Posted By Dan Greenfield on Aug 6, 2025 | 3 comments

Scott and Dan hit up the comics racks from 80 years ago…

This week for RETRO HOT PICKS, Scott Tipton and I are selecting comics that came out the week of Aug. 6, 1945.

Last time for RETRO HOT PICKS, it was the week of July 30, 1984. Click here to check it out.

(Keep in mind that comics came out on multiple days, so these are technically the comics that went on sale between Aug. 1 and Aug. 10. We’re stretching the definition of a week this time around.)

So, let’s set the scene: The defining moment of the 20th century and, not to put too fine a point on it, the last major turning point in human history — on August 6, the United States dropped an atom bomb on Hiroshima to try to force the Japanese to surrender and end World War II.

In a fairly short press release, President Truman said that an atomic bomb with “more power than 20,000 tons of TNT” had been dropped on the city. At first, the public was unaware of the real impact of the weapon: The release did not mention radiation poisoning, so at first it appeared that this was just a more powerful version of a regular bomb.

It’s even more terrifying to know that’s not the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima. It’s smoke from a raging firestorm wrought by the atom bomb.

The next day, Radio Tokyo reported on the attack, without specifics. Imperial Japanese headquarters made reference to a “new type of bomb”; the U.S. itself wasn’t able to immediately determine the impact because of an impenetrable cloud over the city. But it wasn’t long before the level of devastation would be understood. On August 8, Radio Tokyo gave details of the attack and said the U.S. used tactics that “have surpassed in hideous cruelty those of Genghis Khan.”

The Nazis surrendered in the spring, but even after Hiroshima, the Japanese refused to give up. On August 9, the Americans dropped a second atomic bomb, on Nagasaki. Finally, on August 15, Emperor Hirohito agreed to capitulate and V-J Day was celebrated in the West. (The formal signing of the surrender was Sept. 2.)

The famous photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt

Depending on your source, between 90,000 and 146,000 were killed in Hiroshima, and between 39,000 and 80,000 were killed in Nagasaki. It’s impossible to overstate it, so I won’t even try: The world would never be the same.

IN OTHER NEWS

— On Aug. 8, the Nuremberg Charter was released, outlining the policies and proceduries for the Nuremberg Trials.

— On the same day, the U.S. ratified the United Nations Charter. By the fall, enough countries would do the same, creating the U.N.

— Even before World War II was over, the seeds of the Cold War were being sown. Stalin’s power in Eastern Europe was solidifying and on Aug. 4, the Soviets gave a plaque as a gift to W. Averell Harriman, the U.S. ambassador to the USSR. Inside was “The Thing” — one of the earliest bugging devices. It would not be discovered for seven years.

Big movies included Anchors Aweigh, starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, whose dance routine with Jerry Mouse is the stuff of Hollywood legend; The Story of G.I. Joe, starring Burgess Meredith as Ernie Pyle, with Robert Mitchum in a star-making supporting role; and, Christmas in Connecticut, starring Barbara Stanwyck.

Popular radio shows of the time included programs hosted by Bing Crosby and Bob Hope; The Lucky Strike Program Starring Jack Benny; The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show; The Charlie McCarthy Show; Fibber McGee and Molly; The Lone Ranger; The Green Hornet… and The Adventures of Superman.

1942

Among the big radio hits were On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe by Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra; Sentimental Journey by Les Brown and His Orchestra with Doris Day; There! I’ve Said It Again by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra with Vaughn Monroe and the Norton Sisters; and Till the End of Time, by Perry Como with Russ Case and His Orchestra.

The King Cole Trio, Glenn Miller, and the original Broadway cast recording of Carousel were popular albums.

—

Batman #31, DC. The oldest comic book in my collection, and not just a great Dick Sprang cover, it’s one of the greatest Batman covers ever. In this issue, the Dynamic Duo battle Punch and Judy, there’s an Alfred solo story (remember those?), plus two other Batman and Robin adventures.

Scott adds: Oddly abstract for its time, no?

—

Sensation Comics #46, DC. Wonder Woman was the lead feature, sure, but don’t forget the backups: Wildcat, Mr. Terrific, and Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys among them.

—

Captain Marvel Adventures #48, Fawcett. I love the idea of a superhero standing around signing autographs.

—

Captain America Comics #50, Timely. A classically crowded Alex Schomburg cover. Damn, you can get lost in those. Features a Human Torch backup amid three Cap tales.

—

Exciting Comics #41, Standard. The Black Terror has one of the all-time great costumes.

—

Jungle Comics #70, Fiction House. You can always spot a Fiction House comic a mile away. They did like their jungle girls.

—

Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics #47, Dell. Dang, I missed the 85th anniversary of Bugs Bunny’s first official appearance and I’m still kicking myself over it. Bugs is the single greatest cartoon character of all time and it occurs to me that I’ve hardly done anything on him. I’ll get on that.

—

Star Spangled Comics #49, DC. That’s Curt Swan doing his best Jack Kirby there on the Newsboy Legion. (Inked by Steve Brodie.)

—

Our Gang Comics #19, Dell. When I was a kid, they showed The Little Rascals on Channel 11 in New York. They’re often problematic by today’s standards (look at the cover) so they’ve been relegated to the dustbin of history, but damn they could be really, really funny. The cake bit in Birthday Blues is still a show-stopper.

—

Scott Tipton, contributor-at-large, 13th Dimension

Smash Comics #61, Quality. No, that’s not the Spirit. That’s Midnight. He was created at the request of Quality’s publisher in case something happened to Spirit creator Will Eisner during the war. Seriously.

—

Jumbo Comics #80, Fiction House. You can always spot a Fiction House comic a mile away. They did like their jungle girls.

—

Flash Comics #67, DC. Even in ’45, some editors knew what sold comics. Look at those teeth!