A group of top comic collectors has chosen detective comics no. In june of 1938, national allied publications began a new comic book series, featuring several different heroes. We maintain a wide selection of golden age, silver age, and bronze age comics and collectibles. Now this popular and influential body of work, along with each artists thoughts, ideas and commentary, is presented in the silver age of comic book art revised edition, a coffee table comic book art history book written and designed in a daringly different format by comic book historian and illustrator arlen schumer, and published in. Mar 27, 2020 in this comic book haul i got a comic off of my 2020 want list. Best of the golden age batman, captain america, alex schomburg get nods as collectors select their favorite covers of the era. Labonog, keston fulcher, robert cat conrad, and matt nelson. How censors killed the weird, experimental, progressive golden. 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. The golden age of comic books useful notes tv tropes. Plus, we also hold a large and growing selection of comic strips and pulp fiction.
Charles teenie harris carnegie museum of art getty images. Oct 06, 2016 as far as comic book history, comic books have been aroundfor a very long time. Historically, this period covers world war ii, one of. 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. The golden age of comic books describes an era of american comic books from 1938 to 1956. The golden age of dc comics bibliotheca universalis. How and why comic books are drawn at 10 by 15 inches. This page will deal with the most valuable of all, golden age comic books. Apr 03, 2017 the golden age of comics 19381956 technically, the golden age of comics took place between 1938 and 1956. The following period, the silver age, goes from 1956 to early 1970s. These lavishly illustrated stories of guts and glory, violence and valor, intrigue, romance, and betrayal, on the range and in lawless frontier towns, were created by some of the best artists and writers of the era. We will say that the golden age begins in 1938 and ends in 1956, when the silver age. The 8 ages of comic books by alex grand comic book historians. The focus is mainly on popular superheroes comic books that appeared in dc comics published during the socalled silver age roughly from the late 50s through the early 70s.
Many iconic characters were introduced in this time period and became part of american culture at a very interesting point in our history. But something about the history of the thing, those early covers with their bold colors and dynamic layouts pulled me in. Created by jerry siegel and joe shuster, superman is possibly the most recognizable comic book character to this day. Characteristic of the golden age s idealism, superheroes were often used as a platform for instilling national pride and patriotism in the face of wwii. If the golden age of comic books and the silver age of comic books were the childhood of super heroes, the bronze age of comic books was their adolescence, and the dark age of comic books was their angstridden teenage years, then the modern age of comic books is surely the college years.
Though printed in booklet form, comics did not deviate far from their newspaper ancestors, telling a straightforward story. Most golden age comics golden age comics will have a 10 cent price and tend to be wider than silver age comics. Featuring a gold foil logo on the cover of each issue, the golden age is a 4issue elseworlds miniseries set during the start of one of the darkest periods of u. The golden age is a 1993 fourissue elseworlds comic book miniseries by writer james robinson and artist paul smith. Silver age, golden age comic books, original art where to start. Lupoff in an article, rebirth, published in issue one of the fanzine comic art in april 1960 history. Oct 01, 2011 the golden age of dc comics is a coffee table book covering the history of dc comics from 19351956. The superhero archetype was created and many wellknown characters were introduced, including superman, batman, captain marvel, captain america, and wonder. These eras include the golden age 19381950, the silver age 19561970, the bronze age 19701985, and the modern age 1985present. Far from the fullcolor glossy comic books of today, this book featured black and white reprints of popular newspaper comic strips. Art of the comic book history how and why comic books are.
This book gives the other superheroes of the golden age of comics their due, with a blowbyblow look at each ones career and creators, context and oddities. Judging from golden age and silver age originals, the most popular production art size was 12 12 x 18 12 also called double up. Most have since been overlooked, and not necessarily because they were victims of poor publication. Thought this was the best forum to have a continued. The modern age of comic books useful notes tv tropes.
Comic book haul a golden age grail off of my 2020 want list. Cbr news examines the emerald archers lengthy history from his golden age origins to his latest television romp in arrow. Ga comic book collecting in the financial crisis of 2020. Novelty press was an american golden age comicbook publisher that operated from 1940 1949. Apr 03, 2010 like publishers of magazines and newspapers, comic book companies didnt regulate artists working preferences. The history of green arrow from golden age to arrow for 70 years, dc comics oliver queen aka green arrow has delighted readers.
Comic book plus free and legal public domain books. Oct 15, 2019 comics historians and fans like to refer to the golden age of comics 19381954, as well as the silver age 19561971 1. Among noveltys bestknown and longestrunning titles were blue bolt and target comics. During this time, modern comic books were first published and enjoyed a surge of popularity. Dropping literally out of the sky to kick off the golden age, superman represents the comic book origin story. The golden age for comic books is known for plots that dont appear in modern day comics.
Published in 1897, the yellow kid in mcfaddens flats is considered to be the first comic book, insomuch that it bore the phrase comic book on its back cover. Theoretically sequential art goes back to the ancient egyptians, but for the sake of simplicity its good to start somewhere. 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. In 1837, we have the first recorded graphic novel with sequential art called the adventures of obadiah oldbuck. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The first recorded use of the term golden age was by richard a. The first release is this one, devoted to as the title suggests the golden age of dc comics, an era ending in 1955, when the silver age was born. The golden age of illustration 1880s to 1920s the golden age of illustration was a period of unprecedented excellence in book and magazine illustration. 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. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. The golden age of dc comics is a coffee table book covering the history of dc comics from 19351956. The golden age 19391949 marks a terrific teamup between the folio society and marvel comics. Its most popular character was captain marvel, the alter ego of radio reporter billy batson, who transformed into the. Canadian comics 19411946 during the second world war there was a foreignexchange crisis which led to a ban being placed on the importation of u.
Comics histories sometimes reduce the golden age to the superman age. The wiki format allows any registered user to create any article, so we can all work together to build the site. The golden age of comic books introduced the archetype of the superhero. The most common golden age comic art material is wood. Here are the four major ages for comic books in chronological order.
In the introduction, goulart states that this is basically a picture book, and as such, it is tons of fun. An american grass roots movement from its humble origins to its status as a true cultural phenomenon. An illustrated history is a misleading title for this visual celebration of comics golden age mid1930s through the 1940s as it is neither an overview of comic book history nor a study of its culture. 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. Some strict collectors consider the era finished by 1950. When it comes to silver age comic books, golden age comic books. American comics historians generally divide 20thcentury american comics history chronologically into ages. Dale roberts comics buys and sells comic books from the 1930s current. The goal was identifying golden age comic books 19371949 with the most impressive covers. This period, which witnessed an explosion of englishcanadian comic book publishing, is now described as the canadian golden age of comics. Over at dc comics, carmine infantino applied his art to various genre of comic books, and one that struck a cord with the mainstream and did well under the comics code authority was showcase 4, 1956 which introduced the modern barry allen flash and started off the silver age 19561969. Subcategories this category has the following 53 subcategories, out of 53 total. 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 comic strip reprints golden age comic.
Comic book dealers recommendations metropolis comics. 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. A new character created by two young men from cleveland was featured on the cover. Comic books and superheroes in special collections, features comics selected from the baldwin library of historical childrens literature. The 10 greatest comic book artists of all time creative bloq.
It concerns the golden age dc comics superheroes entering the 1950s and facing the advent of mccarthyism. Or perhaps the more appropriate question might be, why cant comic books be considered serious art. It developed from advances in technology permitting accurate and inexpensive reproduction of art, combined with a voracious public demand for new graphic art. Reference to lesser known comics in the golden age prompts me to communicate recent august 25th. Oct 12, 2015 as a matter of fact, they are releasing five separate volumes, each pulling material from the 75 years book, and each highlighting a distinctive historical age in comic books. Jerry siegel and joe shusters superman, bob kanes batman, and will eisners the spirit were all created during the golden age.
The super hero genre is bestknown in the medium of american comic books. Get the best deals on captain america golden age comics. The period also saw the emergence of the comic book as a mainstream art form, and the defining of the mediums artistic vocabulary and creative conventions by. Mar 31, 2020 one of the most significant pieces of original art from the golden age of comic strips to surface in the modern era, the 87yearold art will be auctioned on march 31 by profiles in history. The even better news is that all the content is free and legal.
From the 30s to the 70s book i probably would have gotten into batman. I sell classic cliffhanger serial dvds, classic tv detective dvds, classic scifi tv dvds, golden age comic books, silver age comic books, bronze age comic books, original comic book art, nightveil media movies based on ac comics characters, femforce product, paragon publications books, classic movie posters, pressbooks and photos scifi, horror, b western. The 60s saw the first major comic book conventions start up and gain popularity. 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. Even with the silver age, there are aspects which overlap accepted periods. Each age has had its own good and bad qualities, its classics and its trash. The colorful history of comic books and newspaper cartoon.
By the mid1950s, the comic book industry was imperiled. It was the comic book arm of curtis publishing company. Get the ultimate insights on the heyday of dc comics. On the other hand, because of this restriction, the archive offers an interesting window into the themes of lesserknown comics in the golden age romance, westerns, combat, crime. Welcome to comic book plus, the site where every day is party day. Browse and buy a vast selection of golden age comic books collections. The bcw comic book frame is an attractive black frame with a clear glass front. A 15year journey, completed golden age comic books cgc. Spanning from 1935 to 1956, more than 600 pages of covers and interiors, original illustrations. Let me begin by saying we have had a number of things happened and i just got the news they pulled the plug on wonder con with no decision yet on sdcc. 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. We are the original and still the premier site to read and download golden and silver age comic books.
Similar to the digital comic museum, which we wrote about last week, comic book plus contains a near inexhaustible quantity of golden and silver age comic books. Top 100 most valuable comic books of the golden age 19381956 the 100 most valuable comic books from each age. I also got a commission art piece from a great local artist. The history of green arrow from golden age to arrow cbr. Since then, as with any recent analysis of history, ages tend to be replaced by movements as multiple ideas and influences are studied. 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. Brenda starrthe first cartoon strip written by a womanwas first published in 1940.
The collections timespan ranges from the late 1930s through to the early 1960s, and includes many thousands of comic books in the superhero, scifi, and horror genres. 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. The golden age set the stage for the majority of comics published for the next two decades. He got his first professional work at the age of 16, drawing. Captain america golden age comics 19381955 for sale ebay. 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 book length history of comic fandoms early years. In the 1940s, comic books were often feminist, diverse, and bold. Fawcett comics, a division of fawcett publications, was one of several successful comic book publishers during the golden age of comic books in the 1940s.
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. View thousands of scanned comic books in the feature gallery, or search metropolis entire comic inventory with their advanced search. These are the years when comics were considered a new and exciting form of art. The golden age was an important fanzine published during the height of comic book fandom.
An event cited by many as marking the beginning of. This category collects materials related to the golden age of comic books, circa 19381955. Golden age experts of the collectors society participated in the heritage auctionscertified guaranty company poll, conducted by society members benjamin j. Lupoff in an article, rebirth, published in issue one of the fanzine comic art in april 1960. Like publishers of magazines and newspapers, comic book companies didnt regulate artists working preferences. The resulting archive is devoid of many familiar comic book characters, like those from marvel, d. The 1960s was a time of significant growth in the comics industry. The golden age describes an era in the creation of comic books published between the years of 1938 and 1955. Long lost flash gordon comic art breaks records in auction ign. Dcs, nedor, fawcett, fox, centaur, quality, fiction house, harvey, prize, ace, better or others. Golden age of comic books golden age comics wiki fandom.
They were the greatest heroes of their age, an age of gold and virgin wonder. But even there, its fortunes have gone up and down, and this has influenced the perception of superheroes in general. The amazing stylistic history of comic books 99designs. The 8 ages of comic books by alex grand comic book. The golden age and beyond the middle part of the 20th century is considered the golden age of newspaper comics as strips proliferated and papers flourished.
891 597 519 1186 188 733 1477 1258 1312 1527 972 699 871 732 383 720 846 1127 1230 964 1306 645 211 12 1409 290 749 642 1313 1015 1101 483 24 164