Superhero comics

Superhero comics is a form of American comic books. The form originally rose to prominence in the 1930s and 1940s and has essentially remained the dominant form of comic book in North America since the 1960s. Superhero comics feature stories about superheroes and the universes these characters inhabit. Beginning with the introduction of Superman in 1938 in Action Comics #1 — an anthology of adventure features — comic books devoted to superheroes (briefly, heroic people with extraordinary or superhuman abilities and skills, or god-like powers and attributes) ballooned into a huge genre, coincident with the beginnings of World War II and the end of The Great Depression.

Precursors

In comics format, superpowered and costumed heroes like Popeye and The Phantom had appeared in newspaper comic strips for several years prior to Superman. The masked detective The Clock first appeared in the comic book Funny Pages #6 (Nov. 1936)

The Golden Age

In the Great Depression and World War II era the first Superhero Comics appered. The Most Popular being Superman, Batman,Captain Marvel,Wonder Woman and Captain America

Decline

After World War II superhero comic books gradually declined in popularity, their sales hindered in part by the publication of Seduction of the Innocent and the investigations of The Senate Subcommittee Hearings on Juvenile Delinquency.

The Silver Age

Beginning in the 1950s, DC began publishing revised versions of their 1940s superhero characters such as The Flash and Green Lantern. Marvel Comics followed suit in the 1960s, introducing characters such as Spider-Man,the Fantastic Four,the Hulk, the X Men and Iron Man.

The Bronze Age

Superhero Comics Become much more Political and dealt with Social Issues. The Anti-Hero becomes popular with apperances of The Punisher, Wolverine, Ghost Rider and a 1980s Reviveal of Daredevil.

The Modern Age

Superhero Comics become more Darker with the release of The Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns Also Image Comics releases there new comics which include the Anti-Hero Spawn. The Comic Book Mini Series Kingdom Come brings an end to the Anti-Hero and the Classic Superhero becomes more Popular. The Superhero Genre becomes more Popular than ever in the 21st Century due to the rise in Superhero Film.

See also

• Golden Age of Comic Books
• Silver Age of Comic Books
• Bronze Age of Comic Books
• Modern Age of Comic Books

External links

• Superhero Collection online comic books from FuryComics.com

References

• Benton, Mike (1991). Superhero Comics of the Silver Age: The Illustrated History. Taylor History of Comics. Taylor Publishing. p. 226. ISBN 0878337466.
• Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Taylor History of Comics. Taylor Publishing. p. 202. ISBN 087833808X.
• Garrett, Greg (2007). Holy Superheroes!: Exploring the Sacred in Comics, Graphic Novels, and Film. Westminster John Knox Press. p. 216. ISBN 0664231918.
• Klock, Geoff (2002). How to Read Superhero Comics and Why. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 204. ISBN 0826414184.
• Knowles, Christopher (2007). Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes. Illustrated by Joseph Michael Linsner. Weiser. p. 256. ISBN 1578634067.
• LoCicero, Don (2007). Superheroes and Gods: A Comparative Study from Babylonia to Batman. McFarland & Company. p. 249. ISBN 0786431849.