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A Brief History of Comics
Comics have been published for over a century, and collectors categorize them into five Ages:
- Platinum (1897-1937)
- Golden (1938-55)
- Silver (1956-69)
- Bronze (1970-79)
- Modern (1980-present)
One of the first comic strips was Hogan's Alley, published in 1895 by Richard Felton Outcalt. This strip introduced 'speech bubbles,' and its lead character, The Yellow Kid, had his own book, The Yellow Kid in McFadden's Flats, printed in 1897. This book actually coined the term 'comic book,' and it marks the beginning of the Platinum Age, which ran until 1937.
Subsequent newspaper comic strips such as Mutt and Jeff were reprinted in book form, and publishers began experimenting with periodical (weekly) comic books, selling them for 10 cents at newsstands. These pre-superhero comics were mostly pulp stories - tales of detectives, criminals, exotic travel, and adventure. The first costumed hero was The Phantom, who debuted in 1936, and wore a purple costume and black mask.
The so-called Golden Age began in 1937, and comic books, previously meant for adults, began to focus on youth. In 1938 a revolutionary new series, Action Comics #1, introduced Superman, the first comic book character with superhuman abilities. Batman followed a year later, in Detective Comics #27, grittier than Superman, and initially more of a mystery than a superhero comic.
Superman got his own book in 1939 (not shared with other comics), and this new format became the standard for American comic books. The Golden Age lasted until 1955, and introduced characters such as Captain Marvel, The Green Lantern, The Flash, Captain America, Jonah Hex, and The Spectre.
Enter The Silver Age, with the revamping of The Flash, who brought superhero comics back from their post-WW2 slump. During this era Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and other artists at Marvel created some of the best-known comics ever, including superhero teams like Jonah Hex, The Avengers and the X-Men. These comics are known for their characters having more depth, unlike the eternally optimistic heroes of the Golden Age.
In 1962, Spider-Man first appeared to great success, as he was a real, average person with a fantastic alter-ego that readers could relate to. Other characters introduced in this era include Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and Dr. Doom.
The Bronze Age (1970-1979) broke many rules. Black superheroes, such as the Falcon, appeared, as did foreign heroes like Banshee, Sunfire, and Nightcrawler. Comics as a whole got more 'real,' with The Green Lantern and the Green Arrow teaming up to take on real issues like urban crime and drug abuse. Innocent characters could get killed off, Superheroes could fight spirits, black magic, and more gritty, conflicted, and violent characters such as the Punisher and Jonah Hex.
The Modern Age of Comic Books is an informal name for the period in the history of mainstream American comic books generally considered to last from the mid-1980s until present day. In this period, comic book characters generally became darker and more psychologically complex, creators became better-known and active in changing the industry, independent comics flourished, and larger publishing houses became more commercialised.
Protecting Your Comic Books Vintage comic books can be worth a lot of money. It only makes sense to protect them from the elements and day-today wear and tear. Experts advise you to put them in Mylar plastic bags with slim cardboard to prevent damage, and to store them in a cardboard box designed just for comic books.
All of these protective supplies are likely to be available at your local comic book store.