1950s comic book history

By the early 1950s, according to the overstreet comic book price guide, one in three periodicals sold in the united states was a comic book. He was a highly distinguished psychologist who thought comic books were bad for kids, and his efforts to have them censored had a horrible and lasting impact that still affect comic books to this day. The comics after 1955 by adam blatner reposted 352010 this is based on a talk given 61209 to the summer. For instance, in japan, scrolls that were very much like comic books, in storytelling if not in format, have been around for. May 31, 2018 much of what we discuss when we talk about comics in this country is from an incredibly westernized viewpoint, often crediting the origin of sequential storytelling as having taken place in the 30s. In 1933, max gaines who was the father of bill gaines who later is featured in part 2 as the publisher of the ec comics that was one of the centers of the controversy over comic books and also one of the founders of mad comics and later mad magazine was himself arguably the inventor of the idea of the comic book. The romance genre rose in popularity and by the early 1950s, almost every comic book publisher was producing at least one romance title. The two most popular british comics, the beano and the dandy, were released by dc thomson in the 1930s. A british comic is a periodical published in the united kingdom that contains comic strips. Mar, 2015 some 60 years ago, during the era of mccarthyism, comic books became a threat, causing a panic that culminated in a senate hearing in 1954. These are the years when comics were considered a new and exciting form of art. Fredric werthham was the scariest thing to ever happen to comic books. As part of the publishers ambitious, multivolume history of american comic books, historian bill schelly has written an incisive account of industry activity, 195059. The comics code authority cca was formed in 1954 by the comics magazine association of america as an alternative to government regulation.

How the code authority kept lgbt characters out of comics. By the end of the 1940s most superhero comics had gone into decline with only really batman, superman and captain marvel now called shazam surviving until their return in the second half of the 1950s. These small 8page comics were sold in tobacco shops, barber shops, bars or other places that were frequented by a largely male clientele in the early to mid 1900s when they were produced. While there might not be any mutants or doomsday weapons in the actual history of comics, its panels are every bit as unpredictable. Some of them originally sold for ten cents, but now go for millions. In part 1, the history of comics from 1890s through around 1949 is summarized briefly. History of comics censorship, part 1 comic book legal. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. David hajdu has written biographies of music greats billy strayhorn, bob dylan, and joan baez. According to a lengthy report on juvenile delinquency in the. In 1899 a funny folks comic book came out, taking a close first stab at a format for many platinum age comic books.

They are the handheld, take anywhere books filled with superheroes, classic stories, or adult dramas. David hajdu has written biographies of music greats billy. After the war, sales dropped dramatically and then continued to slide down throughout the 1950s. The history of comic book styles is one as dynamic as the stories they contain, shaped not only by the hands of countless writers and artists but by millions of readers across nearly a century. As an entertainment medium, comics were the digital devices of their day. From 1938 to 1950 a period historians refer to as comics golden age comic books flourished without any direct competition.

British comics are usually comics anthologies which are typically aimed at children, and are published weekly, although some are also published on a fortnightly or monthly schedule. Whiles gaines is the bestknown casualty of the code, several other. This comic book starts what is now called the platinum age of comics. May 18, 2017 comic book fans and collectors divide the last 80 years of the publication of superhero comic books into four ages. Atlas comics is the 1950s comic book publishing label that evolved into marvel comics. How the code authority kept lgbt characters out of. Jul 24, 2014 as a kid back in the 1950 s i was an avid reader of american war comics which then just cost ten cents. He folded his comic book business and started mad magazine, which was not subject to the comics code authority. As a kid back in the 1950s i was an avid reader of american war comics which then just cost ten cents.

Some strict collectors consider the era finished by 1950. Except for the maps, each page in the book originated as a weekly feature in the texas and southwest section of the dallas morning news between 1995 and 2000. The american comic book chronicles continues its ambitious series of fullcolor hardcovers where twomorrows top authors document every decade of comic book history from the 1940s to today. Since this is banned books week, ive come to bury dr. The golden age of comic books describes an era of american comic books from 1938 to 1956. Oct 07, 2018 to start 2018s month of horror id thought it would be interesting to look at a forgotten part of comic book history. This era is iconic because it is near the birth age of comic books. Why my mother threw out my comic books part 3 of 3 webages. This, of course, isnt to say that mccarthyism and the. Jun 20, 2017 the mostly americanmade tijuana bibles are widely considered to be the first underground comic books. The golden age describes an era in the creation of comic books published between the years of 1938 and 1955. Why my mother threw out my comic books part 1 of 3 webages by adam blatner reposted november 18, 2009 this is based on a talk given on 61209 to the summer session of the. Dc comics, american media and entertainment company whose iconic comic based properties represented some of the most enduring and recognizable characters in 20th and 21stcentury.

In the us market, horror comic books reached a peak in the late. Comic book, bound collection of comic strips, usually in chronological sequence, typically telling a single story or a series of different stories. Horror comics are comic books, graphic novels, blackandwhite comics magazines, and manga focusing on horror fiction. The late 1950s through the 1960s saw a change from dark and supernatural comic book themes to the other end of the spectrum with books containing silly plots and a high degree of camp. Golden 19381950, silver 19561970, bronze 19701985 and modern 1985the present. It is generally referred to as a comic or a comic magazine, and historically as a comic paper. Ecs glory and gory years were 19501955, when it mutated from educational comics to entertaining comics, stopped printing tame titles like saddle romances and tiny tot and. However, through this period comic books based on the superman, batman, and wonder woman characters retained a modest audience. No history of british comics would be complete without paying homage to the great denis gifford who was born on boxing. Golden 1938 1950, silver 19561970, bronze 19701985 and modern 1985the present. Marvel comics is an american comic book line published by marvel entertainment, inc. In this new, skewed world, axes were rarely used to chop wood, and meat grinders werent for shredding beef. Wertham was an anticomic book crusader who did some serious damage back in. To start 2018s month of horror id thought it would be interesting to look at a forgotten part of comic book history.

Some 60 years ago, during the era of mccarthyism, comic books became a threat, causing a panic that culminated in a senate hearing in 1954. Oct 03, 2017 the history of the american comic strip and comic book. Apr 27, 2017 they are the handheld, take anywhere books filled with superheroes, classic stories, or adult dramas. I hope other fans will use it as a reference, perhaps find something. Atlas comics is the 1950s comicbook publishing label that evolved into marvel comics. First of all, the illustrations for the book, the photographs, which. Watchmen by alan moore and dave gibbons became one of the most celebrated mainstream comic books in history and earned a place on time magazines list of the 100 greatest english language novels of the 20th century. The american comic book chronicles continues its ambitious series of fullcolor hardcovers where twomorrows top authors document every decade of comic book history from the 1940s. These small 8page comics were sold in tobacco shops, barber.

See more ideas about comic books, vintage advertisements and classic comics. What was the comic book hysteria like in the 1950s. The amazing stylistic history of comic books 99designs. Magazine and paperback novel publisher martin goodman, whose business strategy involved having a. The comics after 1955 by adam blatner reposted 352010 this is based on a talk given 61209 to the summer session of the senior university georgetown. The middle decade of the last century was not a good one for the comics industry. While the form originated in 1933, american comic books first gained. Many questioned, and even blamed, movies, comic books, and rock and roll for its influence on the rising misbehavior of youth.

Haynes, another historian who analyzed this book, said two things in particular jumped out at him. Much of what we discuss when we talk about comics in this country is from an incredibly westernized viewpoint, often crediting the origin of sequential storytelling as having. First, a brief history of comic books from their origins to the late 1940s. They were prized not just for their content but because due to post war austerity british comics apart from the eagle first published n 1950 were mainly monochromatic in contrast to the full coloured american comics published by dell. Mar 25, 2008 david hajdu examines the great comic book panic of the 1950s. Magazine and paperback novel publisher martin goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities, used atlas as the umbrella name for his comic book division during this time. Dc comics, american media and entertainment company whose iconic comic based properties represented some of the most enduring and recognizable characters in 20th and 21stcentury popular culture.

Tracing the evolution of comic books by looking at the pictures, panels, and text that brought. In the us market, horror comic books reached a peak in the late 1940s through the mid 1950s, when concern over content and the imposition of the selfcensorship comics code authority contributed to the demise of many titles and the toning down of others. Ecs glory and gory years were 19501955, when it mutated from educational comics to entertaining comics, stopped printing tame titles like saddle romances and tiny tot and shifted to twofisted tales and the vault of horror. Sales could be counted in hundreds of millions, and more than 80% of kids and 90% of teens were reading them. The first true comic books were marketed in 1933 as giveaway advertising premiums. Comic book fans and collectors divide the last 80 years of the publication of superhero comic books into four ages. The dandy continues to be the oldest british comic still in publication. David hajdu examines the great comicbook panic of the 1950s. While the form originated in 1933, american comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of action comics, which included the debut of the superhero superman. Its parent company, dc entertainment, is a wholly owned subsidiary of time warner inc.

Wanting to try the american comic book chronicles series from twomorrows, i sprung for the 1950s by bill schelly, because i felt it was the decade i knew the least about. The strange history of comic book advertisements syfy wire. Through the mid1950s, the void was filled by comic books containing more serious themes such as crime, romance, western, and horror. Whiles gaines is the bestknown casualty of the code, several other comic book companies also folded in the 1950s due in part to code restrictions, although with less fanfare. Affectionately called the house of ideas by the fan press, marvels bestknown comics titles. Ive created this site as a place to share my enthusiasm for the blackhawk comic books. The superhero archetype was created and many wellknown characters were introduced, including superman, batman, captain marvel, captain america, and wonder woman. Many, many comic books have advertisements of all kinds of weapons, really dangerous ones, like. A brief history of romance comics sequential crush.

They were prized not just for their content but because due to post war. The pogo possum character had been introduced in the first issue of. Super heroes all died out between 1950 and 1955 with only superman, batman and wonder woman and a few smaller ones still being published. By the end of the 1940s most superhero comics had gone. First of all, the illustrations for the book, the photographs, which are taken from bmovies and films about texas history from the 1940s and 1950s, he said.

The 100 most influential pages in comic book history. Batman earned his own selftitled comic book in 1940, while continuing to be featured in detective comics. Reynolds researches, writes, and illustrates texas lore, a popular series appearing in the sunday edition of the dallas morning news. In reality, it began much, much further back in other countries. Sep 25, 20 wertham was an anti comic book crusader who did some serious damage back in the 1950s. What a 1950s texas textbook can teach us about todays. Stories of men lifting up cars complete with engaging art were more fun than expensive hardcover books, ideal for an audience during the great depression and world war ii. Donald ducks uncle scrooge makes his first comic book appearance. The cca allowed the comic publishers to selfregulate the content of comic books in the united states. The comics code the genres success barreled ahead into the 1950s and before long, the market was oversaturated leading to what is known as the love glut. No history of british comics would be complete without paying homage to the great denis gifford who was born on boxing day 1927. Comic censorship as comics soared in popularity, they drew the inevitable concern from parents and church groups. The history of the american comic strip and comic book.

An american comic book is a thin periodical originating in the united states, on average 32 pages, containing comics. Nov 04, 2016 the history of comic book styles is one as dynamic as the stories they contain, shaped not only by the hands of countless writers and artists but by millions of readers across nearly a century. The insane history of how american paranoia ruined and. According to a lengthy report on juvenile delinquency in the 1955 saturday evening post, crime committed by teenagers increased by a drastic 45% between 1950 and 1955. Bill schelly authors the volume on the 1950s era of marilyn monroe and elvis presley, with a yearbyyear account of the most. The mostly americanmade tijuana bibles are widely considered to be the first underground comic books. Tracing the evolution of comic books by looking at the pictures, panels, and text that brought them to.