Americancomicbook

FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

AnAmericancomicbookisathin(typically32page)
periodicalcontainingprimarilycomicscontent.

Americancomics
Earliestpublications c.1842

Whiletheformoriginatedin1933,Americancomic
Languages
English
booksfirstgainedpopularityafterthe1938publication
ofActionComics,whichincludedthedebutofthe
superheroSuperman.ThiswasfollowedbyasuperheroboomthatlasteduntiltheendofWorldWarII.After
thewar,whilesuperheroesweremarginalized,thecomicbookindustryrapidlyexpanded,andgenressuchas
horror,crime,andromancebecamepopular.The1950ssawagradualdecline,duetoashiftawayfromprint
mediainthewakeoftelevision[1]andtheimpactoftheComicsCodeAuthority.[1]Thelate1950sandthe
1960ssawasuperherorevival,andsuperheroesremainthedominantcharacterarchetypeinthe21stcentury.
Sincethelater20thcentury,comicbookshavegainednoteascollectableitems.Comicshopscatertofans,and
particularlyvaluableissueshavefetchedinexcessofamilliondollars.Systemsofgradingcomicbookshave
emergedwithplasticsleeves("bags")andcardboardbacking("boards")availabletomaintaintheconditionof
comicbooks.

Contents
1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

Format
Makingcomics
Independentandalternativecomics
History
4.1 ProtocomicbooksandthePlatinumAge
4.2 TheFunniesandFunniesonParade
4.3 FamousFunniesandNewFun
4.4 SuperheroesandtheGoldenAge
4.5 TheComicsCode
4.6 SilverAgeofComicBooks
4.7 Undergroundcomix
4.8 BronzeAgeofComicBooks
4.9 TheModernAge
Seealso
References
6.1 Notes
6.2 Workscited
Furtherreading
Externallinks

Format
Standardcomicsare6.625inches(16.83cm)10.25inches(26.0cm)andabout32pageslong.

Makingcomics

Whilecomicscanbetheworkofasinglecreator,thelabourofmakingthemisfrequentlydividedbetweena
numberofspecialists.Theremaybeaseparatewriterandartist,ortheremaybeseparateartistsforthe
charactersandbackgrounds.[2]
Particularlyinsuperherocomicbooks,[3]theartmaybedividedbetween:
apenciller,wholaysouttheartworkinpencil[4]
aninker,whofinishestheartworkinink[5]
acolorist[6]
aletterer,whoaddsthecaptionsandspeechballoons.[7]
Theprocessbeginswiththecreatorcomingupwithanideaorconcept,thenworkingitintoaplotandstory,
andfinalizingthepreliminarywritingwithascript.Aftertheartproduction,lettersareplacedonthepageand
aneditormayhavethefinalsaybeforethecomicissenttotheprinter.[8]
Thecreativeteam,thewritersandartists,mayworkwithacomicbookpublisherforhelpwithmarketing,
advertising,andotherlogistics.AdistributorlikeDiamondComicDistributors,thelargestintheU.S.,helpsto
distributethefinishedproducttoretailers.
Anotherpartoftheprocessinvolvedinsuccessfulcomicsistheinteractionbetweenthereaders/fansandthe
creator(s).Fanartandletterstotheeditorwerecommonlyprintedinthebackofthebookuntiltheearly21st
century,whenvariousInternetformsstartedtoreplacethem.

Independentandalternativecomics
Comicspecialtystoresdidhelpencourageseveralwavesofindependentlyproducedcomics,beginninginthe
mid1970s.Someoftheearlyexampleofthesegenerallyreferredtoas"independent"or"alternative"comics
suchasBigAppleComix,continuedsomewhatinthetraditionofundergroundcomics,whileothers,suchas
StarReach,resembledtheoutputofmainstreampublishersinformatandgenrebutwerepublishedbysmaller
artistownedventuresorbyasingleartistafew(notablyRAW)representedexperimentalattemptstobring
comicsclosertotheworldoffineart.
The"smallpress"scenecontinuedtogrowanddiversify,withanumberofsmallpublishersinthe1990s
changingtheformatanddistributionoftheirbookstomorecloselyresemblenoncomicspublishing.The
"minicomics"form,anextremelyinformalversionofselfpublishing,aroseinthe1980sandbecame
increasinglypopularamongartistsinthe1990s,despitereachinganevenmorelimitedaudiencethanthesmall
presses.

History
ProtocomicbooksandthePlatinumAge
ThedevelopmentofthemodernAmericancomicbookhappenedinstages.Publishershadcollectedcomic
stripsinhardcoverbookformasearlyas1842,withTheAdventuresofObadiahOldbuck,acollectionof
EnglishlanguagenewspaperinsertsoriginallypublishedinEuropeasthe1833bookHistoiredeM.Vieux
Bois.[9]
TheG.W.DillinghamCompanypublishedthefirstknownprotocomicbookmagazineintheU.S.,TheYellow
KidinMcFadden'sFlats,in1897.Ahardcoverbook,itreprintedmaterialprimarilytheOctober18,1896to
January10,1897sequencetitled"McFadden'sRowofFlats"fromcartoonistRichardF.Outcault's
newspapercomicstripHogan'sAlley,starringtheYellowKid.The196page,squarebound,blackandwhite
publication,whichalsoincludesintroductorytextbyE.W.Townsend,measured57inchesandsoldfor50
cents.Theneologism"comicbook"appearsonthebackcover.[9]Despitethepublicationofaseriesofrelated

Hearstcomicssoonafterward,[9]thefirstmonthlyprotocomicbook,
EmbeeDistributingCompany'sComicMonthly,didnotappearuntil
1922.Producedinan8by9inchformat,itreprintedblackandwhite
newspapercomicstripsandlastedayear.[9][10]

TheFunniesandFunnies
onParade
In1929,DellPublishing
(foundedbyGeorgeT.
Delacorte,Jr.)publishedThe
Funnies,describedbythe
LibraryofCongressas"ashort
livednewspapertabloid
insert"[11]andnottobeconfused
TheYellowKidinMcFadden'sFlats
withDell's1936comicbook
(1897)
seriesofthesamename.
HistorianRonGoulartdescribes
ComicMonthly#1(Jan.1922)
the16page,fourcolorperiodicalas"moreaSundaycomicsection
withouttherestofthenewspaperthanatruecomicbook.Butitdid
offeralloriginalmaterialandwassoldonnewsstands".[12]TheFunniesranfor36issues,publishedSaturdays
throughOctober16,1930.
In1933,salespersonMaxwellGaines,salesmanagerHarryI.Wildenberg,andownerGeorgeJanosikofthe
Waterbury,ConnecticutcompanyEasternColorPrintingwhichprinted,amongotherthings,Sundaypaper
comicstripsectionsproducedFunniesonParadeasawaytokeeptheirpressesrunning.LikeTheFunnies,
butonlyeightpages,[13]thisappearedasanewsprintmagazine.Ratherthanusingoriginalmaterial,however,it
reprintedincolorseveralcomicstripslicensedfromtheMcNaughtSyndicateandtheMcClureSyndicate.
TheseincludedsuchpopularstripsascartoonistAlSmith'sMuttandJeff,HamFisher'sJoePalooka,andPercy
Crosby'sSkippy.EasternColorneithersoldthisperiodicalnormadeitavailableonnewsstands,butrathersent
itoutfreeasapromotionalitemtoconsumerswhomailedincouponsclippedfromProcter&Gamblesoapand
toiletriesproducts.Thecompanyprinted10,000copies.[13]Thepromotionprovedasuccess,andEasternColor
thatyearproducedsimilarperiodicalsforCanadaDrysoftdrinks,KinneyShoes,Wheatenacerealandothers,
withprintrunsoffrom100,000to250,000.[12]

FamousFunniesandNewFun
Alsoin1933,GainesandWildenbergcollaboratedwithDelltopublishthe36pageFamousFunnies:A
CarnivalofComics,whichhistoriansconsiderthefirsttrueAmericancomicbookGoulart,forexample,callsit
"thecornerstoneforoneofthemostlucrativebranchesofmagazinepublishing".[12]Distributiontookplace
throughtheWoolworth'sdepartmentstorechain,thoughitremainsunclearwhetheritwassoldorgivenaway
thecoverdisplaysnoprice,butGoulartrefers,eithermetaphoricallyorliterally,to"stickingatencentpricetag
[sic]onthecomicbooks".[12]
WhenDelacortedeclinedtocontinuewithFamousFunnies:ACarnivalofComics,EasternColoronitsown
publishedFamousFunnies#1(coverdatedJuly1934),a68pagegiantsellingfor10.Distributedto
newsstandsbythemammothAmericanNewsCompany,itprovedahitwithreadersduringthecashstrapped
GreatDepression,selling90percentofits200,000print,althoughputtingEasternColormorethan$4,000in
thered.[12]Thatquicklychanged,withthebookturninga$30,000profiteachissuestartingwith#12.[12]
FamousFunnieswouldeventuallyrun218issues,inspireimitators,andlargelylaunchanewmassmedium.

Whenthesupplyofavailableexistingcomicstripsbegantodwindle,
earlycomicbooksbegantoincludeasmallamountofnew,original
materialincomicstripformat.Inevitably,acomicbookofalloriginal
material,withnocomicstripreprints,debuted.Fledglingpublisher
MalcolmWheelerNicholsonfoundedNationalAlliedPublications,
whichwouldevolveintoDCComics,toreleaseNewFun#1(Feb.
1935).Thiscameoutasatabloidsized,10inchby15inch,36page
magazinewithacardstock,nonglossycover.Ananthology,itmixed
humorfeaturessuchasthefunnyanimalcomic"PelionandOssa"and
thecollegeset"JiggerandGinger"withsuchdramaticfareasthe
Westernstrip"JackWoods"andthe"yellowperil"adventure"Barry
O'Neill",featuringaFuManchustyledvillain,FangGow.Issue#6
(Oct.1935)broughtthecomicbookdebutofJerrySiegelandJoe
Shuster,thefuturecreatorsofSuperman,whobegantheircareerswith
themusketeerswashbuckler"HenriDuval"(doingthefirsttwo
installmentsbeforeturningitovertoothers)and,underthepseudonyms
"LegerandReuths",thesupernaturalcrimefighteradventureDoctor
Occult.[14]

SuperheroesandtheGoldenAge

EasternColorPress'Famous
Funnies:ACarnivalofComics
(EasternColorPrinting,1933).

In1938,afterWheelerNicholson'spartnerHarryDonenfeldhadousted
him,NationalAlliededitorVinSullivanpulledaSiegel/Shustercreationfromtheslushpileanduseditasthe
coverfeature(butonlyasabackupstory)[15]inActionComics#1(June1938).Theduo'salienhero,Superman,
dressedinacapeandcolorfultights.Thecostume,influencedbyFlashGordon'sattirefrom1934,evoked
circusaerialperformersandcircusstrongmen,andSupermanbecamethearchetypeofthe"superheroes"that
wouldfollow.ActionwouldbecometheAmericancomicbookwiththesecondlargestnumberofissues,next
toDellComics'FourColor,withover860issuespublishedasof2008.
SiegelandShuster'sSuperman,influencedbythepulpfictionstories
andbythelegendoftheGolemofPrague,hadsuperhumanstrength,
speedandotherabilities,andliveddaytodayinhissecretidentityasa
mildmanneredreporternamedClarkKent.Withintwoyears,most
comicbookcompanieshadstartedpublishinglargelinesofsuperhero
titles,andSupermanhasgoneontobecomeoneoftheworld'smost
recognizablecharacters.
Theperiodfromthelate1930sthroughroughlytheendofthe1940sis
referredtobycomicbookexpertsastheGoldenAgeofcomicbooks.It
featuredextremelylargeprintruns,withActionComicsandCaptain
Marvelsellingoverhalfamillioncopiesamontheach[16]comics
providedverypopularcheapentertainmentduringWorldWarII
especiallyamongsoldiers,butwitherraticqualityinstories,art,and
printing.Intheearly1940sover90percentofgirlsandboysfromseven
toseventeenreadcomicbooks.[17]
ActionComics#1(June1938).The
debutofSuperman.CoverartbyJoe
Shuster.

Comics.

MLJ'sPepComicsdebutedasasuperhero,sciencefictionand
adventureanthology,butafterthetitleintroducedtheteenhumor
feature"Archie"in1942,thefeature'spopularitywouldsooneclipseall
otherMLJproperties,leadingthepublishertorenameitselfArchie

FollowingtheendofWorldWarII,thepopularityofsuperheroesgreatlydiminished,[18]whilethecomicbook
industryitselfexpanded.[19]AfewwellestablishedcharacterssuchasSuperman,BatmanandWonderWoman
continuedtosell,butDCcancelledseriesstarringtheFlashandGreenLanternandconvertedAllAmerican
ComicsandAllStarComicstoWesterntitles,andStarSpangledComicstoawartitle.Thepublisheralso
launchedsuchsciencefictiontitlesasStrangeAdventuresandMysteryinSpace.TimelyComicscancelledits
CaptainAmerica,HumanTorchandSubMarinerseries,brieflyrevivingthecharactersin1954onlytocancel
themshortlythereafterandtofocusonhorror,sciencefiction,teenhumor,romanceandWestern,genres.
RomancecomicsbecameestablishedwithPrizeComics'YoungRomanceandYoungLove,producedbyJoe
SimonandJackKirbythosetitles'popularityleadtoanexplosionofromancecomicsformmanypublishers.
Dell'scomicbooksaccountedforathirdofallNorthAmericansalesintheearly1950s.Its90titlesaverageda
circulationof800,000copieseachissue,withWaltDisney'sComicsandStoriespeakingwithacirculationof
threemillionin1953.Elevenofthetop25bestsellingcomicbooksatthetimewereDelltitles.[20]Outof40
publishersactivein1954,Dell,Atlas(Marvel),DCandArchiewerethemajorplayerssaleswise.Bythistime,
formerbigtimeplayersFawcettandFictionhousehadceasedpublishing.[21]
Circulationpeakedoutin1952,when3161issuesofvariouscomicswerepublishedwithtotalcirculationat
aboutonebillion.[note1]After1952,thenumberofindividualreleasesdroppedeveryyearfortherestofthe
decade,withthebiggestlossescomingin195556.[22]Theserapidlossesfollowedtheintroductionofthe
ComicsCodeAuthorityinthewakeofSenatehearingsonjuveniledelinquency.[23]Whiletherewasonlya9%
dropinthenumberofreleasesbetween1952and1953,circulationplummetedbyanestimated3040%.[24]The
causeofthedecreaseisnotentirelycertain.Televisionhadcometoprovidecompetitionwithcomicbooks,or
theriseofconservativevaluesthatcamewiththeelectionofDwightEisenhower.TheComicsCodeAuthority,
aselfcensoringbodyfoundedtocurbjuveniledelinquencybelievedtobeinfluencedbycrimeandhorror
comics,hasbeentargetedastheculprit,thoughsaleshadbeguntodroptheyearbeforeitwasfounded.[25]The
majorpublisherswerelargelyunaffectedbythedrop,butsmallerpublisherslikeEC(theprimetargetofthe
CCA)stoppedpublishingcrimeandhorrortitles,andhadtofocusonotherareas.[26]Bythe1960s,output
stabilizedatabout1500releasesperyear.[22]
ThedominantcomicbookgenresofthepostCCA1950swerefunnyanimals,humor,romance,television
propertiesandWesterns.Detective,fantasy,teenandwarcomicswerealsopopular,whileadventure,
superheroesandcomicstripreprintswereindecline,[26]withFamousFunniesseeingitslastissuein1955.[27]

TheComicsCode
Inthelate1940sandearly1950shorrorandtruecrimecomicsflourished,manycontaininggraphicviolence
andgore.ECComicswasaparticularlysuccessfulpublisherofthesegenres,andwassingledoutby
psychiatristFredricWerthaminhisbookSeductionoftheInnocentin1954.Thebookwasconcernedwithwhat
heperceivedassadisticandhomosexualundertonesinhorrorcomicsandinsuperherocomicsrespectively,and
itraisedpublicanxietyaboutcomics.Soonmoralcrusadersblamedcomicbooksasacauseofpoorgrades,
juveniledelinquency,druguse.[note2]ThisledtheSenateSubcommitteeonJuvenileDelinquencytotakean
interestincomicbooks(AprilJune,1954).Schoolsandparentgroupsheldpubliccomicbookburnings,and
somecitiesbannedcomicbooks.
Inthewakeoftheseevents,manycomicspublishers,mostnotablyNationalandArchie,foundedtheComics
CodeAuthorityin1954anddraftedtheComicsCode,intendedas"themoststringentcodeinexistenceforany
communicationsmedia".[28]AComicCodeSealofApprovalsoonappearedonvirtuallyeverycomicbook
carriedonnewsstands.EC,afterexperimentingwithlesscontroversialcomicbooks,droppeditscomicslineto
focusonthesatiricMadacomicbookthatchangedtomagazineformatinordertocircumventtheCode.[29]

SilverAgeofComicBooks

DCstartedarevivalinsuperherocomicsin1956withtheOctober1956
revivalofTheFlashinShowcase#4.Manycomicshistorianspegthisas
thebeginningoftheSilverAgeofAmericancomicbooks,although
Marvelhadstartedrevivingsomeofitsoldsuperheroesasearlyas
1954.[18]ThenewFlashistakensymbolicallyasthebeginningofanew
era,althoughhissuccesswasnotimmediate.Ittooktwoyearsforthe
Flashtoreceivehisowntitle,andShowcaseitselfwasonlyabimonthly
title,thoughonethatwastointroducealargenumberofenduring
characters.By1959,theslowlybuildingsuperherorevivalhadbecome
cleartoDC'scompetitors.Archiejumpedonboardthatyear,and
Charltonjoinedthebandwagonin1960.[30]
In1961,writer/editorStanLeeandartist/coplotterJackKirbycreated
theFantasticFourforMarvelComics.Withaninnovationthatchanged
thecomicbookindustry,TheFantasticFour#1initiatedanaturalistic
styleofsuperheroeswithhumanfailings,fears,andinnerdemons
heroeswhosquabbledandworriedaboutthelikesofrentmoney.In
contrasttothesuperheroicdogooderarchetypesofestablished
Showcase#4(Oct.1956),thelaunch
superheroesatthetime,thisusheredinarevolution.Withdynamic
ofcomics'SilverAge.Coverartby
artworkbyKirby,SteveDitko,DonHeck,andotherscomplementing
CarmineInfantinoandJoeKubert.
Lee'scolorful,catchyprose,thenewstylebecameverypopularamong
collegestudentswhocouldidentifywiththeangstyandirreverent
natureofcharacterslikeSpiderMan,XMen,andtheFantasticFour.Thiswasatimeofmassivesocial
upheavalthatbirthedanewgenerationofhipperandmorecounterculturalyoungpeoplewhofoundavoicein
thesebooks.Marvelwasinitiallyrestrictedinthenumberoftitlesitcouldproduceasitsbooksweredistributed
byrivalNational,asituationnotalleviateduntilthelate1960s.
Whilethecreatorsofcomicsweregivencreditintheearlydaysof
comicbooks,thisallbutvanishedduringthe1940sand1950s.Comic
bookswereproducedbycomicbookcompaniesratherthanindividual
creators(ECbeinganotableexception,acompanythatnotonly
crediteditscreativeteams,butalsofeaturedcreators'biographies).Even
comicbooksbyreveredandcollectableartistslikeCarlBarkswerenot
knownbytheircreators'namesDisneycomicslikeBarks'weresigned
"WaltDisney."Inthe1960s,DC,andthenMarvel,begantoinclude
writerandartistcreditsonthecomicsthattheypublished.[31]
OthernotablecompaniesincludedtheAmericanComicsGroup(ACG)
thelowbudgetCharlton,wheremanyprofessionalssuchasDick
GiordanogottheirstartDellGoldKeyHarveyComics,homeofthe
Harveycartooncharacters(CaspertheFriendlyGhost)andnon
animatedothers(RichieRich)andTower,bestknownfor
T.H.U.N.D.E.R.Agents.

Undergroundcomix
TheFantasticFour#1(Nov.1961).
CoverartbyJackKirby.

Sex,drugsandrock'nrollwerefeaturedastheantiauthoritarian
undergroundcomixsawmadewavesin1968followingthepublication
ofRobertCrumb'sirregularlypublishedZapComix.FrankStackhad
publishedTheAdventuresofJesusasfarbackas1962,andtherehadbeenatrickleofsuchpublicationsuntil
Crumb'ssuccess.[32]Whathadstartedasaselfpublishingscenesoongrewintoaminorindustry,withPrint
Mint,KitchenSink,LastGaspandApexNoveltiesamongthemorewellknownpublishers.Thesecomixwere
oftenextremelygraphic,andlargelydistributedinheadshopsthatflourishedinthecounterculturalera.[33]

Legalissuesandpapershortagesledtoadeclineinundergroundcomixoutputfromits1972peak.Thedeath
knellwassoundedin1974,whenthepassageofantiparaphernalialawsledtotheclosingofmostheadshops,
whichthrottledundergroundcomix'distribution.Itsreadershipalsodriedupasthehippiemovementitself
peteredoutaroundthemid1970s.[34]Someundergroundcartoonistsstayedincomics,howeverRobert
CrumbandArtSpiegelmanwouldbecometwooftheleadinglightsofthealternativecomicsera,andBill
Griffithwouldtaketocomicstrips.

BronzeAgeofComicBooks
Wizardoriginallyusedthephrase"BronzeAge"in1995todenotetheModernHorrorage.Butasof2009
historiansandfansuse"BronzeAge"todescribetheperiodofAmericanmainstreamcomicshistorythatbegins
withaperiodofconcentratedchangestocomicbookscirca1970.UnliketheGolden/SilverAgetransition,the
Silver/Bronzetransitioninvolvedmanycontinuallypublishedbooks,makingthetransitionlesssharpnotevery
bookenteredtheBronzeAgeatthesametime.
ChangescommonlyconsideredtomarkthetransitionbetweenSilverandBronzeagesinclude:
Areshufflingofpopularcreators,includingtheretirementofMortWeisinger,editoroftheSuperman
books,andthemovementofJackKirbytoDC.
AboominnonsuperheroandborderlinesuperherocomicssuchasConantheBarbarian,Tombof
Dracula,Kamandi,SwampThing,ManThing,GhostRider,andtherevivedDoctorStrangeand
PhantomStranger.
"Relevant"comicswhichattemptedtoaddressserioussocialissues,suchasthedrugabuseissuesofThe
AmazingSpiderManandGreenLantern/GreenArrow.
TheComicsCodeAuthority'sfirstupdate,in1971promptedbyStanLee'sdefianceofthecodefora
storyonnarcoticsatthebehestoftheUnitedStatesDepartmentofHealth,EducationandWelfare.
Revampingofseveralpopularcharacters,includingareturntoaBatmanofadarkernatureclosertothe
originallate1930sconception,areinventionofSupermanforthe1970swiththelandmarkstory
"KryptoniteNevermore",andatemporarynonpowerederaforWonderWomanallinitiatedbyauthor
DennyO'Neil.
ThedeathofmajorcharacterssuchasSpiderMan'sgirlfriendGwenStacy,theDoomPatrol,andseveral
membersoftheLegionofSuperHeroes.

TheModernAge
Thedevelopmentofthe"directmarket"distributionsysteminthe1970scoincidedwiththeappearanceof
comicbookspecialtystoresacrossNorthAmerica.Thesespecialtystoreswereahavenformoredistinctvoices
andstories,buttheyalsomarginalizedcomicsinthepubliceye.Serializedcomicstoriesbecamelongerand
morecomplex,requiringreaderstobuymoreissuestofinishastory.
Between1970and1990,comicbookpricesrosesharplybecauseofacombinationoffactors:anationwide
papershortage,increasingproductionvalues,andtheminimalprofitincentiveforstorestostockcomicbooks
(duetothesmallunitpriceofanindividualcomicbookrelativetoamagazine).
Inthemidtolate1980s,twoseriespublishedbyDCComics,Batman:TheDarkKnightReturnsand
Watchmen,hadaprofoundimpactupontheAmericancomicbookindustry.Theirpopularity,alongwith
mainstreammediaattentionandcriticalacclaim,combinedwithchangingsocialtastes,ledtoaconsiderably
darkertoneincomicbooksduringthe1990snicknamedbyfansasthe"grimandgritty"era.
ThegrowingpopularityofantiheroessuchasWolverineandthePunisherexemplifiedthischange,asdidthe
darkertoneofsomeindependentpublisherssuchasFirstComics,DarkHorseComics,and(foundedinthe
1990s)ImageComics.ThistendencytowardsdarknessandnihilismwasmanifestedinDC'sproductionof
heavilypromotedcomicbookstoriessuchas"ADeathintheFamily"intheBatmanseries(inwhichTheJoker
brutallymurderedBatman'ssidekickRobin),whileatMarvelthecontinuingpopularityofthevariousXMen
booksledtostorylinesinvolvingthegenocideofsuperpowered"mutants"inallegoricalstoriesaboutreligious
andethnicpersecution.

Althoughaspeculatorboomintheearly1990stemporarilyincreasedspecialtystoresalescollectors
"invested"inmultiplecopiesofasinglecomictosellataprofitlatertheseboomsendedinacollectibles
glut,andcomicsalesdeclinedsharplyinthemid1990s,leadingtothedemiseofmanyhundredsofstores.In
the2000s,fewercomicssellinNorthAmericathanatanytimeintheirpublishinghistory.Thelargesuperhero
orientedpublisherslikeMarvelandDCarestilloftenreferredtoasthe"mainstream"ofcomicsandarestill
consideredamassmediumlikeinpreviousdecades.
Whiletheactualpublicationsarenolongeraswidespread,however,licensingandmerchandisinghavemade
manycomicbookcharacters,asidefromsuchperennialsasSupermanandBatman.Inparticular,several
moviesandvideogamesbasedoncomicbookcharactershavebeenreleased,andsuchheavilypromotedevents
asSpiderMan'swedding,thedeathofSuperman,andthedeathofCaptainAmericareceivedwidespreadmedia
coverage.
Inaddition,publishedformatslikethegraphicnovelandtherelatedtradepaperbackenabledthecomicbookto
gainsomerespectabilityasliterature.Asaresult,theseformatsarenowcommoninbookretailandthe
collectionsofpubliclibraries.

Seealso
Cartoon
Comicbookarchive
Comicbooktherapy
Comicsstudies
Comicsvocabulary
Comparisonofimageviewers
Digitalcomics
HistoryofAmericancomics
Listofcomicbookpublishingcompanies
ListoffilmsbasedonEnglishlanguagecomics
Listofyearsincomics
SexisminAmericancomics

References
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2.O'Nale2010,p.384.
3.Tondro2011,p.51.
4.Lyga&Lyga2004,p.161.
5.Markstein2010Lyga&Lyga2004,p.161Lee1978,p.145.
6.Duncan&Smith2009,p.315.
7.Lyga&Lyga2004,p.163.
8."OverviewOfTheComicCreationProcess".MakingComics.com.Retrieved20151004.
9.Coville,Jamie."TheHistoryofComicBooks:Introductionand"ThePlatinumAge18971938" ".
TheComicBooks.com,n.d.ArchivedfromtheoriginalonApril15,2003.
10.ComicMonthly(http://www.comics.org/series/35704/)attheGrandComicsDatabase
11.U.S.LibraryofCongress,"AmericanTreasuresoftheLibraryofCongress"(http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/tr
i046.html)exhibition
12.Goulart,Ron(2004).ComicBookEncyclopedia.NewYork:HarperEntertainment.ISBN9780060538163.
13.Brown,Mitchell.The100GreatestComicBooksofthe20thCentury:FunniesonParade(https://web.archive.org/we
b/20030224164555/http://www.geocities.com/mbrown123/greatest_comics/funniesonparade.html)attheWayback
Machine(archivedFebruary24,2003)
14.Kaplan,Arie(2008).FromKrakowtoKrypton:JewsandComicBooks.JewishPublicationSociety.p.6.
ISBN9780827608436.
15.Daniels,Les.DCComics:60YearsoftheWorld'sFavoriteComicBookHeroes(LittleBrown,1995).
16.Daniels
17.GlenWeldonMichaelKantor.Superheroes!:Capescowlsandthecreationofcomicbookculture.p.49.

18.Gabilliet,page51
19.Goulart,Ron(1991).Over50YearsofAmericanComicBooks.PublicationsInternational.p.161.Sourcenotes
overallsalesof275millioncomicsin1945,300millionin1947,and340millionin1949.
20.Gabilliet,page40
21.Gabilliet,page44
22.Gabilliet,page46
23.Gabilliet,page4849
24.Gabilliet,page4748
25.Gabilliet,page47
26.Gabilliet,page49
27.Gabilliet,page50
28.Daniels,Les(1971).Comix:AhistoryofcomicbooksinAmerica.BonanzaBooks.p.84.
29.RonGoulart.1991.Over50YearsofAmericanComicBooks.PublicationsInternational.p.217
30.Gabilliet,page52
31.Gabilliet,page67
32.Gabilliet,page65
33.Gabilliet,page66
34.Gabilliet,page82

Notes
1.Actualestimatesvarybetween840millionand1.3billion[1]
2.AnexampleofthesensationalcoverageofcomicsinthemassmediaisConfidentialFile:HorrorComicBooks!(htt
p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI8IJA8kdkI),broadcastOctober9,1955onLosAngelestelevisionstationKTTV.

Workscited
Markstein,Don(2010)."GlossaryofSpecializedCartoonrelatedWordsandPhrasesUsedinDonMarkstein's
Toonopedia".DonMarkstein'sToonopedia.Archivedfromtheoriginalon20130205.Retrieved20130205.
Duncan,RandySmith,MatthewJ(2009).ThePowerofComics.ContinuumInternationalPublishingGroup.
ISBN9780826429360.
Gabilliet,JeanPaulBeaty,BartNguyen,Nick(2010).OfComicsandMen:ACulturalHistoryofAmericanComic
Books.UniversityPressofMississippi.ISBN9781604732672.
O'Nale,Robert(2010)."Manga".InBooker,M.Keith.EncyclopediaofComicBooksandGraphicNovels:[Two
Volumes].ABCCLIO.pp.378387.ISBN9780313357473.
Goulart,Ron(1991).Over50YearsofAmericanComicBooks.PublicationsInternational.ISBN0881763969.
Duncan,RandySmith,MatthewJ.(2009).ThePowerofComics.Continuum.ISBN9780826429360.
Tondro,Jason(2011).SuperheroesoftheRoundTable:ComicsConnectionstoMedievalandRenaissanceLiterature.
McFarland.ISBN9780786488766.
Lyga,AllysonA.W.Lyga,Barry(2004).GraphicNovelsinYourMediaCenter:ADefinitiveGuide.Libraries
Unlimited.ISBN9781591581420.
Lee,Stan(1978).HowtoDrawComicstheMarvelWay.Simon&Schuster.ISBN9780671530778.

Furtherreading
AllinColorforaDimebyDickLupoff&DonThompsonISBN0873414985
TheComicBookMakersbyJoeSimonwithJimSimonISBN1887591354
DCComics:SixtyYearsoftheWorld'sFavoriteComicBookHeroesbyLesDanielsISBN0821220764
TheGreatComicBookHeroesbyJulesFeifferISBN1560975016
Marvel:FiveFabulousDecadesoftheWorld'sGreatestComicsbyLesDanielsISBN0810938219
MastersofImagination:TheComicBookArtistsHallofFamebyMikeBentonISBN0878338594
TheOfficialOverstreetComicBookPriceGuidebyRobertOverstreetEdition#35ISBN037572107
X
TheSterankoHistoryofComics,Vol.1&2,byJamesSterankoVol.1ISBN0517501880

Garrett,Greg,HolySuperheroes!ExploringtheSacredinComics,GraphicNovels,andFilm,Lousville
(Kentucky):WestminsterJohnKnoxPress,2008.

Externallinks
MediarelatedtoComicsoftheUnitedStatesatWikimediaCommons
CBWComicHistory:TheEarlyYears...1896to1937,PartII(http://www.dereksantos.com/comicpage/pr
egold2.html)
TheGreatestComics:NewFun#1(https://web.archive.org/web/20041109021729/http://www.geocities.c
om/mbrown123/newfuncomics.html)attheWaybackMachine(archivedNovember9,2004)
DonMarkstein'sToonopedia:DellComics(http://www.toonopedia.com/dell.htm)
Quattro,Ken(2004)."TheNewAges:RethinkingComicBookHistory".Comicartville.com.Archived
fromtheoriginalonJune28,2011.
TheComicsBuyer'sGuide's"ComicBookSalesChartsandSalesAnalysisPages"(http://cbgxtra.com/co
micbooksaleschartsanalysis)
ThepicturesthathorrifiedAmerica(http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/05/08/comic.books/ind
ex.html?iref=mpstoryview)CNN
AHistoryoftheComicBook(http://www.randomhistory.com/150/033comic.html)(Americancomic
bookhistoryonly)
Williams,Jeff(1994)."Comics:AToolofSubversion?".JournalofCriminalJusticeandPopular
Culture2(6):129146.
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