The Holyoke Publishing Company was an American magazine and comic-book publisher with offices in

Holyoke Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, that lies between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 38,247. Loca ...

, and Springfield,

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

, and

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, Its best-known comics characters were

Blue Beetle Blue Beetle is the name of three superheroes appearing in a number of American comic books published by a variety of companies since 1939. The most recent of the companies to own rights to Blue Beetle is DC Comics, which bought the rights to the ...

and the

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

duo Cat-Man (later rendered as Catman, sans hyphen) and

Kitten A kitten is a Juvenile (organism), juvenile cat. After being born, kittens display primary altriciality and are fully dependent on their mothers for #Establishing immunity, survival. They normally do not open their eyes for seven to ten days. A ...

, all inherited from defunct former clients of Holyoke's printing business. Holyoke is sometimes confused with companies owned by Frank Z. Temerson, including Helnit, Et-Es-Go, and Continental; with Worth Carnahan's Bilbara Publishing Company; and with Temerson's art director L. B. Cole's packaging clients Narrative Publishers and Aviation Press.

Publication history

Holyoke Publishing originated with Sherman Bowles, who had taken over his family's

Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield is the most populous city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, and its county seat. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the ea ...

newspaper dynasty, consisting of '' The Republican'' and other papers. He entered comic-book publishing through his printing division,"Holyoke (1942–1946)
at the

Grand Comics Database The Grand Comics Database (GCD) is an Internet-based project to build a database of comic book information through user contributions. The GCD project catalogues information on creator credits, story details, reprints, and other information use ...

which took over two existing titles from Frank Z. Temerson's Helnit Publishing Company:Temerson / Helnit / Continental (1940–1950)
at the Grand Comics Database the

series '' Cat-Man Comics'' and the war comics series ''Captain Aero Comics''. This occurred in late 1941, with comics

cover-date The cover date of a periodical publication is the date displayed on the cover, which is not necessarily the true date of publication (the on-sale date or release date); later cover dates are common in magazine and comic book publishing. More unusu ...

d January 1942''Cat-Man Comics'' (Holyoke, 1942 Series)
at the Grand Comics Database and February 1942.''Captain Aero Comics'' (Holyoke, 1942 Series)
at the Grand Comics Database Temerson's staff, including artist Charles Quinlan, continued to produce both series. Quinlan had previously partnered with publisher Worth Carnahan in the companies Bilbara Publishing and Hit Publishing, leading them to often be erroneously grouped with Holyoke."Worth Carnahan (1939–1940)
at the Grand Comics Database Holyoke's next acquisition was the superhero series ''

'', taking it over from Victor A. Fox's

bankrupt Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the de ...

Fox Feature Syndicate
at

Don Markstein's Toonopedia Don Markstein's Toonopedia (subtitled A Vast Repository of Toonological Knowledge) is an online encyclopedia of print cartoons, comic strips and animation, initiated February 13, 2001. Donald D. Markstein, the sole writer and editor of Toonopedi ...

Fox PublicationsFox Publications
at the Grand Comics Database beginning with issue #12 (June 1942).''Blue Beetle'' (Holyoke, 1942 Series)
at the Grand Comics Database The two titles acquired from Heinit reverted to Temerson's new company Et-Es-Go Magazines (later Continental Magazines) following Holyoke's ''Cat-Man Comics'' vol. 3, #7, the overall 17th issue, and ''Captain Aero Comics'' vol. 2, #4, the overall 10th issue (both Jan. 1943). Later that year, Fox won ''Blue Beetle'' back in a lawsuit; Holyoke's final issue was #30 (Feb. 1944). By 1949, Holyoke Publishing was based in Springfield,

and published '' The Open Road for Boys'' magazine. Holyoke Publishing leased commercial space at 1475 Broadway in

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

in April 1944.

Confusion with Temerson titles

Because of incomplete documentation of the early days of the

American comic book An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...

, some sources misstate Holyoke's role. One common resource, for example, erroneously refers to Holyoke " imprints including Et-Es-Go Mags, Continental Magazines, Helnit Publishing Co. and Tem Publishing Co." The book ''The Comic Book in America'' erroneously states that Holyoke "entered the comic-book superhero business with ''Crash Comics'' (May 1940)....", though ''Crash Comics Adventures'' was a Temerson title predating Holyoke. That book also erroneously claims Temerson as the Holyoke founder, writing, "Temerson also changed his company's name to Holyoke Publishing," and additionally claims, "By 1943, Holyoke was known as Continental Publishing."

Howard Keltner John Howard Keltner (1928 – July 29, 1998) was an American comics a Media (communication), medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of Panel (co ...

's ''Golden Age Comic Index 1935-1955 (Revised Edition)'' groups Bilbara, Tem, Helnit, Et-Es-Go, Narrative Publishers and Aviation Press with Holyoke. Narrative and Aviation were both clients of Temerson's art director, L. B. Cole, giving their publications a similar look. As well, notes the standard reference the

, the Bilbara Publishing Company, one of publisher Worth Carnahan's companies, "has often been erroneously tied to Holyoke and to Frank Z. Temerson's companies because rtistCharles Quinlan was involved in this and other Carnahan ventures, and took the character name 'Volton' (but not any other aspect of the character) with him to Helnit/Holyoke. Also, Bilbara's ''Cyclone Comics'' (featuring a character called Tornado Tom) appeared at the same time that one of Temerson's earlier companies produced ''Whirlwind Comics'' (featuring a character called Cyclone)."

Creators

Among comics creators who did some of their earliest work at Holyoke are

Joe Kubert Joseph Kubert (; September 18, 1926 – August 12, 2012) was a Poland, Polish-born Americans, American comic book artist, art teacher, and founder of The Kubert School. He is best known for his work on the DC Comics characters Sgt. Rock and Hawk ...

, on features starring Volton, Flagman and Alias X for ''Cat-Man Comics'' and ''Captain Aero Comics''. Dan Barry drew the Hood and Tiger Squadron.

Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino (; May 24, 1925 – April 4, 2013) was an American comics artist and editing, editor, primarily for DC Comics, during the late 1950s and early 1960s period known as the Silver Age of Comic Books. Among his character creations are ...

drew "Hell's Angels", a war series, for ''Sparkling Stars''.

Sherman Bowles

Sherman Hoar Bowles was the scion of three generations of men named Sam Bowles who ran the

newspaper '' The Republican'' and other periodicals from 1797 to 1919, when Sherman took the reins.
Abstract
His mother, Elizabeth Hoar, of

Concord, Massachusetts Concord () is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. In the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the town population was 18,491. The United States Census Bureau considers Concord part of Greater Boston. The town center is n ...

, was the Beth of

Louisa May Alcott Louisa May Alcott (; November 29, 1832March 6, 1888) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet best known for writing the novel ''Little Women'' (1868) and its sequels ''Good Wives'' (1869), ''Little Men'' (1871), and ''Jo's Boys'' ...

's novel ''

Little Women ''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott, originally published in two volumes, in 1868 and 1869. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters— Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details th ...

''. Bowles attended Springfield High School;

Phillips Academy Phillips Academy (also known as PA, Phillips Academy Andover, or simply Andover) is a Private school, private, Mixed-sex education, co-educational college-preparatory school for Boarding school, boarding and Day school, day students located in ...

, in

Andover, Massachusetts Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was Settler, settled in 1642 and incorporated in 1646."Andover" in ''Encyclopedia Britannica, The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th ed. ...

; and

Harvard Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher lear ...

, from which he graduated in 1912 after having served as business manager of ''

The Harvard Crimson ''The Harvard Crimson'' is the student newspaper at Harvard University, an Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. The newspaper was founded in 1873, and is run entirely by Harvard College undergraduate students. His ...

''. After working a year at ''The Republican'', he spent two years as circulation manager of the

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

'' Public Ledger'', then two years with the '' Springfield Daily News'', his family's weekday-evening paper. After two years with the

US Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the Marines, maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expedi ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he became publisher of his family newspapers, which also included the '' Morning Union'', and Sunday's ''The Springfield Union and Republican''. Bowles later also became an official of the Atlas Tack Company in

Fairhaven, Massachusetts Fairhaven (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ) is a New England town, town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located on the South Coast (Massachusetts), South Coast of Massachusetts where the Acushnet River flows into Buzz ...

, and the Longchamps and Buffet Exchange restaurant chains, and held interests in

Bell Aircraft The Bell Aircraft Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer, a builder of several types of fighter aircraft for World War II but most famous for the Bell X-1, the first supersonic aircraft, and for the development and production of many i ...

, the Reo Motors, Inc., the Bowles Agawam Airport in Agawam, Massachusetts, and

Western Union The Western Union Company is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Denver, Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1851 as the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company in Rochester, New York, the co ...

, as well as Alliance Manufacturing of

Alliance, Ohio Alliance is a city in Stark County, Ohio, United States. The population was 21,672 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It was established in 1854 by the merger of three smaller communities and was a manufacturing and railroad hub in t ...

. He eventually turned over his holdings to a beneficial trust for his 500 newspaper employees. Bowles died March 3, 1952, age 61, or 62 (accounts differ). He had suffered a heart attack at a friend's apartment while in

on business; after being treated by a physician, he returned to his own apartment at 201 East 47th Street where a building superintendent found him dead the following morning. He was survived by wife Esther Johnson Bowles, with whom he had sons Francis T. and John, and daughters Elizabeth and Amy. A cousin of the siblings was

Chester Bowles Chester Bliss Bowles (April 5, 1901 – May 25, 1986) was an American diplomat and ambassador, List of governors of Connecticut, governor of Connecticut, congressman and co-founder of a major advertising agency, Benton & Bowles, now part of Publi ...

, a governor of

Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...

and

ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or so ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

Titles

Comic books *''

'' — 19 issues, #12-30 (June 1942 – Feb. 1944) *'' Captain Aero Comics'' — 9 issues, vol. 1, #8 (2) - vol. 2, #4 (10) (Feb. 1942 – Jan. 1943) *'' Cat-Man Comics'' — 12 issues, vol. 1, #11 (6) - vol. 3, #7 (17) (Jan. 1942 - Jan. 1943) *'' Sparkling Stars'' — 32 issues, #1-33 (no #32 published) (June 1944 - March 1948) Uncertain: *''Holyoke One-Shot'' — A series of 10 comics, individually titled but sequentially numbered, are listed under this name in the ''

Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide ''The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide'' (or ''Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide'') is an annually published comic book price guide widely considered the primary authority on the subject of American comic book grading and pricing in t ...

''. Published in 1944 and possibly 1945, they consist of reprints of prewar material originally published by Frank Z. Temerson companies. Undated, they contain no publishing information and it is unclear who published them. *''Veri Best Sure Fire'' — The Grand Comics Database notes, "Exact publication date is unknown. Several stories are continued in ''Captain Aero'' #11. Thus, this is most likely a renamed inventory issue of ''Captain Aero Comics'' with hitherto unpublished stories." "Same as Veri Best Sure Shot Comics?"''Veri Best Sure Fire Comics'' (Holyoke, 1943)
at the Grand Comics Database *''Veri Best Sure Shot'' — As noted above under ''Veri Best Sure Fire''

Characters

Originated at Holyoke

*Ali Baba *Blackout (continued at Frank Temerson's companies) *Boxie Weaver *Gargoyle *Hell's Angels *Phantom Falcon *Red Cross (continued at Frank Temerson's companies) *Tiger Squadron *Volton (unrelated to Bilbara's Volton the Human Generator (Guy Newton))

Originated at Frank Z. Temerson companies

* Alias X * Captain Aero * Cat-Man **

*Commandos of the Devil Dogs *Deacon * Flagman *

The Hood The Hood (Parker Robbins) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan, and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell (comics), Eric Powell, the character was introduced in his own sel ...

(unrelated to Marvel Comics' Hood) * Miss Victory *Pied Piper (published by Helnit and Holoyoke only) *Ragman (unrelated to

DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...

' Ragman) *Solar (last published by Holyoke before Temerson reclaimed characters)

Originated at Fox Publications

Appearing in Temerson titles and ''Holyoke One Shot''

* Captain Fearless

References

External links

Cat-Man and Kitten
at

* (fan site) {{GoldenAge Holyoke, Massachusetts Defunct comics and manga publishing companies 1942 establishments in Massachusetts 1948 disestablishments in Massachusetts Publishing companies established in 1942 Publishing companies disestablished in 1948