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The Golden Age of comics has always been viewed as the proper birth of the American Comic industry. These were the days when many companies and classic characters began to take shape, with many of them still having a lot of relevance to this day. Captain America, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman began in this era, proving its cultural significance.
The Golden Age is also somewhat undervalued in terms of its history by younger readers. It makes sense. This era took place from 1938 to 1956. However, several key factors must be addressed when analyzing this grand period of comic book bonanza. Let’s dive in.
Writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster didn’t know what they were creating when they came up with the concept of Superman back in 1938. However, considering that the Golden Age of comics is always associated with superheroes, the Man of Steel’s birth represents the beginning of this period.
The concept of Superman pushed the comic book medium towards superhero storylines. Before Clark’s appearance in comics, the industry was much more varied, mostly on horror and Westerns. This character kickstarted the Golden Age, with the focus turning towards characters with powers.
The idea of powerful individuals with colorful suits and extraordinary abilities helped redefine the comic book industry. Sure, there were superheroes before the arrival of Superman, but he was the one who defined this genre.
During its heyday in the 40s, an entire line of superheroes was introduced, including The Flash, Green Lantern, Batman and Robin, and Wonder Woman. Most people know that these characters are cultural icons and remain part of DC’s most prominent titles to this very day.
On the other hand, Timely Comics, the publishing company before Marvel Comics, came up with the Sub-Mariner (Namor), the Human Torch, and a little character known as Captain America.
This is not to say that everything was based on superheroes, though. Tarzan, Donald Duck, and Mickey Mouse comics maintained a degree of variety in the industry.
Another exciting historical fact about the Golden Age of comics was its connection to World War II. Considering that the United States was at war with Nazi Germany back in the mid-40s, the comic book industry was very focused on the war, and a lot of series involved the conflict in their stories.
The comic book cover of Captain America punching Hitler is already the stuff of legends. Superman, Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman were heavily involved in these conflicts. Captain America even did some missions against Nazi Germany alongside the likes of the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner.
It’s also worth pointing out that Captain America was not the only intensely patriotic superhero. It was commonplace back in the 40s in the American comic book industry to have a lot of superheroes wearing the colors of the flag. This also played a significant role during World War II, and while most didn’t have a lasting legacy, it was prominent back then.
As happens with many cultural movements, there was a period when the popularity of the Golden Age of comics began to wane. The 50s signaled more than a decade, with superheroes being the most prominent choice in the medium.
Sure, many superhero comics were still selling very well, but the publishing companies were starting to diversify their catalog. This was when Fredric Wertham’s Seduction of the Innocent book came out. This book caused massive damage to the comic book industry as Wertham claimed that Comics had a substantial negative impact on society, with many youngsters falling into delinquency. This led to the creation of the Comic Code Authority.
The Comic Book Code Authority (CCA) was established in 1954, marking a significant moment in the history of comic books in the United States. The atmosphere of the early 1950s, already charged with the anxieties of the Cold War and a general inclination towards conservatism in social and cultural matters, created a fertile ground for such arguments. Concerned parents, educators, and even lawmakers began to view comics, especially those depicting crime, horror, and morally ambiguous characters, as threatening the social fabric. This led to Senate hearings, bringing the comic book industry under intense scrutiny.
Leaders in the comic book industry established the CCA as a self-regulatory body to stave off government regulation. The Code set strict guidelines on the content of comic books, banning graphic depictions of violence and sexual innuendo and insisting on portraying authority figures, such as police and government officials, in a positive light. Comics had to uphold a specific moral code, where good always triumphed over evil, and morally ambiguous characters were not allowed.
The impact of the CCA on the comic book industry was profound and long-lasting. Many publishers went out of business, unable to adapt to the stringent restrictions. Notable casualties included EC Comics, known for its horror and crime comics. The content of mainstream comics became significantly sanitized, leading to a period where more innocuous genres like superhero, romance, and science fiction comics dominated the landscape. The creative scope of comic books was significantly narrowed, and this limitation on content likely stunted the medium’s artistic and literary development for decades.
However, the CCA also inadvertently fostered a sense of rebellion and underground creativity. The underground comix movement of the 1960s, for instance, arose as a direct counter to the restrictions of the Code, exploring themes of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll that mainstream comics wouldn’t touch. Over time, the influence of the CCA waned, particularly in the late 20th century, as publishers began to ignore its guidelines in favor of more mature and sophisticated storytelling. By the 21st century, the CCA became largely irrelevant, with major publishers abandoning it entirely, eventually dissolving. The Code’s legacy remains a pivotal chapter in the evolution of comic books, shaping the medium’s path through its restrictions and the reactions it provoked.
The Golden Age of comics set the blueprint for the industry moving forward. In many ways, the American comic book industry still focuses on different types of superheroes, using what was created in the 40s and 50s as the blueprint. Sure, the stories have gotten a lot more serious these days, but the Golden Age was the direct start of what is a billion-dollar industry these days.
Characters such as Superman and Batman are the stuff of legends and are two of the most recognizable figures in the history of comics. Someone like Captain America, who seemed like a product of his time, was a massive hit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, finding new life in recent years, which goes to show the staying power of great characters.
The Golden Age did so much for comics that it is difficult not to see it as the most crucial moment in the comic book industry.
