Of the golden age american comic book publishers on this list, only ten continued to publish comic books after 1960, and only three of them are still currently in business. Jan 28, 2005 i used to do a column for cbm on shortlived titles of the gayour basic 35 issues. There is no single event that comic experts agree signified the start of the bronze age, though at the same time there was a marked change in the overall tone of many popular books in the early 70s that many consider to herald the start. 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. We are the original and still the premier site to read and download golden and silver age comic books. A new character created by two young men from cleveland was featured on the cover. Along with fawcett comics superhero captain marvel, dc comics flash and green lantern debuted in 1940. History 124 american cultural and intellectual history with dr. Golden age, comic books had a large cultural base of many ages. Representations of american culture from the great depression to the cold war. Jun 02, 2017 comic books are a reflection of modern society, so as society changed, so did the comic book plots, characters and themes. In june of 1938, national allied publications began a new comic book series, featuring several different heroes. In short, if you have any interest in comic book art and the artists that drew them, this is the book for you.
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. The precise era of the golden age is disputed, though most agree that it was born with the launch of superman in 1938. Plus, we also hold a large and growing selection of comic strips and pulp fiction. If use ebays category listings as a functional example, the golden of age of comics ranges from 1938 to 1955. Collectible golden age comics reprints 193855 for sale. The superhero archetype was created and many wellknown characters were introduced, including superman, batman, captain marvel, captain america, and wonder woman.
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 blog and podcast facebook. Shortlived titles of the golden age shortlived titles of the golden age 3 3. The silver age of comic books began in 1956 with a resurgence of interest in. The golden age of comic books began in june 1938 with the debut of. On the other hand, because of this restriction, the archive offers an interesting window into the themes of lesserknown comics in the golden ageromance, westerns, combat, crime. It concerns the golden age dc comics superheroes entering the 1950s and facing the advent of mccarthyism. See more ideas about comics, golden age and comic covers. Comic books are a reflection of modern society, so as society changed, so did the comic book plots, characters and themes. The origins and early adventures of the classic superheroes of the comic books by. Apr 03, 2017 the golden age of comics 19381956 technically, the golden age of comics took place between 1938 and 1956. Those terms were created to describe the high points in superhero comic book popularity as the early writers of comic history were mainly superhero fans. Ghost rider comic book cover art by frank frazetta ghost rider golden age westerns comics not signed a cover gallery for the comic book ghost rider greedy ghosts of boot hill bizz buzz comics uncanny uncollectibles. The jade buddha the island of wanatoba the door of death saving senator barkley the insdious dr.
The debut of the new superhero the flash in 1956 is generally considered the beginning of the silver age of comic books. Jack kirby and the moonlighting artists at martin goodmans empire by. Its insane to see how much the comic book world has changed for the better, especially for creatorowned and new ideas, he says. A book i would recommend for the artwork alone, the text is short but revealing. Created by jerry siegel and joe shuster, superman is possibly the most recognizable comic book character to this day. The golden age of comic book movies can you believe that guy. With the actual golden age of comics being seen as a high point of readership. While the golden age of comic books was from the 1930s to 1950s, it has become evident that the early 21 st century has become the golden age of comic book movies. During approximately the first 15 years of this period, many comic book characters were redesigned, creators gained prominence in the industry, independent comics flourished, and larger publishing houses.
Feature comic book cover for the ghost rider 4 a1 no. For those of you who are somewhat familiar with comic books have probably heard terms like golden age, silver age and so on. But the modern comic book magazine format was born five years earlier. The bcw comic book frame is an attractive black frame with a clear glass front. Comparing and contrasting two eras in the history of comic books. Most valuable comic books comic book values comic book.
This was when the seed of everything we know in comics today were first planted. The history of american comics began in the 19th century in mass print media, in the era of. What happens when downey ages out of playing tony stark. Comic books with a number as its title are alphabetized by. The golden age of comic books blog and podcast home. The even better news is that all the content is free and legal. The golden age of comic book movies can you believe that. In many ways, the comic book was better suited to meet the needs of the american people. Here for your view is, in my opinion, the rarest of these short lived titleswow, what a magazine from 1936 featuring the first work of eisner, bailey, briefera short piece i did as my first cbm ar. Even seasoned collectors may have problems attaining comics from this era. Oct 01, 2011 the golden age of dc comics is a coffee table book covering the history of dc comics from 19351956. Undergraduate recipient of the librarys maria dittman award, spring 2009. In fact, they are among the older and more desirable comics on the market.
The golden age of comic books useful notes tv tropes. These eras include the golden age 19381950, the silver age 19561970, the bronze age. Comics historians divide the history of american comic books into ages. The illustrated history taylor history of comics, vol 4 benton, mike on. There are several key events and characters from the 30s that shaped the formation of modern comics. Comic book dealers recommendations metropolis comics. Comic books with a number as its title are alphabetized by the way the name is pronounced.
Everyone knows the standard story about how max gaines in 1933 folded a newspaper comic tabloid in. African american comic book history detectives pbs. Created in new york by jewish immigrants, the first comic book. 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. Features twilight and snoopy cover from clue comics by biljo white. Just make sure that youre standing well back and wearing protective clothing when you do, though although many comics historians will point to european broadsheets of the sixteenth century as the ancient precursors of. Thats why i think the nostalgic age is a good name for this modern period comic book characters, more than any time in their history, have become calcified and static, so that even the slightest change is disallowed or written away as soon as possible. The golden age is a 1993 fourissue elseworlds comic book miniseries by writer james robinson and artist paul smith. Representations of american culture from the great depression to the cold war before beginning a historical study of comic books, it is necessary to shed our modern perception of the medium. The first period, called golden age, extends from 1938 first appearance of.
During this time, modern comic books were first published and enjoyed a surge of popularity. It was in the golden age of comics that many of the most recognizable comic book characters were first published, including batman, superman, captain america, wonder. This is the facebook page for bill jourdains golden age of comic books blog and podcast. Mar 18, 2016 the golden age of comic book movies march 18, 2016 andrew leave a comment today marks a very much anticipated date for me, and that is the release of daredevil season 2 on netflix, the street level epic series about the crime fighting man without fear from hells kitchen. Collectible golden age comics reprints 193855 for sale ebay.
Editions in a comic book series that feature the introduction of a new character, or a significant event in comic book history, are particularly sought after by collectors. I have a collection of old comic books ranging from superman to iron man, years ranging from 1967 to 1990i am needing to know how much they are worthi also have a marvel transformers head masters vol. The golden age of comic books describes an era of american comic books from 1938 to 1956. Shortlived titles of the golden age cgc comic book. A carnival of comics eastern color printing was released. Start with david kunzles history of the comic strip, or read scott. Because of this, comic books are generally categorized into different ages based on when they were published. Golden age comics public domain comic books collectible. All comic books for sale are listed alphabetically by the first letter of the comic book s name. The golden age of comics 19381956 technically, the golden age of comics took place between 1938 and 1956. So, the xmen comic books are listed under x and the outer limits is listed under o. In june of 1938, national allied publications began a new comicbook series, featuring several different heroes. Our contributor found an unusual 1950s comic book at an auction, titled negro romance.
While the foundations of todays industry started in the 1920s, the events of today are shaping the industry of tomorrow. Learn the comic book values of important archie books, starting with his first appearance in pep comics well give you a. The superhero archetype was created and many wellknown characters were introduced, including superman, batman, captain marvel, captain america, and wonder. The illustrated history taylor history of comics, vol 4.
Author mike benton has turned out some well researched and engaging books on comicscovering science fiction, horror, the silver age, and moreand. The golden age of dc comics is a coffee table book covering the history of dc comics from 19351956. Welcome to comic book plus, the site where every day is party day. Media in category golden age of comic books the following 199 files are in this category, out of 199 total. We also see the introduction of batman, robin, wonder woman, flash, green lantern, aquaman, captain america and many more iconic superheros. 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 for comic books is known for plots that dont appear in modern day comics. This page will deal with the most valuable of all, golden age comic books.
New events that shape the comics industry are always happening. The modern age of comic books is a period in the history of american superhero comic books which is generally considered to have begun in the mid1980s and continues through the present day. Vincent bernard the silver age of comic book art is a beautiful, brilliant work of love and true passion. These eras include the golden age 19381950, the silver age 19561970, the bronze age 19701985, and the modern age 1985present. Fu manchu give and take the song of death block buster boat race of doom the. The golden age of superhero movies has yet to face its. The 1930s was the start of the golden age of comics. View thousands of scanned comic books in the feature gallery, or search metropolis entire comic inventory with. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. 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. 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. The resulting archive is devoid of many familiar comicbook characters, like those from marvel, d. Colleges and universities widely begin offering courses in sequential art.
Many iconic characters were introduced in this time period and became part of american culture at a very interesting point in our history. 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. Following mounting criticism regarding the negative influence comics, which gravitated towards other genres such as romance and horror following the end of wwii, supposedly had on violence in kids, the comic code authority was created. 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, daredevil, blue beetle, green giant, captain marvel, green lantern and other golden age heroes from the world war ii era. Pregolden age 193338 the birth of the modern comic book. The silver age of comics is marked with a returned focus towards superhero comics. In adapting the neverending universes of comic books, movies and tv shows will eventually face the challenges of the human factor. Golden age superheroines who were as awesome as wonder. All comic books for sale are listed alphabetically by the first letter of the comic books name. An overview of the 8 ages of comic books from 1897present day which includes key events in american history that helped shape the timeline. It hits the ground running with the advent of the modern comic book in 1934 and. Modern cultural logic regards comic books as a childrens medium, a decidedly minor facet of american popular culture. Golden age 19381956 silver age 19561970 bronze age 19701985 modern age 1985present the modern age of. This was the golden age of comic books, when americans.
855 1326 424 156 305 593 81 1132 606 719 242 1234 1302 743 1361 1489 165 980 1110 643 164 1164 813 881 650 792 11 1053 1488 1352 459 714 802