by Denis Hundhausen
Please note: This is part 1 of 3, dealing with the years 1939-1973. Part Two will be published August 24th, Part Three on September 1st. Once all three parts are published, the article will be avaiable for download. A german version is to follow.
Introduction
Mainstream
superhero comics have a long history – going all the way back to 1939. A lot of
things can happen in 73 years: many events in the outside world, many changes
in fashion, music and art and many political decisions may trigger certain
reflections in comic book. And, comic books themselves may trigger changes in
said fashions, arts and general taste. Comic books with their sequential character
are published monthly or even weekly, thus allowing them to react to recent
events shortly after.
This
article is an attempt to be a timeline of important events, critically
acclaimed storylines and important buisness decisions in comic books, trying to
determine all those changes comics have gone through, to find certain trigger
events or starting as well as ending points for eras.
That
being said, I followed the state of art to categorize the history of mainstream
comic books in The Golden Age, The Silver Age, The Bronze Age,
The Modern Age and the age thereafter, trying to find a name for it and
trying to make new categories for the later decades. Of course, the transition
between each of these “ages” is not always smooth and sometimes rough in
nature. For example, on the brink of the Silver Age you will find themes and
topics which actually belong in the Bronze Age, but there are still reasons to
categorize the respective years in the Silver Age. Meaning: A few comic book
issues were ahead of their time. But since this is art and not science,
categorizations will never be exact.
As it is
the nature of such lists, they will a) not be complete, b) subject to personal
classifications and c) subsequentially controversial. Another author would
probably have made a whole different list. Please feel free to discuss this
list with me and suggest to me what does or doesn’t belong there. And, be aware
that there will be spoilers. The list covers the years until 2012, so spoilers
of recent storylines are inevitable and won’t be marked especially.
As the
reader will notice, I have limited myself only to the two major companies – DC Comics and Marvel Comics[1] and their respective
imprints. Hence, the list can not be complete. I am well aware that the
Underground and Independant titles belong in such a list as well as
non-american comics and that this project cannot be thorougly without comics
such as Maus, Blueberry, Asterix, Tintin, Blankets, Spawn, In The Shadow Of No
Towers, From Hell and many, many more. But I don’t see my work on this list as
necessarily finished. It is work in progress. Eventually my aim is to work all
those titles into the list or making a second list for non-Marvel/non-Dc
comics. I will see with makes more sense when that time has come.
For now, enjoy
the list as it is and feel free to leave a comment.
Denis
Hundhausen
Wuppertal,
August 2012
The Golden Age
 |
| Action Comics #1, June 1938. Art by Joe Shuster. |
1938:
Supermans first apperance[2] changes comic books forever,
marking the beginning of the Golden Age of Comics.
1939:
Martin Goodman founds Timely Comics, later ultimately evolving into Marvel Comics.
One year after Superman Batman
enters the scene[3],
while Marvel[4]
creates his first superhero/mutant: Namor the
Submariner[5].
1940:
A young man named Robin spins the
dynamic of the yet to establish Batman franchise[6]. Other famous heroes have
their debut in this year too, among them Green
Lantern a.k.a. Alan Scott[7], and The Flash alias Jay Garrick[8] - the very same issue that
features the first female costumed vigilante in the Big Two’s publication
history: Hawkgirl[9].
Many of those heroes would go on to form the Justice
Society of America[10].
And one of the best known villains appears[11]: The Joker.
1941-1949:
In 1941 a certain patriotic hero named Captain
America enters the World War and has the hopes of a whole nation on
his shoulders when fighting Hitler[12]. Also the first Red Skull a.k.a. George Maxon debutes here.
Another hero serving in WWII and helping to take feminism one step
further: Wonder Woman[13] - shortly after debuting, she even gets her own
series[14].
Superboy on the
other hand makes his debut in 1945 – here still being a juvenile
Superman instead of the different character of later years.
Marvel launches several new titles as a test balloon to gain new
audiences, since the interest in superheroes began to fade in post-war America.
Among the new titles were many western themed comics[15], such as Two-Gun Kid, Wild West
and Kid Colt.
Interest in superhero comics continues to shrink more and more, leading
to the cancellation of the flagship title Marvel
Mystery Comics[16]
and a huge amount of new western and science fiction comics. In the same
instant, Captain America Comics was renamed in Captain
America’s Weird Tales[17],
but only lasting for two more issues (s. 1950).
1950-51:
Timely Comics emerged into Atlas Comics, covering a greater width of
genres as ever before, such as Western, Horror, Crime, Science Fiction etc.
Hence, many superhero titles were cancelled. Among them Captain America[18] and the Sub-Mariner[19] in ’51.
After All-Star Comics #57 (the series
starring the Justice Society of America),
DC renamed the series (but continuing the numbering, nevertheless) in All-Star Western in 1952. This is the
final indicator that the Golden Age of Comics has ended, despite a few
superhero titles still being published (s. below).
Interregnum
1952-1955:
Batman and Superman team-up for the first time ever[20] in 1952, while Wonder Woman’s book[21] briefly touches the
concept of other dimensions in the DCU, parallel to the world we know, in 1953.
This is regarded as the first step to DC’s Multiverse
concept. Wonder Woman is the first hero to travel to another dimension.
Atlas Comics tries to renew the interest in superhero comics, featuring
the return of the Human Torch[22], but the fire could not
yet be reignited in terms of sales – this should take another year.
In 1955 DC starts its The Brave and the
Bold anthology title[23], initially featuring
adventurers from past times, e.g. the Silent Knight
and from the backstory pages of the Detective Comics[24] emerges a new hero: the Martian Manhunter.
The Silver Age
 | |||||||
| Showcase #4, Oct '56, art by C. Infantion & J. Kubert |
1956:
Barry Allen gains superpowers and becomes the second Flash[25]:
The Silver Age of Comics has
begun.
1957:
Again touching the Multiverse
concept (s. 1953), Wonder Woman encounters another earth, completly mirroring
our own[26].
1958:
Supergirl (Kara
Zor-El) appears[27]
for the first time[28].
1959:
After an alien crashes on earth and dies, its power ring goes to Hal
Jordan, thus making him the second Green Lantern[29]. Elements such as the
power battery and the weakness against yellow are also introduced here, as well
as Hal’s love interest Carol Ferris.
1960:
Shortly after Hal Jordan’s debut, his new series is launched[30] and introduces readers to
the Green Lantern’s homeworld Oa and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Also, The Flash gets a
sidekick: Kid Flash a.k.a. Wally West premieres[31].
1961:
When Barry Allen meets Jay Garrick for the first time[32], the Multiverse finally is established for good. It is
retconned that all the Golden Age’s heroes like Alan Scott, Jay Garrick and
others (the first generation of heroes) dwell on Earth-2, a parallel earth.
This concept will bring forth many more stories with two earthes touching, but
also a whole lot of continuity problems, which where later resolved in various
crossovers (for example s. 1985).
Also premiering in 1961: The Fantastic Four[33], marking not only the first of many
cooperative inventions by Stan Lee
& Jack Kirby, but also Marvel’s first superteam
and the official beginning of Marvel’s Earth-616.
1962:
A young, struggeling nerd named Peter Parker becomes a whole generation’s
foil for their own problems: Spider-Man
is born and has to learn the hard way that power and responsibility come hand
in hand, as a burgler, whom Peter didn’t stop earlier, guns down his beloved
Uncle Ben[34].
Also debuting in 1962: The almighty God of Thunder Thor[35],
the Hulk[36]
and Dr. Doom[37].
1963:
 |
| The Avengers #1, Jul '63, art by J. Kirby & D. Ayers |
The debut of Marvel’s mightiest heroes, joining forces for the first
time, naming themselves The Avengers.
Their founding members were Iron Man, Hulk, Ant-Man, Thor and Wasp[38]. And another Marvel team
debuts this year: The X-Men[39].
1964:
In this year’s March, the Avengers make a surprising discovery: Captain America (Steve Rogers) did not die in
WWII, but lies frozen in ice[40]. This discovery retcons
Captain America’s brief adventures in the 50’s, in which he hunted communists,
later revealing that various individuals operated under the codename “Captain
America”. Also a first in 1964: Daredevil[41].
On DC’s end, major motives appeared for the first time: Mainly, the
female magician Zatanna marks the first crossover in comic book history[42] by apperaing in various
titles all over the DC Universe in the next three years[43].
And secondly, water-based hero Aquaman
marries Mera[44], marking the first
superhero wedding, outdating Marvel’s by only a few months (see 1965).
1965:
Sue Storm and Reed Richards decide to get married[45], while two importnat
femals in the Spider-Man-Universe appear: Mary-Jane
Watson is first seen (at least partly)[46] in June, with Gwen Stacy following her shortly after[47] – establishing one of
comic’s most infamous love triangle.
 |
| Fantastic Four #52, art by J. Kirby & J. Sinnott |
1966:
One has to consider this event by its own time, to fully grasp the
meaning of the 1st apperance of superhero Black Panther. When he debuted[48], he was mainstream’s
first black superhero.
1967:
Barbara Gordon dons her Batgirl
costume for the first time[49].
1968:
Guy Gardner debutes[50]. Also, Sue Storm-Richards
gives birth to her and Reed Richards’ child, resulting in the debut of Franklin Richards[51]
1969:
The Falcon
premieres[52].
While the Black Panther was the first black superhero, the Falcon is the first
African-American superhero.
1970:
Starting in April[53], Denny O’Neill & Neal Adams send Green Lantern on a journey through America along with the Green
Arrow, where they see social injustice and poverty. This arc became known under
the umbrella name Hard-Travelling Heroes.
1971:
His Fourth World Saga[54] establishes Jack Kirby
once more as the king of comics. Meanwhile, Marvel releases the first comic without
the CCA approval[55].
The content of this issue would not have been possible under the Comic’s Code
Authority: Harry Osborn struggles with a
drug abuse[56].
Henceforth, the topics grew darker and directed to a more adult readership.
DC follows this path with revealing Green Arrow’s teenage sidekick Speedy to also be a drug addict[57].
1972:
While DC purchases the rights to the Marvel
Family[58] from Fawcett Comics, Luke Cage becomes the first african-american
superhero with a series named after him[59]. Also the debut of Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) took place in this year[60].
1973:
Comics never were the same again after June 1973: The Green Goblin manages to kill Spider-Man’s
long-time girlfriend Gwen Stacy – and
Spider-Man is unable to prevent neither Gwen’s nor Goblin’s death[61]. Not few readers consider
Gwen’s death the end in innocence in comics, the end of the Silver Age[62].
 |
| Panel from Amazing Spider-Man #121, art by Gil Kane & John Romita Sr. |
Sources
If not stated otherwise, all comic titles refer to the title's first volume.
[1] I’m using the same color code in the
article to mark the respective companies: DC titles will be blue, Marvel comics
red,
in relation to their
franchise colors.
[2] Action Comics #1 by Jerry
Siegel & Joe Shuster.
[3] Detective
Comics #27 by Bill Finger & Bob Kane.
[4] Back then
called “Timely Publications”. It wasn’t called “Marvel Comics” until Journey into
Mystery #69 in 1961.
[5] Motion
Picture Funnies Weekly #1 by Bill Everett. There are voices that
claim the first Human Torch to be Marvel’s first hero, since Namor is more of
an anti-hero. However, this is a matter of definition. Another reason for
confusion is the fact that the debuting comic book of the Human Torch, Marvel Comics #1, reprints
Namor’s first appearance. Marvel Comics #1 was published in September, but
Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 five month prior (April 1939).
[6] Detective
Comics #38 by Bill Finger & Bob Kane.
[7] All-American
Comics #16 by Bill Finger & Martin Nodell.
[8] Flash-Comics #1 by Gardner
Fox & Harry Lampert.
[9] Some sources
claim, the first femal costumed metahuman to be the first Black Widow (Claire
Voylant), but she didn’t appear until August 1940, while the first Hawkgirl
debutet in January 1940.
[10] All-American
Comics #3 by Gardner Fox & Everett E. Hibbard.
[11] Batman #1 by Bill Finger
& Bob Kane.
[12] Captain
America Comics #1 by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby.
[13] All-Star Comics #8
by William Moulton Marston & Harry G. Peter.
[14] Wonder Woman #1 by William
Moulton Marston & Harry G. Peter
[15] Maybe
trying to milk success off of the recently released The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre.
[16] Last
issue: #92
[17] Beginning
with #74.
[18] Last
issue: #75.
[19] With issue
#32.
[20] Superman #76 by Edmond
Hamilton & Curt Swan.
[23]
The Brave and
the Bold by various artists.
[24] Detective
Comics #225 by Joe Samachson, Jack Miller & Joe Certa.
[25] Showcase #4 by Robert
Kanigher & Carmine Infantino.
[26] Wonder Woman #89 by Robert
Kanigher & Harry G. Peter.
[27] Action Comics #252
by Robert Bernstein and Al Plastino.
[28] In the year before, there was a character named
Super-Girl in Superman #123, who is not to be confused with Kara Zor-El. However,
positive fan feedback to Superman #123
ultimately led to
the creation of the more famous Supergirl Kara.
[29] Showcase #22 by John
Broome & Gil Kane.
[32] Flash #123 by Gardner Fox
& Carmine Infantino.
[33]
The Fantastic
Four #1 by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby.
[34] Amazing Fantasy #15
by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko.
[37] Fantastic Four #5 (same
creative team as above)
[38] The Avengers #1, Stan Lee
& Jack Kirby.
[39]
The X-Men #1 by the same
creative masterminds
[40] The Avengers #4, once more
by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby.
[41]
Daredevil #1 by Stan Lee
& Bill Everett.
[42] Depending on how you define the term “crossover”: The
concpet of two superheroes meeting up goes all the way back to 1940’s Marvel Mystery Comics #8-9 by Bill Everett, where Namor and the Human Torch
met. But a storyline stretching itself over various titles was first seen in
“Zatanna’s Search”.
[43] Zatanna’s Search, various books and creatives.
Further reading and list of each comic book she appered in during her search: http://www.comicsreview.co.uk/nowreadthis/2009/12/26/jla-zatanna%E2%80%99s-search/
[46] Amazing
Spider-Man #25 by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko.
[47]
Amazing
Spider-Man #31 by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko.
[49] Detective
Comics #359 (Gardner Fox & Carmine Infantino).
[50] Green Lantern (vol. 2) #59
by John Broome & Gil Kane
[51] Fantastic
FourAnnual #6 by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby. Though he hadn’t had a
name until two years later (s. Fantastic Four #94).
[52] Captain
America #117 by Stan Lee & Gene Colan.
[53] Green Lantern (vol. 2) #76
by Danny O’Neill & Neal Adams.
[54]
Spanning over several
titles titles and many years.
[56]
The Amazing
Spider-Man #96 by Stan Lee & Gil Kane.
[57] Green Lantern (vol. 2) #85
by Danny O’Neill & Neal Adams.
[58] Not to be
confused with anything Marvel Comics related – this name refers to Captain
Marvel and his franchsie, who was even more successful than Superman in the
40’s: http://www.thecomicbooks.com/old/capmarvl.html.
[59]
Luke Cage:
Hero for Hire #1 by Archie Goodwin & George Tuska.
[60] Marvel Spotlight #5
by Guy Friedrich, Roy Thomas & Mike Ploog.
[61] Amazing
Spider-Man #121 by Gerry Conway & Gil Kane.
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