1938 in comics

European publications

 * Italian noir hero Dick Fulmine debuts
 * April 21: first issue of Le Journal de Spirou, featuring debuts of the series Spirou by Rob-Vel and Les Aventures de Tif by Fernand Dineur.
 * July 30: first issue of the British comic The Beano, featuring debuts of Lord Snooty, Wee Peem, Tin-Can Tommy, Hairy Dan, Ping the Elastic Man, Helpful Henry and Big Eggo.
 * 17 December: The first appearance of Pansy Potter one of the longest running comic strips in The Beano.

January

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #10 - David McKay Publications
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #11 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #4 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
 * More Fun Comics (1936 series) #28 - National Periodical Publications
 * New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #23 - National Periodical Publications

February

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #11 - David McKay Publications
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #12 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #5 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
 * More Fun Comics (1936 series) #29 - National Periodical Publications
 * New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #24 - National Periodical Publications

March

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #12 - David McKay Publications
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #13 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #6 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
 * More Fun Comics (1936 series) #30 - National Periodical Publications
 * New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #25 - National Periodical Publications

April

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #13 - David McKay Publications
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #14 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #7 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

May

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #14 - David McKay Publications
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #15 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #8 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
 * New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #26 - National Periodical Publications

June

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #15 - David McKay Publications
 * Action Comics (1938 series) #1 - DC Comics: first appearance of Superman
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #16 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #9 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
 * Jumbo Comics #1 — Fiction House
 * New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #27 - National Periodical Publications

July

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #16 - David McKay Publications
 * Action Comics (1938 series) #2 - DC Comics
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #17 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #10 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
 * New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #28 - National Periodical Publications

August

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #17 - David McKay Publications
 * Action Comics (1938 series) #3 - DC Comics
 * Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #1 - Centaur Publications
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #18 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #11 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
 * New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #29 - National Periodical Publications

September

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #18 - David McKay Publications
 * Action Comics (1938 series) #4 - DC Comics
 * Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938) #2 - Centaur Publications
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #19 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #12 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
 * New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #30 - National Periodical Publications

October

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #19 - David McKay Publications
 * Action Comics (1938 series) #5 - DC Comics
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #20 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #13 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
 * New Adventure Comics (1937 series) #31 - National Periodical Publications

November

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #20 - David McKay Publications
 * Action Comics (1938 series) #6 - DC Comics
 * Adventure Comics (previously New Adventure Comics) (1937 series) #32 - DC Comics
 * Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #3 - Centaur Publications
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #21 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #14 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

December

 * Ace Comics (1937 series) #21 - David McKay Publications
 * Action Comics (1938 series) #7 - DC Comics
 * Adventure Comics (previously New Adventure Comics) (1936 series) #33 - DC Comics
 * Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938 series) #"4" - Centaur Publications
 * Detective Comics (1937 series) #22 - DC Comics
 * Feature Funnies (1937 series) #15 - Comic Favorites, Inc.

Specials

 * New Book of Comics (1937 series) #2 - National Periodical Publications

First issues by title

 * Action Comics cover dated June, published by DC Comics.
 * Amazing Mystery Funnies cover dated August, published by Centaur Publications.
 * The Beano cover dated July, published by DC Thomson.

Renamed titles

 * New Adventure Comics renamed Adventure Comics as of the November cover date.

Initial appearances by character name

 * Lois Lane in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC Comics.
 * Superman in Action Comics #1 (June), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC Comics.