Comic Book History

The Precursor to Comic Books

The precursor to comic books, cartoons have been popular in England and America since the early 1800s, originating as satirical and political cartoons printed in newspapers and periodicals. The most influential cartoonist of this period, Thomas Nast played a large role in bringing down “Boss” Tweed’s corrupt political machine in 1870s New York through a series of cartoons heavily critical of Tweed.

Through a natural evolution, cartoons developed into comic books, first through publications containing compilations of cartoon re-prints, then as books with original cartoon artwork, before reaching critical mass through the creation of superheroes in 1938. As noted by Illustration History, this transition redefined visual storytelling for the modern age.

The Birth of the Format

Published in 1897, The Yellow Kid in McFadden’s Flats is considered to be the first comic book, insomuch that it bore the phrase “comic book” on its back cover. Far from the full-color glossy comic books of today, this book featured black and white reprints of popular newspaper comic strips. Subsequent comic strip compilation books included reprints of The Katzenjammer Kids, Happy Hooligan, Buster Brown, and Mutt & Jeff.

The first monthly comic book, aptly titled Comics Monthly, began publication in 1922, though it also featured reprints of daily newspaper comic strips. In 1933, Funnies On Parade became the first color comic book printed in the now standard size of 6 5/8 x 10 1/4 inches. Details on the history of comic book printing show how these physical dimensions revolutionized the industry.

In February 1935, DC Comics’ precursor, National Allied Publications, published New Fun #1—the company’s first comic book and the first ever comic book consisting of completely original material. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, soon to be known for creating Superman, began working on New Fun in October 1935. In the March 1937 edition of Detective Comics #1, Siegel and Shuster introduced their character Slam Bradley, the forebear of Superman.

The Rise of Superheroes

The Golden Age of Comic Books began in June 1938 with the debut of Superman in Action Comics #1. Batman premiered less than a year later in Detective Comics #27.

In October 1939, Marvel Comics’ predecessor, Timely Publications, released Marvel Comics #1 which included the Human Torch, Angel, and Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner. Along with Fawcett Comics’ superhero archetype Captain Marvel, DC Comics’ Flash and Green Lantern debuted in 1940. Marvel’s Captain America and DC’s Wonder Woman were first published the following year.

During the return to normalcy in post-war America, superhero comic books sales plummeted and many titles ceased publication. Through the mid-1950s, the void was filled by comic books containing more serious themes such as crime, romance, Western, and horror. However, through this period comic books based on the Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman characters retained a modest audience.

Regulation and Camp

In 1954, psychiatrist Fredric Wertham wrote in his bestselling book Seduction of the Innocent that comic books of all types were corrupting the youth of America. Wertham posited that Superman represented fascist ideals, Batman and Robin promoted a homosexual lifestyle, and Wonder Woman was a lesbian with a bondage fixation. Members of Congress were so alarmed that they called Wertham to testify before the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency.

Sensing public backlash, that same year comic book publishers created the Comics Code Authority in order to self-regulate their industry. Requirements included: “In every instance good shall triumph over evil,” and “Females shall be drawn realistically without exaggeration of any physical qualities.”

The return of Flash in Showcase #4 (October 1956) marks the beginning of the Silver Age. The late 1950s through the 1960s saw a change from dark themes to silly plots and camp, perfectly captured by resources like DC 1980s archives and This Day in Comics milestones.

Social Consciousness

The Bronze Age signaled a more realistic style as a younger generation of artists, including Neal Adams, John Byrne, George Perez, and Frank Miller replaced aging creators. This era is marked by the shocking murder of Peter Parker’s girlfriend Gwen Stacy in Amazing Spider-Man #121-122 (1973).

In 1971, the Comics Code Authority relaxed standards, allowing for the return of horror. Furthermore, socially conscious stories became numerous, such as Green Lantern and Green Arrow fighting racism and pollution. Understanding that a vast majority of their superheroes were Caucasian men, DC and Marvel introduced a slew of minority superheroes such as Storm, Black Lightning, Blade, and the Green Lantern John Stewart. Statistics show that in the early 1970s, African American and minority characters began appearing in lead roles at a 150% higher frequency than in the previous decade.

Deconstruction and Anti-Heroes

Kicking off this era was the publication of the monumental series Crisis on Infinite Earths. From the mid-1980s through the early 1990s, anti-heroes were popular. Dark stories reigned, as in Alan Moore’s Watchmen and Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. This period also saw the publication of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus by Art Spiegelman.

This period ends with a massive sales slump caused by a speculator’s market, contributing to the bankruptcy of Marvel Comics in 1996. For a deeper look at this shift, see The Comics Journal.

Digital and Cinematic Saturation

The publication of Alex Ross’s Kingdom Come in 1996 marks the beginning of the Modern Age. Over eighty years since the debut of Superman, the comic book industry has remained relevant through the early adoption of digital comics, successful saturation into the film and television markets, and maintaining a strong connection to their fan-base. Historians at Comic Book Historians continue to document this ongoing legacy.