YOUTHFUL/STORY/MASTER/PREMIER/WESTERN/ PIX PARADE
A circular group of owners hiding behind a lot of fake addresses. The principals are William and Sylvia Friedman, Lew Stricof and S. Wind, George Ungar and Morton Myers.  In some combination or other, they own all these titles.  Most are distributed by Leader News who probably provided financing as distributors often do.  The connection to DC is extremely tenuous.  Friedman was apparently a friend or business acquaintence Donenfeld's who may have had a financial hand in the operation.

Beginning with the 1953 cover-dated issues, 3 of these titles, Beware, Attack, and Youthful Romance are suddenly being published by Trojan Comics, but the same comics continue to appear from Youthful with new titles. This was apparently a falling out between creditors.  The "new" Youthful titles are now being published by Volitant's Adrian Lopez.  Story and Master continue to publish for another two years.

5/27/2012
 

 

 

  

1949

  
May
George Ungar, Sylvia Friedman and Lew Stricof form Western Comics. to publish Gunsmoke.  The first issue is printed in Akron, Ohio.  Leader News distributes the comics and probably finances the operation.  Harry Cohen is the editor and George Ungar is the business manager.
 
 
WESTERN
    
Sept   In Sept they add a second title, Youthful Love Romances under the imprint of Pix Parade 521 5th Ave.

     

PIX PARADE
 
 

1950

  
Jan
 
  
 
Mar   Offices are now at 33 West 42nd ST, New York, NY  
May

Indian Fighter and Youthful Love begin from Youthful Magazines.

 

YOUTHFUL

  

YOUTHFUL
Jul   Youthful Love becomes Truthful Love. Last Issue.

     

YOUTHFUL
Aug

 

 Super Western added. (Youthful Magazines)

     

YOUTHFUL
 

Youthful Love Romances becomes Youthful Romances with #5 (Pix Parade)

Redskin added (Youthful) Printed by Holyoke.

 

Sep

YOUTHFUL

  

PIX PARADE
Oct

Super Western becomes Buffalo Bill #2  
 

YOUTHFUL

    
Nov   Captain Science #1 (Youthful)

Contains early art by Wally Wood and Harry Harrison.

     

YOUTHFUL
   

1951

  
Feb

William Friedman and Morton Myers launch Story Comics with Pawnee Bill #1 at 7 East 44th ST.  
 

STORY

    
Mar

Story follows with Mysterious Adventures and Romantic Hearts

 

STORY

  

STORY
 

Gunsmoke 12 printed by Holyoke.  
 

WESTERN

    
May

Youthful offices move to 105 E 35th Street.   This is also an address used by Adrian Lopez's Volitant magazine line.  Youthful Romances is Printed by Holyoke.

Story begins Fight Against Crime

 

 

YOUTHFUL

  

STORY
Jun

Lew Stricoff starts Master Comics from 11 East 44th St.  William Friedman and Michel Estrow are co-owners according to the ownership statement in #11. Although Stricoff is listed as editor, William Friedman packages material for his comics.  Dark Mysteries 1 is his first title.  
 

MASTER

    
Aug   Buffalo Bill 7 printed by Holyoke.

     

YOUTHFUL
Oct   Stamps #1 (Youthful) 1st issue is $.15 and distributed by Leader News.

     

YOUTHFUL
   

1952

  
Jan   Gunsmoke ends with 16. Last Western  
Feb   Captain Science becomes Fantastic with issue 8. Printed by Holyoke.

 

 

  

YOUTHFUL
Apr

Stamps Comics #4 distributed by ANC- Now $.10

Mysterious Adventures 7 statement of ownership lists address as 11 East 44th (Master) instead of 7 East 44th (Story).  Indicia has Story address.

  
 

YOUTHFUL

    
May

Attack (Youthful) and Youthful Hearts begin

 

YOUTHFUL

  

YOUTHFUL
Jun   Fantastic becomes Beware!

Stamps becomes Stamp Comics (published by Stamp Comics, Inc.)

 

     

YOUTHFUL
Aug


Fighting War Stories begins from Men's (Story?). 40 West 45th ST.

 

  
 

MEN'S

    
Oct   Stamps #7. Only title distributed by ANC.

     

STAMP
Nov

Adrian Lopez takes over Youthful the company and switches distribution to Independent News. George Ungar continues as editor and business manager.  Trojan introduces new titles using the former titles of Youthful Comics. Story and Master continue to be distributed by Leader.

Youthful Hearts becomes Daring Confessions

 
 
YOUTHFUL
    
DEC

 

Youthful Romances becomes Daring Love. Printed by Holyoke.

Redskin becomes Famous Western Badmen

Beware becomes Chilling Tales

 

 
PIX PARADE
            
YOUTHFUL
YOUTHFUL
   

1953

  
Jan

Attack becomes Atomic Attack.

Thrilling Adventures in Stamps #8. Last issue. 100 pages for $.25.
 
YOUTHFUL
  

 STAMP
Apr

Daring Love and Famous Western Badmen end. Master Comics address now 40 west 45th St.

 
YOUTHFUL
  
YOUTHFUL
May
 
 		 Fighting War Stories ends with #5  
June   Story and Master Comics now printed by Charlton in Derby Ct.  
July

Romantic Hearts moves from Story to Master Comics and starts over with #1.

Last and first issues are identical.

 

STORY

  

MASTER
Sep   Jack the Giant Killer #1- only issue. From Bimfort. Distributed by ANC. 

 

105 E 35th St (Youthful's address). Art by H.C. Kiefer and David Gantz.

Appears to be Iger shop material originally intended for Classics Illustrated Jr.

Bimfort is an Adrian Lopez company.

     

BIMFORT

Oct

Last issues of Atomic Attack, Chilling Tales and Daring Confessions. End of Youthful line.

Address is now 21 West 26th Street.

Chilling Tales and Daring Confessions are printed by Holyoke.

 
YOUTHFUL
  
YOUTHFUL
YOUTHFUL
 

First Premier comic. Animal Fun in 3-D. Features Al Jaffe's Timely Comics characters. No date.  
 

PREMIER

      
   

1954

  
Mar   Nuts begins (Premier)  11 East 44th Street.  Harry Harrison Editor. Lew Stricof bus mgr. Owner SM Wind (Stricof's wife). Distributed by Kable.

     

PREMIER
Apr

Masked Ranger #1 from Premier.

Police Against Crime #1 from Premier.

 

Apr 22 1954- William Friedman testifies to the Senate Sub-Committee on Juvenile Delinquency. Names "Miss Ray"  (Yvonne Rae) as the editor of his comics.  He tries (and fails) to explain the relationship between Story and Master Comics.  Master Comics address is now 11 East 44th ST.  Owner is listed as Master Comics and Stanley Estrow.
 

PREMIER

  

PREMIER
May   True Love Confessions-Premier

     

PREMIER
Sep

Horror from the Tomb- Premier- only issue (becomes Mysterious Stories)  
 

PREMIER

    
Nov   Nuts ends with #5.

     

PREMIER
Dec

Fight Against Crime becomes Fight Against the Guilty.

Police Against Crime ends. with #5.

 

PREMIER

  

STORY
   

1955

  
    Horror from the Tomb becomes Mysterious Stories with #2 (Premier)

     

PREMIER
Mar

Story and Premier join the Comics Code.

Fight Against the Guilty ends. Last issue has Charlton/Capital distributor mark (CDC).

Dark Mysteries and Romantic Hearts (Master Comics) taken over by Trojan with 22 and 10.  Adolphe Barreaux edits last three issues. Publisher now called Merit Comics- 2 East 45th ST and printed in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
 

STORY

  

STORY
May      
Jul   Dark Mysteries ends with #24.

Romantic Hearts ends with #12.

     

MERIT
Aug 55

Masked Ranger and Mysterious Adventures end

 

PREMIER

  

STORY
Sep

Swat Malone -only issue

 

PREMIER

  

SWAT MALONE
   

1956

  
Jan True Love Confessions ends

Mysterious Stories ends.

 

PREMIER

  

PREMIER
Jul   Leader News goes bankrupt.  

 
Bibliography