Late 1930s to mid-'50s era of comic books
The
Golden Age of Comic Books
describes an era in the
history of American comic books
from 1938 to 1956. During this time, modern
comic books
were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. The
superhero
archetype
was created and many well-known characters were introduced, including
Superman
,
Batman
,
Robin
,
Captain Marvel
,
Captain America
, and
Wonder Woman
.
Etymology
[
edit
]
The first recorded use of the term "Golden Age" was by
Richard A. Lupoff
in an article, "Re-Birth", published in issue one of the
fanzine
Comic Art
in April 1960.
[1]
History
[
edit
]
An event cited by many as marking the beginning of the Golden Age was the 1938 debut of
Superman
in
Action Comics
#1,
[2]
[3]
published by
Detective Comics
[4]
(predecessor of
DC Comics
). Superman's popularity helped make comic books a major arm of publishing,
[5]
which led rival companies to create superheroes of their own to emulate Superman's success.
[6]
[7]
World War II
[
edit
]
Whiz Comics
#2 (Feb. 1940), with the first appearance of
Captain Marvel
Cover art by
C. C. Beck
Between 1939 and 1941 Detective Comics and its sister company,
All-American Publications
, introduced popular superheroes such as
Batman
and
Robin
,
Wonder Woman
, the
Flash
,
Green Lantern
,
Doctor Fate
, the
Atom
,
Hawkman
,
Green Arrow
and
Aquaman
.
[8]
Timely Comics
, the 1940s predecessor of
Marvel Comics
, had million-selling titles featuring the
Human Torch
, the
Sub-Mariner
, and
Captain America
.
[9]
Although DC and Timely characters are well remembered today, circulation figures suggest that the best-selling superhero title of the era was
Fawcett Comics
'
Captain Marvel Adventures
with sales of about 1.4 million copies per issue. The comic was published biweekly at one point to capitalize on its popularity.
[10]
Another notable series was
The Spirit
by
Will Eisner
, which deviated from the usual publishing model of the period as a weekly multi-page supplement in the
Register and Tribune Syndicate
newspapers for which Eisner held the copyright, a rare consideration for creators of that period.
Patriotic heroes donning red, white, and blue were particularly popular during the time of the Second World War following the
Shield
's debut in 1940.
[11]
Many heroes of this time period battled the
Axis powers
, with covers such as
Captain America Comics
#1 (
cover-dated
March 1941) showing the title character punching
Nazi
leader
Adolf Hitler
.
[12]
As comic books grew in popularity, publishers began launching titles that expanded into a variety of genres.
Dell Comics
' non-superhero characters (particularly the licensed
Walt Disney
animated-character
comics) outsold the superhero comics of the day.
[13]
The publisher featured licensed movie and literary characters such as
Mickey Mouse
,
Donald Duck
,
Roy Rogers
and
Tarzan
.
[14]
It was during this era that noted Donald Duck writer-artist
Carl Barks
rose to prominence.
[15]
Additionally,
MLJ
's introduction of
Archie Andrews
in
Pep Comics
#22 (December 1941) gave rise to
teen humor comics
,
[16]
with the Archie Andrews character remaining in print well into the 21st century.
[17]
At the same time in Canada, American comic books were prohibited importation under the
War Exchange Conservation Act
[18]
which restricted the importation of non-essential goods. Canadian publishers responded to this lack of competition by producing titles of their own, informally called the
Canadian Whites
. While these titles flourished during the war, they did not survive the lifting of trade restrictions afterwards.
Post-war and shift from superheroes
[
edit
]
The term
Atomic Age of Comic Books
is sometimes used to describe a brief time period, starting with either the end of World War II in 1945 or in 1948 with the first outcry of Fredric Wertham,
[19]
[20]
and lasting until the mid-1950s. Some authors consider this an
interregnum
period or an era in its own right,
[21]
[22]
but most regard it as still part of the Golden Age. During this time, the popularity of superhero comics waned. To retain reader interest, comic publishers diversified into other genres, such as
war
,
Westerns
,
science fiction
,
romance
,
crime
and
horror
.
[23]
Many superhero titles were canceled or converted to other genres.
[
citation needed
]
In 1946,
DC Comics
'
Superboy
,
Aquaman
and
Green Arrow
were switched from
More Fun Comics
into
Adventure Comics
so
More Fun
could focus on humor.
[24]
In 1948
All-American Comics
, featuring
Green Lantern
,
Johnny Thunder
and
Dr. Mid-Nite
, was replaced with
All-American Western
.
[
citation needed
]
The following year,
Flash Comics
and
Green Lantern
were canceled.
[
citation needed
]
In 1951
All Star Comics
, featuring the
Justice Society of America
, became
All-Star Western
. The next year
Star Spangled Comics
, featuring Robin, was retitled
Star Spangled War Stories
.
[
citation needed
]
Sensation Comics
, featuring
Wonder Woman
, was canceled in 1953.
[
citation needed
]
The only superhero comics published continuously through the entire 1950s were
Action Comics
,
Adventure Comics
,
Batman
,
Detective Comics
,
Superboy
,
Superman
,
Wonder Woman
and
World's Finest Comics
.
[25]
Plastic Man
appeared in
Quality Comics
'
Police Comics
until 1950, when its focus switched to detective stories; his solo title continued bimonthly until issue 52, cover-dated February 1955.
Timely Comics
'
The Human Torch
was canceled with issue #35 (March 1949)
[26]
and
Marvel Mystery Comics
, featuring the Human Torch, with issue #93 (Aug. 1949) became the
horror comic
Marvel Tales
.
[27]
Sub-Mariner Comics
was canceled with issue #42 (June 1949) and
Captain America Comics
, by then
Captain America's Weird Tales
, with #75 (Feb. 1950).
Harvey Comics
'
Black Cat
was canceled in 1951 and rebooted as a horror comic later that year?the title would change to
Black Cat Mystery
,
Black Cat Mystic
, and eventually
Black Cat Western
for the final two issues, which included Black Cat stories.
[28]
Lev Gleason Publications
'
Daredevil
was edged out of his title by the
Little Wise Guys
in 1950.
[29]
Fawcett Comics
'
Whiz Comics
,
Master Comics
and
Captain Marvel Adventures
were canceled in 1953, and
The Marvel Family
was canceled the following year.
[30]
Also during this period, the mass media with the advent of television were forcing media companies to put out comics that reflected the popular culture of the time period. Comic books focused on space, mystery, and suspense that television and other forms of media were turning to in the march toward scientific progress.
[31]
According to historian Michael A. Amundson, appealing comic-book characters helped ease young readers' fear of
nuclear war
and neutralize anxiety about the questions posed by atomic power.
[32]
It was during this period that long-running humor comics debuted, including
EC Comics
' series
Mad
and Dell's series
Uncle Scrooge
(both in 1952).
[33]
[34]
End of the era
[
edit
]
In 1953, the comic book industry hit a setback when the
United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency
was created in order to investigate the problem of
juvenile delinquency
.
[35]
After the publication of
Fredric Wertham
's
Seduction of the Innocent
the following year that claimed comics sparked illegal behavior among minors, comic book publishers such as EC's
William Gaines
were subpoenaed to testify in public hearings.
[36]
As a result, the
Comics Code Authority
was created by the
Association of Comics Magazine Publishers
to enact self-censorship by comic book publishers.
[37]
At this time, EC canceled its crime and horror titles and focused primarily on
Mad
.
[37]
The
Silver Age of Comic Books
is recognized by some as beginning with the debut of the first successful new superhero since the Golden Age, DC Comics' new
Flash
, in
Showcase
#4 (Oct. 1956).
[38]
[39]
[40]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Quattro, Ken (2004).
"The New Ages: Rethinking Comic Book History"
. Archived from
the original
on September 5, 2015
. Retrieved
September 12,
2015
.
... according to fanzine historian Bill Schelly, 'The first use of the words "golden age" pertaining to the comics of the 1940s was by Richard A. Lupoff in an article called'"Re-Birth' in
Comic Art
#1 (April 1960).
- ^
"The Golden Age of Comics"
.
History Detectives: Special Investigations
.
PBS
. Retrieved
February 18,
2015
.
The precise era of the Golden Age is disputed, though most agree that it was born with the launch of Superman in 1938.
- ^
Spiegelman, Art (August 17, 2019).
"Art Spiegelman: golden age superheroes were shaped by the rise of fascism"
.
The Guardian
.
ISSN
0261-3077
. Retrieved
March 19,
2023
.
- ^
"Action Comics #1"
.
Grand Comics Database
. Retrieved
February 16,
2015
.
- ^
Goulart, Ron (2000).
Comic Book Culture: An Illustrated History
(1st American ed.). Portland, Oregon: Collectors Press. p. 43.
ISBN
9781888054385
.
- ^
Eury, Michael (2006).
The Krypton Companion: A Historical Exploration of Superman Comic Books of 1958-1986
. Raleigh, North Carolina:
TwoMorrows Publishing
. p. 116.
ISBN
1893905616
.
since Superman inspired so many different super-heroes.
- ^
Hatfield, Charles (2005).
Alternative Comics: An Emerging Literature
(1st ed.). Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. p. 10.
ISBN
1578067197
.
the various Superman-inspired "costume" comics
- ^
Various (January 19, 2005).
The DC Comics Rarities Archives, Vol. 1
. New York, New York:
DC Comics
.
ISBN
1401200079
.
- ^
Vernon Madison, Nathan (January 3, 2013).
Anti-Foreign Imagery in American Pulps and Comic Books, 1920?1960
. Jefferson, North Carolina:
McFarland & Company
. pp. 107?108.
ISBN
978-0786470952
.
- ^
Morse, Ben (July 2006). "Thunderstruck".
Wizard
(179).
- ^
Madrid, Mike (September 30, 2013).
Divas, Dames & Daredevils: Lost Heroines of Golden Age Comics
. Minneapolis, MN: Exterminating Angel Press. p. 29.
- ^
"Captain America Comics (1941) #1"
.
Marvel Comics
. Retrieved
March 21,
2016
.
- ^
Benton, Mike (November 1989).
The Comic Book in America: An Illustrated History
. Dallas, Texas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 158.
ISBN
0878336591
.
- ^
Duncan, Randy; J. Smith, Matthew (January 29, 2013).
Icons of the American Comic Book: From Captain America to Wonder Woman, Volume 1
. Santa Barbara, California:
Greenwood Publishing Group
. pp. 193?201.
ISBN
978-0313399237
.
- ^
"Donald Duck "Lost in the Andes" | The Comics Journal"
. Tcj.com. January 24, 2012
. Retrieved
November 16,
2015
.
- ^
Nadel, Dan (June 1, 2006).
Art Out of Time: Unknown Comics Visionaries, 1900?1969
. New York:
Abrams Books
. p.
8
.
ISBN
0810958384
.
- ^
Telling, Gillian (July 6, 2015).
"Mark Waid discusses 'overwhelmingly positive' reaction to Archie Andrews' new look after 75 years of Archie"
.
Entertainment Weekly
.
Time Inc.
Retrieved
March 29,
2016
.
- ^
The War Exchange Conservation Act, 1940
,
S.C.
1940-41, c. 2
- ^
Sanderson, Peter (April 4, 2017).
Marvel Year By Year
(Updated, Expanded ed.). DK. p. 40.
ISBN
978-1-4654-5550-5
.
- ^
Wertham, Fredrick (May 29, 1948).
The Comics, Very Funny
. Saturday Review of Literature. p. 6.
- ^
Rhoades, Shirrel (2008).
A Complete History of American Comic Books
. New York: Peter Lang. p. 5.
ISBN
978-1433101076
.
OCLC
175290005
.
- ^
William W. Savage,
Commies, Cowboys, and Jungle Queens: Comic Books and America, 1945?1954
, Wesleyan University Press, 1998, p. 111.
- ^
Kovacs, George; Marshall, C. W. (2011).
Classics and Comics
. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 109.
ISBN
9780199734191
.
- ^
Daniel, Wallace; Gilbert, Laura (September 20, 2010).
DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle
. New York:
DK Publishing
. p. 51.
ISBN
978-0756667429
.
Following
More Fun Comics
change in focus the previous month, the displaced super-heroes Superboy, Green Arrow, Johnny Quick, Aquaman, and the Shining Knight were welcomed by
Adventure Comics
.
- ^
Schelly, William (2013).
American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s
. TwoMorrows Publishing.
ISBN
9781605490540
.
- ^
"The Human Torch"
.
Grand Comics Database
. Retrieved
February 3,
2015
.
- ^
"Marvel Mystery Comics"
.
Grand Comics Database
. Retrieved
February 3,
2015
.
- ^
Schoell, William (June 26, 2014).
The Horror Comics: Fiends, Freaks and Fantastic Creatures, 1940?1980s
. Jefferson, North Carolina:
McFarland & Company
. p. 82.
ISBN
978-0786470273
.
- ^
Plowright, Frank (September 22, 2003).
The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide
. Marietta, Georgia:
Top Shelf Productions
. p. 159.
ISBN
0954458907
.
- ^
Conroy, Mike (August 1, 2003).
500 Great Comic Book Action Heroes
. Hauppauge, New York:
Barron's Educational Series
. p.
208
.
ISBN
0764125818
.
- ^
Szasz, Ferenc (September 15, 2013).
"Atomic Comics Cartoonists Confront the Nuclear World"
. University of Nevada Press. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023
. Retrieved
August 23,
2023
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
link
)
- ^
Zeman, Scott C.; Amundson, Michael A. (2004).
Atomic Culture: How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
. Boulder, Colorado: University Press of Colorado. p.
11
.
ISBN
9780870817632
.
- ^
Gertler, Nat; Lieber, Steve (July 6, 2004).
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating a Graphic Novel
. New York:
Alpha Books
. p. 178.
ISBN
1592572332
.
- ^
Farrell, Ken (May 1, 2006).
Warman's Disney Collectibles Field Guide: Values and Identification
. Iola, Wisconsin:
Krause Publications
. p. 327.
ISBN
0896893227
.
- ^
Binder, Arnold; Geis, Gilbert (January 1, 2001).
Juvenile Delinquency: Historical, Cultural & Legal Perspectives
(Third ed.). Cincinnati, Ohio:
Routledge
. p.
220
.
ISBN
1583605037
.
- ^
Kiste Nyberg, Amy (February 1, 1998).
Seal of Approval: The History of the Comics Code (Studies in Popular Culture)
. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. p. 59.
ISBN
087805975X
.
- ^
a
b
Kiste Nyberg, Amy.
"Comics Code History: The Seal of Approval"
.
cbldf.org
.
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
. Archived from
the original
on March 27, 2016
. Retrieved
March 27,
2016
.
- ^
Shutt, Craig (2003).
Baby Boomer Comics: The Wild, Wacky, Wonderful Comic Books of the 1960s!
.
Iola, Wisconsin
:
Krause Publications
. p. 20.
ISBN
087349668X
.
The Silver Age started with
Showcase
#4, the Flash's first appearance.
- ^
Sassiene, Paul (1994).
The Comic Book: The One Essential Guide for Comic Book Fans Everywhere
.
Edison, New Jersey
: Chartwell Books, a division of Book Sales. p.
69
.
ISBN
9781555219994
.
DC's
Showcase
No. 4 was the comic that started the Silver Age
- ^
"DC Flashback: The Flash"
.
Comic Book Resources
. July 2, 2007. Archived from
the original
on January 12, 2009
. Retrieved
March 26,
2016
.
External links
[
edit
]
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