1942 in comics

Year overall

 * Joe Simon and Jack Kirby leave Timely Comics and move to National Comics (now DC Comics).

January

 * All-Winners Comics (1941 series) #3 - Timely Comics
 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) #10 - Timely Comics
 * Daring Mystery Comics (1940 series) #8 - final issue, cancelled by Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #27 - Timely Comics
 * Sensation Comics #1 (cover date) featuring Wonder Woman — DC Comics
 * U.S.A. Comics (1941 series) #3 - Timely Comics

February

 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) #11 - Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #28 - Timely Comics

March

 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) #12 - Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #29 - Timely Comics

April

 * All-Winners Comics (1941 series) #4 - Timely Comics
 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) #13 - Timely Comics
 * Human Torch (1940 series) #7 - Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #30 - Timely Comics
 * Red Ryder Comics, with issue #6, taken over from Hawley by Dell Comics.
 * Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #5 - Timely Comics
 * U.S.A. Comics (1941 series) #4 - Timely Comics

May

 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) #14 - Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #31 - Timely Comics

June

 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) #15 - Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #32 - Timely Comics

July

 * All-Winners Comics (1941 series) #5 - Timely Comics
 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) #16 - Timely Comics
 * Crime Does Not Pay debuts with issue #22, continuing the numbering of Silver Streak Comics — Lev Gleason Publications
 * Human Torch (1940 series) #8 - Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #33 - Timely Comics
 * Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #6 - Timely Comics
 * U.S.A. Comics (1941 series) #5 - Timely Comics

August

 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) #17 - Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #34 - Timely Comics

September

 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) #18 - Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #35 - Timely Comics

October

 * All-Winners Comics (1941 series) #6 - Timely Comics
 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) #19 - Timely Comics
 * Human Torch (1940 series) #9 - Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #36 - Timely Comics
 * Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #7 - Timely Comics

November

 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) 20 - Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #37 - Timely Comics

December

 * Captain America Comics (1941 series) #21 - Timely Comics
 * Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #38 - Timely Comics
 * Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #8 - Timely Comics
 * U.S.A. Comics (1941 series) #6 - Timely Comics
 * Eugen Semitjov begins publishing Allan Kämpe

First issues by title

 * Boy Commandos, cover-dated Winter, published by DC Comics.
 * Hangman Comics, cover-dated Spring, published by MLJ Magazines Inc.
 * Sensation Comics, cover-dated January, published by DC Comics.
 * Wonder Woman, cover-dated Summer, published by DC Comics.

Initial appearances by character name

 * False-Face in Leading Comics #2 (National Comics, Spring), created by Mort Weisinger and Creig Flessel
 * Mister Terrific (Terry Sloane) in Sensation Comics #1 (DC Comics, January), created by Charles Resizenstein and Hal Sharpe