Kanter was born in Baranovitch in the Russian Empire (now Belarus) and immigrated to the United States in 1904.
[3] Recognizing the appeal of early comics, Kanter believed he could use the burgeoning medium to introduce young and reluctant readers to "great literature".
The title became a huge success, proven by the demand for reprints of issues 1, 2, 3, and 5; something never seen before in the comic book industry.
The comics' success opened classic novels to a large audience of young people for decades.
William's son Peter Kanter is currently president of Penny Press and its many magazine titles, including crosswords.