Golden Age Comics (1938-1955)

Golden Age Comics 1938-1955

Comics from the Golden Age are hard to come by. In fact, they are among the older and more desirable comics on the market. Even seasoned collectors may have problems attaining comics from this era.

The Golden Age describes an era in the creation of comic books published between the years of 1938 and 1955. Some strict collectors consider the era finished by 1950. These are the years when comics were considered a new and exciting form of art.

This era is iconic because it is near the birth age of comic books. As such, nearly every superhero was created in this time period. The original Superman, Batman, and several Marvel universe characters originate from this time period. The comics from this time usually explain the creation and early stories of many superhero characters.

This era was the age of creation of characters. Here are some well-known characters in each genre.

• Superhero comics including Captain America, Batman, Superman, Flash, Green Lantern, Plastic Man, Captain Marvel, and Wonder Woman
• Animal and Disney theme characters including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Tarzan
• Teen characters like Archie
• Various villains

There are a few aspects that made comic books from that era so desirable. This also helps to explain why books from that era are so special.

• Rise of print media made it the popular medium for information and entertainment.
• WWII made people search for an escape from reality.
• Success of Superman made other creators search for success in the genre.
• Historically relevant plot lines sought to reflect on events happening during that time.
• Superhero genre enforced ideas that good ultimately triumphs over evil.
• Insertion of visual art into society directly impacted the prevalence of art programs in the United States.

Here are a few ways that you can check to make sure that the book you are looking at purchasing is legitimate and authentic.

• Inside cover: Usually the inside cover will say "#1" or "First Edition."
• Advertisements: They should be relevant from the era the book was published.
• Dimensions: They are often different in manufactured copies from originals.