Man, the book’s breakout star, who also took over the lead story spot in #9. Firebrand was out of the book completely after 1942’s Issue #13. Creator Jack Cole’s wacky creativity made Plastic Man one of the best comic book features of the entire Golden Age. The popularity of the stretchable sleuth was such that he would continue to retain the cover spot through #102 (Oct. 1950). In addition, he was spun off into his own title for 64 issues. The next major star of the series was Will Eisner’s The Spirit, who joined the title in Police Comics #11 (Sept. 1942). Though the strips were reprints from the character’s famed Sunday newspaper sections, he would remain a steady feature for almost all issues through #102. His adventures in Police Comics were supplemented by a separate Quality title of his own that ran for 22 issues between 1944 and 1950. In late 1950, there was a major shift in Police Comics’ content. With Issue #103 (Dec. 1950), the series shelved costumed heroes and pivoted to tales of government agents, private detectives and, fittingly, police officers. The lead feature for the series was now “Ken Shannon, Private Eye,” with the other successful feature being “T-Man” (starring U.S. Treasury Agent Pete Trask). Both characters soon received their own titles. Police Comics finally came to an end with 1953’s Issue #127 (the only time “T-Man” got the cover). Of course, this was not the end for many of the costumed heroes appearing in the title. When Quality decided to stop publishing comics in 1956, DC Comics acquired several of their properties —...