Russian-born publisher Albert Lewis Kanter (1897–1973)[2] recognizing the appeal of early comic books, believed he could use the new medium to introduce young and reluctant readers to "great literature".
In October 1941, with the backing of two business partners,[3] he created Classic Comics for Elliot Publishing Company, its debut issue being The Three Musketeers, followed by Ivanhoe and The Count of Monte Cristo.
Ruth Roche created the first Muslim superhero, Kismet, Man of Fate, published in Gilberton's Bomber Comics #1-4 (1944).
[1] Kanter was instrumental in getting Classics Illustrated distributed nationally in the U.S. through Curtis Circulation, alongside magazines like The Saturday Evening Post, Ladies' Home Journal, Holiday, The Atlantic, and Esquire.
[1] Beginning in 1947, Classics Illustrated began to be distributed internationally, in English-speaking countries like Australia (Ayers & James, 1947–1953), Canada (via Gilberton, 1948–1951), and the United Kingdom (Thorpe & Porter, 1951–1963).
Gilberton acquired not only the company name but also the 30 pages drawn for Red Badge of Courage, which they published in the 98th issue of Classics Illustrated.
[1] In 1962, the production of new issues of Classics Illustrated shifted from Gilberton's New York offices to Thorpe & Porter, with the publisher's son Bill Kanter overseeing everything beginning in 1963.
In 1967, Kanter sold Gilberton to Catholic business magnate Patrick Frawley's Twin Circle Publishing Co., which brought out two more issues of Classics Illustrated but mainly concentrated on foreign sales and reprinting older titles.