Harvey Hits is generally considered to be the company’s try-out title. They would feature a character and if the response was good enough, move that feature into another book, or even their own title.

In that way the early run of Harvey Hits was indeed like Showcase over at DC. The best example for that case would be Richie Rich who appeared in #3 (November 1957). He shows up again in #9 (May 1957) under the title Richie Rich’s Golden Deeds. Eventually he received his own solo title in 1960.

The title featured a good number of characters from the Harvey Universe. Little Audrey, Wendy, Sad Sack and Little Lotta all showed up in the first few years. Eventually, as the title moved into mid-the sixties that Harvey-centric variety disappeared and it became home to a rotating group of characters who were part of the world of Sad Sack.

During that early run there was one character who was completely out of place in the Harvey Universe. A straightforward adventure strip, The Phantom came from the world of newspaper strips. Created by Lee Falk the strip debuted on February 17, 1936. The strip caught on quickly and by the next year reprints could be found in Ace Comics #11 (1937).

The history of the Ghost Who Walks in comics is great. From Charlton to Gold Key to the modern age, he has always had a good run in comic books. But for some reason his run in Harvey Hits gets a little lost in the mix. 

He opened the run of the title in #1 (September 1957). Over the next few years he appeared seven more times, the last being #48 (September 1961). A year later he begins appearing in his own title over at Gold Key with The Phantom #1 (November 1962).

Those few years inside Harvey Hits are fascinating. The cover artist for #1 has yet to be identified, but many attribute it to Joe Simon. In fact, some even believe that they see the work of Simon’s partner Jack Kirby in the work….

What is known is that he did do the splash page for that issue’s story. The signed original art for that page has come up in the auction marketplace several before.

For Harvey Hits #6 most agree that the work is indeed that of Simon. The art certainly seems to have been done in his style. The cover has been offered at auction, but it is unsigned. 

Since the book is a Harvey title most assume nothing spectacular was going on inside. But for those who know, Harvey Hits has some wonderful covers among its 122 issue run.