The golden age of comic books useful notes tv tropes. Jerry siegel and joe shusters superman, bob kanes batman, and will eisners the spirit were all created during the golden age. Notable, longrunning titles published by quality included blackhawk, feature comics, g. Within moments the issue sells out, the golden age of comic books is born and this wiki covers all of it before editing we suggest that you read our manual of style for your best browsing experience, we recommend that you create an account we are currently working on 56 articles with. The 1960s was a time of significant growth in the comics industry. The golden age of dc comics is a coffee table book covering the history of dc comics from 19351956. In june of 1938, national allied publications began a new comic book series, featuring several different heroes. The book length history of comic fandoms early years. The history of silver age comic books cosmic comics.
When you are browsing the racks at your local comic book store and happen upon silver age comic books for sale, you may wonder just what it is that makes them silver. Following the golden age of comic books and an interregnum in the early to mid1950s, the silver age is considered to cover the period from 1956 to circa 1970, and was succeeded by the bronze and. The golden age describes an era in the creation of comic books published between the years of 1938 and 1955. Four color romance to the surprise of many, the most popular genre in the golden age was romance.
Golden age of dc comics explores superhero history. Even seasoned collectors may have problems attaining comics from this era. Readers were introduced to wealthy oliver queen and his teen buddy roy harper, who lived with him and was later revealed to be olivers ward, masked heroes who took down the criminals of star city. Combat, plastic man, police comics, smash comics and the spirit. A brief history of comic books the pioneer 15001828, victorian 18281883 and platinum 18831938 ages please note. The history of american comics began in the 18th century in mass print media, in the era of yellow journalism, where newspaper comics served as a boon to mass readership. Two of the most common are androids and heroes that needed to convince someone close, or the public at large, that their heroic persona and their alter ego were in fact different people. This starts at the platinum age through golden, silver. In june of 1938, national allied publications began a new comicbook series, featuring several different heroes. During this era, comic books became more popular, with the concept of superhero created and firmly established.
A new book chronicling the history of dc comics is going way back to see where batman and other heroes really began, and the hollywood reporter has a look inside the golden age of dc comics. We have such a wide selection that the comics are broken out by letters. This was superman, the very first comic character to have powers far beyond a normal human being. Truth, justice, and the birth of the superhero comic book. The golden age of comics 19381956 technically, the golden age of comics took place between 1938 and 1956. This wiki follows superman only throghout the golden age. The 8 ages of comic books by alex grand comic book historians.
During this time, modern comic books were first published and enjoyed a surge of popularity. The history of green arrow from golden age to arrow cbr. Navy history and tradition 5 issues golden age digital comic books on cd you are purchasing a digital comic book collection, navy history and tradition issues 1 6 on a cd. The 60s saw the first major comic book conventions start up and gain popularity. An american grass roots movement from its humble origins to its status as a true cultural phenomenon. This category collects materials related to the golden age of comic books, circa 19381955. The term silver age refers to a general time period in which the comic books were originally available. Ultimately there was 40 years of comics before the comic book that heralded the golden age 19381947 which was action comics 1, 1938, the first appearance of superman. Created by jerry siegel and joe shuster, superman is possibly the most recognizable comic book character to this day.
Golden age of comic books golden age comics wiki fandom. Reference to lesser known comics in the golden age prompts me to communicate recent august 25th. Oct 15, 20 madrids second book following the supergirls. The golden age for comic books is known for plots that dont appear in modern day comics. We will say that the golden age begins in 1938 and ends in 1956, when the silver age.
Here are the four major ages for comic books in chronological order. Fashion, feminism, fantasy, and the history of comic book heroines is a comprehensively annotated collection of forgotten female comic book characters from the era of golden age comics. There would never again be the heyday of the golden age but the now well underway silver age was allowing more and more comics to be published. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. A new character created by two young men from cleveland was featured on the cover. The golden age 19391949 marks a terrific teamup between the folio society and marvel comics. The version of superman from the golden age of comic books was also the very first version of the character. Ga comic book collecting in the financial crisis of 2020. Comic book plus free and legal public domain books. Select the range of golden age comic books by choosing a view above.
The golden age is a 1993 fourissue elseworlds comic book miniseries by writer james robinson and artist paul smith. For the era in comic book history, see golden age of comic books. His father was the esteemed scientist, jorl, and his mother was a librarian named lora. This is a boy reading a comic book getty imageshutton archive. But if artistic detail were my criteria, it wouldnt crack the top100.
Nov 07, 2016 an overview of the 8 ages of comic books from 1897present day which includes key events in american history that helped shape the timeline. Unboxing golden age horror, batman, marvel mystery comic books duration. I made a few errors on that list and have found several more since then. A book i would recommend for the artwork alone, the text is short but revealing. The golden age set the stage for the majority of comics published for the next two decades. We are the original and still the premier site to read and download golden and silver age comic books. Get the best deals on collectible golden age comics reprints 193855 when you shop the largest online selection at. In the 20th century, comics became an autonomous art medium and an integral part of american culture. Welcome to comic book plus, the site where every day is party day. Dropping literally out of the sky to kick off the golden age, superman represents the comic book origin story. Comic book fans and historians widely agree that the golden age began no later than 1938. The 8 ages of comic books by alex grand comic book.
Golden age western comics lovingly reproduces in fullcolor, restored, complete scans of 20 of the best western storiesplus a few pinupscreated between the years 1948 and 1956. Historically, this period covers world war ii, one of the most popular eras for superhero comics. My wife and i were killing time, waiting for some friends of hers from college to arrive, when we wandered into barnes and noble. The golden age of comic books was a period in the history of american comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or. These are the years when comics were considered a new and exciting form of art. Many iconic characters were introduced in this time period and became part of american culture at a very interesting point in our history. It concerns the golden age dc comics superheroes entering the 1950s and facing the advent of mccarthyism.
Oct 06, 2016 welcome to cbh, today were talking about the 8 ages of comic books including the. Itself a work of history, jules feiffers 1965 essay was arguably the first attempt to create a critical history of the golden age of comic book superheroes, with the writer looking at the impact. Golden age history of american comics research guides. The first recorded use of the term golden age was by richard a. The silver age is significant because marks a period in the history of comic books when comic books sales had been struggling after controversy and fingerpointing regarding a link between adolescent violence and the reading of comic books. Apr 03, 2017 the golden age of comics 19381956 technically, the golden age of comics took place between 1938 and 1956.
Many famous heroes made their first appearance in the golden age, such as bruce wayne the golden age of comic books was a period beginning in 1938 and ending in the mid50s. The golden age of comic books was a period in the history of american comic books, generally thought as lasting from the 1930s until the mid1950s during which comic books enjoyed a surge of popularity, the archetype of the superhero was created and defined, and many of the most famous superheroes debuted. What defines the golden age from the silver age of comic books. Since 1979 iconic comic shop located in hollywood, california on melrose ave. The illustrated history taylor history of comics, vol 4 benton, mike on. Subcategories this category has the following 53 subcategories, out of 53 total. Sometimes referred to as the golden age of comic books, the years from the late 1930s through the early 1950s marked a period of creativity and innovation in the medium. Quality comics was an american comic book publishing company that operated from 1937 to 1956 and was largely influential in creating the golden age of comic books. Plus, we also hold a large and growing selection of comic strips and pulp fiction.
Collectible golden age comics reprints 193855 for sale. The golden age of comic books describes an era of american comic books from 1938 to 1956. The golden age of comic books was a period beginning in 1938 and ending in the mid50s. Let me remind all ga true comic book collectors of the history of a number of recovery of equity markets which relates to all market investments and and can affect collectables black monday 82587 thru 12487. The golden age describes an era in the creation of comic books published between the.
This comic, based on circus gear, capes, and douglas fairbanks type heroism was so successful it heralded many other metoo characters like batman in detective comics 27, 1939. The amazing stylistic history of comic books 99designs. The fact that the golden age of comic books occurred alongside the great depression and world war two is no coincidence. Today on variant, special guests comic tom and jeff the golden age guru highlight the dawn of superhero comics with the history of the golden age. In fact, they are among the older and more desirable comics on the market. Navy history and tradition 6 issues golden age digital. They became widespread and popular and many still popular comic book icons made their debut, beginning in the mid 1930s and ending around the mid1950s. Platinum age 18971937, golden age 19381947, atomic age 19481955. The golden age of comic books was a period in the history of american comic books, generally thought as lasting from 1938 until the mid1950s during which comic books enjoyed a surge of popularity, the archetype of the superhero was created and defined, and many of the most famous superheroes debuted. Golden age comics public domain comic books collectible. Dec 11, 2019 today on variant, special guests comic tom and jeff the golden age guru highlight the dawn of superhero comics with the history of the golden age. Golden age of comic books image comics database fandom.
The golden age is a common term describing an era of comics beginning in 1938, when superman made his first comic book debut. The golden age of comic books is an epoch that saw a surge in the american comic book industry generally lasting from the late 1930s until. Kall of earthtwo is commonly referred to as the golden age superman, thus being the main superman that appeared throughout the golden age of comic books. The new continuity stated that green arrow had originally operated alone and didnt meet roy or recruit him as speedy until after he was already established as a famous hero. Some strict collectors consider the era finished by 1950. These eras include the golden age 19381950, the silver age 19561970, the bronze age 19701985, and the modern age 1985present. The book chronicles the early years of the comic book publisher, which has brought the world batman. These eras include the golden age 19381950, the silver age 19561970, the. The top 10 most valuable golden age comic books superworld.
The golden age of comic books introduced the archetype of the superhero. Top 100 most valuable comic books of the golden age 19381956 the 100 most valuable comic books from each age. Comic bookspulpy periodicals of sequential arthad been around since the early 30s, but. Now, powerhouse books is pleased to present a collection of these uniquely american stories as told through a uniquely american mediumthe comic book. I had this book when i was a kid and remembered the photos of the old comic book covers superman, batman, wonder woman, the spectre. The superhero archetype was created and many wellknown characters were introduced, including superman, batman, captain marvel, captain america, and wonder woman. The end of this era is vague and nonspecific but it is generally agreed that by the mid1950s, the silver age had begun the superman stories in this era are characterized by their everyday plots dealing with gangsters, criminals, corrupt politicians, and the like.
Hierarchy of golden age comics 2020 edition golden age. In this article, all dates given for various ages are approximate. We buy your collectibles and offer consignment services. The golden age of comics comics have been in existence since the end of the 19th century, but it was after the depression that the popularity of newspaper cartoons expanded into a major industry. The insane history of how american paranoia ruined and censored. Marvels mercury only had one golden age appearance, but was the first of many marvel attempts to establish a proper speedster. With the exception of the beginning of the golden age and the beginning of the silver age, little consensus exists on startingending dates. Covers life before the golden age, the birth of alterego, the advent of the amateur comic strip, the first comicons of the 1960s, and much more.
Horror comics of the 1950s ec horror library color nostalgia press 1971. Golden age comics wide selection of golden age superworld. Nov 04, 2016 characteristic of the golden ages idealism, superheroes were often used as a platform for instilling national pride and patriotism in the face of wwii. Dta collectibles dealing pop culture paper since 1969. This page will deal with the most valuable of all, golden age comic books. The golden age of comic books, 19381956, its significance and its historical impact on modern comics. The golden age of comic books was a period in the history of american comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s. The period saw the arrival of the comic book as a mainstream artform, the creation and. Public domain super heroes is a collaborative website about public domain characters from comic books, comic strips, films, books, pulps, mythology, television, animation, folk stories, among others.
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