Flash
Comics #1 Ashcan Edition (Fawcett, January1940) The first half of the
Grand-daddies of the ashcan books, Flash Comics (see its companion Thrill
Comics) ended the long-standing mystery of Whiz #1. For years,
no one could explain whatever happened to the first issue of Whiz
until the mid-'80s, when someone stumbled upon multiple copies of two
strange-looking books with Capt. Marvel on the cover. Both were
identical except for the titles; one was called Flash (eight existing
copies), and the other Thrill (three existing copies). The interior
was composed of pages 1-7 and 13 of the Captain Marvel story from
Whiz #2, yet he carried the name of Captain Thunder. Fawcett
apparently made a mad dash to copyright these two titles, but was
beaten to the punch by DC (who nabbed Flash) and Nedor (who scored
Thrilling). Even Captain Thunder's name was scrapped, thanks to Terry
Thunder at Fiction House. Regrouping, Fawcett finally got their act
together and put out Whiz Comics a month later, re-lettering Capt.
Marvel's name throughout the story.
