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1st Buck Rogers story: "Armageddon 2419," written by Philip Nowlan (Aug., 1928)
rare; intact issue w/ strong spine, no coupons cut


Amazing Stories #5 (Vol. 3, August 1928) is a vital pulp as the first appearance of Buck Rogers. The beloved sci-fi character didn't make the cover, though. That's actually Richard Seaton showing off his anti-gravity device from "The Skylark of Space." Buck Rogers isn't called "Buck," yet, either. He's still just Anthony Rogers, then a modern-day regular guy who wakes up 500 years after being overcome by mysterious gases while going into a mine for the American Radioactive Gas Corp.

This pulp is still the start for a spaceman who'd go on to star in countless other medium. There would be radio dramas, comic strips, serials, TV shows, movies, books, and more. A decade before Batman and Superman, Buck Rogers showcased the immense impact heroes could have on popular culture. (The character actually only appeared in two pulps before moving on to bigger things.) Buck Rogers is even credited with popularizing the idea of space exploration, becoming a major turning point in the history of science-fiction.

Philip Francis Nowlan's “Armageddon 2149” introduces Rogers in a grand style, too. The author brings a truly epic sense of adventure to this debut. There's still a lot of demand from genre fans for a Buck Rogers revival. There were even two projects in development during 2021. That soon fell apart over legal wrangling between the Nowlan Family Trust's plans and a small-screen property being developed with George Clooney by Legendary Pictures. Buck Rogers remains one of the most popular names in sci-fi, and it seems inevitable for the spaceman to return in some form.
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