The Missing Years was a black-and-white comics reprint magazine published by JAL Publications in the USA from 1992. Dedicated to preserving and showcasing classic newspaper adventure strips, the magazine offered readers a chance to revisit some of the most iconic and influential comic strips of the 20th century.

The publication primarily featured reprints of adventure and action-oriented comic strips that had long been out of circulation. Among the notable strips included in The Missing Years were the Phantom, Secret Agent Corrigan, Rip Kirby, Flash Gordon, Tim Tyler’s Luck, Tarzan, and Prince Valiant. These stories, originally serialized in newspapers, were made accessible to a new generation of fans as well as collectors and historians of the medium.

Each issue of the magazine was carefully curated to present high-quality reproductions of these classic strips. Given its black-and-white format, The Missing Years preserved the detailed linework and artistry of the original comics, providing an authentic reading experience that mirrored the way these strips were originally published.

One of the later editions of the series, issue number 42, was released in 2002. This particular issue focused on reprints of Mandrake the Magician, a legendary comic strip created by Lee Falk and drawn by Phil Davis. The Phantom is featured on the front cover amongst an array of other comic strip characters, as can be seen below.

As a publication, The Missing Years served an important role in comics preservation. By reprinting these classic strips, JAL Publications provided fans and collectors with a valuable archive of material that might otherwise have been lost to time. The magazine also contributed to renewed interest in golden-age adventure strips, influencing reprint collections and scholarly work on classic comics.

While The Missing Years may not be as widely known today, it remains a significant contribution to the preservation of classic comic strips. Collectors and enthusiasts still seek out issues to complete their collections, ensuring that these timeless adventures continue to be enjoyed by future generations.

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