Superhero comics is one of the most common genres of American comic books. The genre rose to prominence in the 1930s and became extremely popular in the 1940s and has 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 (heroic people with extraordinary or superhuman abilities and skills, or god-like powers and attributes) ballooned into a widespread genre, coincident with the beginnings of World War II and the end of the Great Depression.
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 first fully-masked hero The Clock first appeared in the comic book Funny Pages #6 (Nov. 1936).
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. By 1954 only three superheroes still had their own titles; Superman and Batman, who also costarred in World's Finest Comics, and Wonder Woman.[1]
Beginning in the 1950s, DC began publishing revised versions of their 1940s superhero characters such as The Flash and Green Lantern with more of a science fiction focus. Marvel Comics followed suit in the 1960s, introducing characters such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Thor, the X-Men and Iron Man who featured more complex personalities which had more dramatic potential.
Superhero Comics became darker with the release of landmark deconstructive works such as Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, which led to many imitations. The late 80s to early 90s saw the rise of successful new characters including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the anti-hero Spawn which were predominantly creator owned as opposed to Marvel and DC's which were corporate owned. The comic book mini series Kingdom Come brought an end to the popularity of the anti-hero and encouraged instead a reconstruction of the genre with superhero characters that endeavored to combine artistic and literary sophistication with idealism.
See alsoedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Superhero comics.
^Tim Hanley, Wonder Woman Unbound: The Curious History of the World's Most Famous Heroine, Chicago Review Press, 2014, p. 91.
Referencesedit
Benton, Mike (1991). Superhero Comics of the Silver Age: The Illustrated History. Taylor History of Comics. Taylor Publishing. p. 226. ISBN0-87833-746-6.
Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Taylor History of Comics. Taylor Publishing. p. 202. ISBN0-87833-808-X.
Howe, Sean 2012). Marvel Comics: the Untold Story. First ed. New York: Harper. 485 p. ISBN978-0-06-199210-0
Jacobs, Will and Gerard Jones (1985). The Comic Book Superheroes, from the Silver Age to the Present. New York: Crown Publishers. xi, 292 p. ISBN0-517-55440-2
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Superhero comics is one of the most common genres of American comic books The genre rose to prominence in the 1930s and became extremely popular in the 1940s and has 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 Superhero comicsCover of Wow Comics 38 September October 1941 AuthorsJack KirbyStan LeeDennis O NeilAlan MooreSteve DitkoPublishersDC ComicsMarvel ComicsImage ComicsValiant ComicsCharlton ComicsPublicationsSupermanBatmanThe Amazing Spider ManWatchmenAstro CitySeriesThe Death of SupermanGods and MortalsDays of Future PastThe Night Gwen Stacy DiedSnowbirds Don t FlyRelated genresComic book deathMagical girlSuperpowerTokusatsuWomen in Refrigerators Beginning with the introduction of Superman in 1938 in Action Comics 1 an anthology of adventure features comic books devoted to superheroes heroic people with extraordinary or superhuman abilities and skills or god like powers and attributes ballooned into a widespread genre coincident with the beginnings of World War II and the end of the Great Depression Contents 1 Precursors 2 History 2 1 The Golden Age c 1938 c 1950 2 2 Decline 2 3 The Silver Age c 1956 c 1970 2 4 The Bronze Age c 1970 c 1985 2 5 The Modern Age c 1985 present 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesPrecursors editIn comics format superpowered and costumed heroes like Popeye and The Phantom had appeared in newspaper comic strips for several years prior to Superman The first fully masked hero The Clock first appeared in the comic book Funny Pages 6 Nov 1936 History editMain article History of American comics The Golden Age c 1938 c 1950 edit Main article Golden Age of Comic Books In the Great Depression and World War II era the first superhero comics appeared the most popular being Superman Batman Captain Marvel Wonder Woman and Captain America Decline edit See also Atom Age of Comic Books 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 By 1954 only three superheroes still had their own titles Superman and Batman who also costarred in World s Finest Comics and Wonder Woman 1 The Silver Age c 1956 c 1970 edit Main article Silver Age of Comic Books Beginning in the 1950s DC began publishing revised versions of their 1940s superhero characters such as The Flash and Green Lantern with more of a science fiction focus Marvel Comics followed suit in the 1960s introducing characters such as Spider Man the Fantastic Four the Hulk Thor the X Men and Iron Man who featured more complex personalities which had more dramatic potential The Bronze Age c 1970 c 1985 edit Main article Bronze Age of Comic Books Superhero comics became much more political and dealt with social issues as in the short lived run of Green Lantern Green Arrow by Denny O Neil and Neal Adams and the Captain America story arc of the superhero s political disillusionment by Steve Englehart This was eventually supplanted by more sophisticated character driven titles of The Uncanny X Men by Chris Claremont and John Byrne for Marvel and The New Teen Titans by Marv Wolfman and George Perez for DC Anti hero themes became popular with appearances of the Punisher Wolverine Ghost Rider and a 1980s revival of Daredevil by Frank Miller The Modern Age c 1985 present edit Main article Modern Age of Comic Books Superhero Comics became darker with the release of landmark deconstructive works such as Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns which led to many imitations The late 80s to early 90s saw the rise of successful new characters including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the anti hero Spawn which were predominantly creator owned as opposed to Marvel and DC s which were corporate owned The comic book mini series Kingdom Come brought an end to the popularity of the anti hero and encouraged instead a reconstruction of the genre with superhero characters that endeavored to combine artistic and literary sophistication with idealism See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Superhero comics Superhero film nbsp Comics portal nbsp Speculative fiction portalNotes edit Tim Hanley Wonder Woman Unbound The Curious History of the World s Most Famous Heroine Chicago Review Press 2014 p 91 References editBenton Mike 1991 Superhero Comics of the Silver Age The Illustrated History Taylor History of Comics Taylor Publishing p 226 ISBN 0 87833 746 6 Benton Mike 1992 Superhero Comics of the Golden Age The Illustrated History Taylor History of Comics Taylor Publishing p 202 ISBN 0 87833 808 X Garrett Greg 2007 Holy Superheroes Exploring the Sacred in Comics Graphic Novels and Film Westminster John Knox Press p 216 ISBN 978 0 664 23191 0 Howe Sean 2012 Marvel Comics the Untold Story First ed New York Harper 485 p ISBN 978 0 06 199210 0 Jacobs Will and Gerard Jones 1985 The Comic Book Superheroes from the Silver Age to the Present New York Crown Publishers xi 292 p ISBN 0 517 55440 2 Klock Geoff 2002 How to Read Superhero Comics and Why Continuum International Publishing Group p 204 ISBN 0 8264 1418 4 Knowles Christopher 2007 Our Gods Wear Spandex The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes Illustrated by Joseph Michael Linsner Weiser p 256 ISBN 978 1 57863 406 4 LoCicero Don 2007 Superheroes and Gods A Comparative Study from Babylonia to Batman McFarland amp Company p 249 ISBN 978 0 7864 3184 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Superhero comics amp oldid 1210742705, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
