Labonog, keston fulcher, robert cat conrad, and matt nelson. The illustrated history taylor history of comics, vol 4. Some strict collectors consider the era finished by 1950. The history of green arrow from golden age to arrow cbr. This has been posted earlier, but i will reiterate an important point here again. The silver age of comic books was a period of artistic advancement and widespread commercial success in mainstream american comic books, predominantly those featuring the superhero archetype. 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. 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. The golden age of comics 19381956 technically, the golden age of comics took place between 1938 and 1956. 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. People were coming from all over the world in search of the american dream. The golden age of comics timeline timetoast timelines.
During this time, modern comic books were first published and enjoyed a surge of popularity. The golden age 19391949 celebrates marvels 80th anniversary, includes first comic ever produced. I believe this will be temporary and hopefully recover in the next 12 months. Until then, the golden ages uncomplicated right and wrong still echoed if just subtly updated to suit the times. The reason for supermans instant popularity in the late 1930s is obvious. In june of 1938, national allied publications began a new comic book series, featuring several different heroes. Apr 03, 2017 the golden age of comics 19381956 technically, the golden age of comics took place between 1938 and 1956.
Mar 02, 2016 here are the four major ages for comic books in chronological order. The first comic strip reprint collection, the yellow kid in mcfaddens flats, is published as a 196page hardcover book. In june of 1938, national allied publications began a new comicbook series, featuring several different heroes. The first comic with a continuing story, it is still noted as one of the most richly illustrated comic strips of all time. The 8 ages of comic books by alex grand comic book. A new character created by two young men from cleveland was featured on the cover. The golden age of comic books useful notes tv tropes. Jul 17, 2016 people do mention the golden age, the silver age, the bronze age, and the modern age. Nov 04, 2016 the dark age 19801993 unlike the actual dark ages, this era was where comic books achieved enlightenment. This starts at the platinum age through golden, silver. The 8 ages of comic books by alex grand comic book historians.
Well, im up for the challenge to explain 79 years of comics. Drawn and illustrated by ben thompson and based on the character created by untraced pseudonym bob byrd, david rand is a threeyear old boy en route to cairo with his parents john and constance rand when their plane goes. With soti and the creation of the cca the golden age came to a halt. The bronze age of comic books 1970 the dark age of comic books 1986 the iron age of comic books. Comics replaced dime novels as the corrupting paper medium of the day and were blamed for many crimes across multiple decades. The bcw comic book frame is an attractive black frame with a clear glass front. Comic ages timeline i grew up accepting the traditional gospel that the superhero genre dictated the ages, but lately ive been leaning towards classifying the ages based on the inception and subsequent changes to the comic code authority. Comics from the golden and silver ages are contained in part 1 of the reading order. One particularly nasty crime was the torture and killing of a boy in 1948. These comics, at least until the 70s, can be tough to read as the plots rely on staggering amounts of. The 1960s was a time of significant growth in the comics industry.
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 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. 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. Ga comic book collecting in the financial crisis of 2020. The wiki format allows any registered user to create any article, so we can all work together to build the site. The golden age describes an era in the creation of comic books published between the years of 1938 and 1955. These eras include the golden age 19381950, the silver age 19561970, the bronze age 19701985, and the modern age 1985present. I track most the heros via howard keltners golden age comic books index 19351955 an awesome index of superhero appearances you really should download. Oct 06, 2016 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.
The amazing stylistic history of comic books 99designs. The golden age in comic books is the era where comics became widespread and popular when many of the icons made their debut, from the 1930s1950s. 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. Creator credits are borrowed from whats available at the grand comic book database.
During this era, comic books became more popular, with the concept of superhero created and firmly established. The collection inside is meticulously scanned from the archives. The golden age of comic books was a period beginning in 1938 and ending in the mid50s. These are the years when comics were considered a new and exciting form of art. The superhero archetype was created and many wellknown characters were introduced, including superman, batman, captain marvel, captain america, and wonder woman. 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. The golden age by the time the united states had entered world war ii, superman had inspired a boom in the comic book industry and had engendered the new genre of the superheroes although, controversy still exists over whether superman can be considered the first superhero, which by then had included batman, captain america, namor the sub.
The golden age of comic books describes an era of american comic books from 1938 to 1956. The silver age of comic books is the time when superheros were produced again, and it began in the 1950s and ended around 1970. Little nemo in slumberland, by winsor mccay, begins running in the new york herald. Many iconic characters were introduced in this time period and became part of american culture at a very interesting point in our history. Golden age experts of the collectors society participated in the heritage auctionscertified guaranty company poll, conducted by society members benjamin j. 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. This is a reading order for all dc comics that are deemed important or are just enjoyable comics to read. The goal was identifying golden age comic books 19371949 with the most impressive covers. For the intents and purposes of this section of the project, i will refer to the classical comic book ages that are born from linewide continuity rebootsthe golden age, the silver age, the modern age. Comics historians divide the history of american comic books into ages. The 60s saw the first major comic book conventions start up and gain popularity. 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.