The Canadian Whites - 1941 to 1946
April 11, 2011
When Canada declared war on Germany in 1939, it inadvertantly resulted in an embargo on U.S. based fiction literature. It caused an entertainment vacuum, which four Canadian owned publishers feverishly positioned themselves to fill. Maple Leaf Publishing, was based in Vancouver, while the other three: Anglo-American Publishing, Hillborough Studios, and Commercial Signs of
Canada, called Toronto home.
In March of 1941, Maple Leaf and Anglo-American hit newsstands, while Hillborough and Commercial Signs debuted in August and September of that year, respectively. The void left by Superman and Batman was replenished by such strange heroes, as "Robin Hood and Company", "Iron Man" (not the later Marvel hero), "The Penguin" (not the later Batman villain), "Johnny Canuck", "Freelance", "Nelvana Of The Northern Lights" and more.
The industry was a short-lived bonanza for every Canuck kid who wanted to draw comics and cartoons for a living. Out of these lucky few, emerged Adrian Dingle, Leo Bachle, Vernon Miller, Bert Bushell, Ernie Walker, Ley Fortune, Jon St. Ables, Ed Furness and Harold Town.
An earmark of the Canadian product was a rather cheap looking non-glossy full-colour cover and black and white interior. Some covers had black and white art on colored cover stock. The lack of decor didn't appear to deter the Canadian comic buying market, which easily forked over their hard-earned dimes for the fare. Publishers seemed to get richer and starry-eyed artists earned more money, as their titles got more popular.
By 1945, the imminent surrender of Hitler's Germany began to grow closer and it was clear the embargo would soon end. Recognizing the future, publishers had to decide to go big, or go home, while their artists were sending art samples and resumes to wealthier publishers south of the border.
Some Canadian publishers had chosen to cope by publishing licensed reprints of successful American comics, like Superman, Captain Marvel and Batman. Once the print and art quality of American products were back in the marketplace again, the presses that once thundered with the Canadian White were shortly silenced, never to be heard again. By 1946, the war ended, as did the Canadian White bonanza, with dime comics featuring Superman and Batman once more being carried under the arms of Canadian boys.
For more on the Canadian Whites, check out the following links:
Canadian Whites.
CBC Archives: Superheroes To Call Our Own
In March of 1941, Maple Leaf and Anglo-American hit newsstands, while Hillborough and Commercial Signs debuted in August and September of that year, respectively. The void left by Superman and Batman was replenished by such strange heroes, as "Robin Hood and Company", "Iron Man" (not the later Marvel hero), "The Penguin" (not the later Batman villain), "Johnny Canuck", "Freelance", "Nelvana Of The Northern Lights" and more.
The industry was a short-lived bonanza for every Canuck kid who wanted to draw comics and cartoons for a living. Out of these lucky few, emerged Adrian Dingle, Leo Bachle, Vernon Miller, Bert Bushell, Ernie Walker, Ley Fortune, Jon St. Ables, Ed Furness and Harold Town.
An earmark of the Canadian product was a rather cheap looking non-glossy full-colour cover and black and white interior. Some covers had black and white art on colored cover stock. The lack of decor didn't appear to deter the Canadian comic buying market, which easily forked over their hard-earned dimes for the fare. Publishers seemed to get richer and starry-eyed artists earned more money, as their titles got more popular.
By 1945, the imminent surrender of Hitler's Germany began to grow closer and it was clear the embargo would soon end. Recognizing the future, publishers had to decide to go big, or go home, while their artists were sending art samples and resumes to wealthier publishers south of the border.
Some Canadian publishers had chosen to cope by publishing licensed reprints of successful American comics, like Superman, Captain Marvel and Batman. Once the print and art quality of American products were back in the marketplace again, the presses that once thundered with the Canadian White were shortly silenced, never to be heard again. By 1946, the war ended, as did the Canadian White bonanza, with dime comics featuring Superman and Batman once more being carried under the arms of Canadian boys.
For more on the Canadian Whites, check out the following links:
Canadian Whites.
CBC Archives: Superheroes To Call Our Own
Posted by Jeff WIlson. Posted In : Canadian Comics
