Four Color

Dell’s Four Color (1939–1942) was an early, wide-ranging anthology series that served as a testing ground for one-shots and short runs, often adapting popular newspaper strips into comic book form. Over its 25-issue run, the series was most prominently shaped by Chester Gould, who wrote and drew many of the entries, while artists Al Taliaferro and Leon A. Beroth also contributed heavily. Though it predates the more famous Four Color series that began in 1942, this initial volume is notable for bringing a variety of licensed and original material to newsstands, showcasing the talents of some of the era’s top cartoonists.