An anthology title, the series included a mix of superheroes, costumed crimefighters, crusading district attorneys, heroic magicians and others, both in original stories and in reprinted newspaper comic strip from the McNaught Syndicate, including Dixie Dugan, Joe Palooka, and the movie-series spin-off Charlie Chan.

Big Shot ran 104 issues, cover-dated May 1940 to August 1949.

With issue #30 (Dec. 1942), the title was shortened to simply Big Shot.

Original characters included The Face, Sparky Watts, Skyman, Brass Knuckles, Marvelo and Spy-Master.

Sparky Watts, a superhero parody character created by Boody Rogers, started in issue 14, and judging by the number of covers and solo books, had the highest popularity.