American comic book
The Yellow Kid in McFadden's Flats appeared on the newsstands of 1897, marking a pivotal moment in American publishing history. This hardcover book reprinted material from Richard F. Outcault's newspaper comic strip Hogan's Alley, which ran from the 18th of October 1896 to the 10th of January 1897. The publication measured 5 inches by 7 inches and sold for 50 cents. It contained 196 pages of black-and-white illustrations bound with square binding. E. W. Townsend provided introductory text for this 196-page volume. The neologism "comic book" first appeared on its back cover.
Eastern Color Printing Company produced Funnies on Parade as a promotional item in 1933. Salesperson Maxwell Gaines and sales manager Harry I. Wildenberg collaborated with owner George Janosik to distribute these eight-page periodicals free of charge. Consumers mailed coupons clipped from Procter & Gamble soap and toiletries products to receive them. Eastern Color printed 10,000 copies initially, then scaled production to runs between 100,000 and 250,000 for other clients like Canada Dry soft drinks and Kinney Shoes. These early publications relied entirely on licensed strips such as Mutt and Jeff, Joe Palooka, and Skippy rather than original content.
Famous Funnies: A Carnival of Comics emerged later that same year through collaboration between Gaines, Wildenberg, and Dell Publishing. This 36-page magazine became the cornerstone of modern comic book publishing according to historian Ron Goulart. Distribution occurred through Woolworth's department stores, though records remain unclear whether it was sold or given away. The cover displayed no price tag, yet Goulart refers to "sticking a ten-cent pricetag" on the books. Issue #12 turned a profit of $30,000 per issue after initial losses exceeded $4,000. The series eventually ran 218 issues and launched a new mass medium.
Action Comics #1 hit newsstands in June 1938 with Superman as its cover feature. National Allied editor Vin Sullivan pulled the Siegel/Shuster creation from the slush pile to use as a backup story. The alien hero wore a cape and colorful tights influenced by Flash Gordon's attire from 1934. His costume evoked circus aerial performers and strongmen, establishing the archetype for future superheroes. Action Comics and Captain Marvel each sold over half a million copies monthly during this era.
Bob Kane and Bill Finger created Batman following public demand for more superheroes after Superman's success. Detective Comics #27 debuted Batman in May 1939. The period from the late 1930s through roughly 1949 became known as the Golden Age of comic books. Over 90 percent of children aged seven to seventeen read comic books in the early 1940s. These publications provided popular cheap entertainment especially among soldiers during World War II despite erratic quality in stories and printing.
H. G. Peter and William Moulton Marston created Wonder Woman who debuted in All Star Comics #8 in December 1941. Sensation Comics featuring Wonder Woman followed in 1942. MLJ's Pep Comics introduced teen-humor feature Archie in 1942, which eventually eclipsed all other properties leading the publisher to rename itself Archie Comics. Source notes overall sales reached 275 million comics in 1945, 300 million in 1947, and 340 million in 1949.
Circulation peaked in 1952 when publishers released 3,161 issues totaling about one billion copies. Actual estimates vary between 840 million and 1.3 billion according to different sources. After 1952, individual releases dropped every year for the rest of the decade with biggest falls occurring in 1955, 56. The rapid decline followed introduction of the Comics Code Authority after Senate hearings on juvenile delinquency. These hearings blamed comic books solely for social problems caused by wars of 1939, 45 and 1950, 52.
Psychiatrist Fredric Wertham published Seduction of the Innocent in 1954 discussing sadistic undertones in horror comics and homosexual undertones in superhero comics. He singled out EC Comics due to its success publishing these genres. Public anxiety grew following sensationalist coverage like Confidential File: Horror Comic Books! broadcast the 9th of October 1955 on Los Angeles television station KTTV. This perceived indecency resulted in public burning of comic books in Spencer, West Virginia and Binghamton, New York in 1948 triggering other burnings across the country.
A group of comics publishers led by National and Archie founded the Comics Code Authority in 1954 drafting the most stringent code existing for any communications media. A Comic Code Seal of Approval soon appeared on virtually every comic book carried on newsstands. EC stopped publishing crime and horror titles which were their entire business forcing them out of the market altogether turning to magazine publishing instead. By 1960 output stabilized at about 1,500 releases per year representing greater than fifty percent decline since 1952.
DC started a revival in superhero comics with October 1956's Showcase #4 featuring The Flash. Many historians peg this as beginning the Silver Age although Marvel had revived old superheroes as early as 1954. It took two years for The Flash to receive his own title though Showcase itself remained bimonthly introducing many enduring characters. By 1959 slowly building superhero revival became clear to DC's competitors. Archie joined that year while Charlton followed in 1960.
Writer/editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby created Fantastic Four for Atlas in November 1961 following publisher Martin Goodman's demand reacting to surge in sales of National's Justice League of America. This issue initiated naturalistic style of superheroes with human failings fears and inner demons who squabbled and worried about paying rent. Dynamic artwork by Kirby Steve Ditko Don Heck complemented Lee's colorful catchy prose making new style very popular among teenagers and college students identifying with angsty irreverent nature of characters like Spider-Man Hulk X-Men and Fantastic Four.
Marvel were restricted to publishing only eight titles monthly from 1957 until 1968 because their rival National handled distribution. This limitation proved making of Marvel allowing company to concentrate brightest best talent on small number titles while rivals spread creative talents thin across huge number monthly titles. Quality of Marvel product soared consequently with sales soaring too. In the 1960s DC then Marvel began including writer and artist credits on comics they published ending practice that had vanished during 1940s and 1950s.
Robert Crumb's Zap Comix made waves in 1968 featuring sex drugs and rock 'n' roll as anti-authoritarian underground comix emerged. Frank Stack had published The Adventures of Jesus as far back as 1962 creating trickle of such publications before Crumb's success. What started as self-publishing scene soon grew into minor industry with Print Mint Kitchen Sink Last Gasp and Apex Novelties among more well-known publishers. These comix often extremely graphic largely distributed in head shops flourishing countercultural era.
Legal issues and paper shortages led decline in underground comix output from its 1972 peak. Passage of anti-paraphernalia laws in US in 1974 caused closing most head shops throttling underground comix distribution. Readership also dried up as hippie movement itself petered out mid-1970s. Despite eventual suppression these publications represented significant cultural shift challenging mainstream norms through explicit content and alternative distribution channels outside traditional newsstand systems.
Development of direct market distribution system in 1970s coincided appearance comic-book specialty stores across North America. These specialty stores became haven for distinct voices stories but also marginalized comics public eye. Serialized comic stories became longer complex requiring readers buy more issues finish story. Mid-to-late 1980s two series published by DC Comics Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen had profound impact upon American comic-book industry.
Their popularity along mainstream media attention critical acclaim combined changing social tastes led considerably darker tone comic books during 1990s nicknamed grim-and-gritty era. Growing popularity antiheroes such Wolverine Punisher exemplified change while darker tone independent publishers First Comics Dark Horse Comics Image Comics manifested tendency darkness nihilism. DC produced heavily promoted comic book stories like A Death in the Family Batman series where Joker brutally murdered Batman's sidekick Robin. Marvel continuing popularity various X-Men books led storylines involving genocide superpowered mutants allegorical stories religious ethnic persecution.
Published formats graphic novel related trade paperback enabled comic book gain some respectability literature. Result these formats now common book retail collections US public libraries. Dell's comic books accounted third all North American sales early 1950s with 90 titles averaging circulation 800,000 copies per title every issue Walt Disney's Comics Stories peaking circulation three million monthly 1953.
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Common questions
When did the first American comic book appear on newsstands?
The Yellow Kid in McFadden's Flats appeared on the newsstands of 1897. This hardcover book reprinted material from Richard F. Outcault's newspaper comic strip Hogan's Alley which ran from the 18th of October 1896 to the 10th of January 1897.
Who created the character Superman and when was he introduced?
Action Comics #1 hit newsstands in June 1938 with Superman as its cover feature. National Allied editor Vin Sullivan pulled the Siegel/Shuster creation from the slush pile to use as a backup story.
What caused the decline of comic book sales after 1952?
The rapid decline followed introduction of the Comics Code Authority after Senate hearings on juvenile delinquency. These hearings blamed comic books solely for social problems caused by wars of 1939, 45 and 1950, 52.
Which publication marked the beginning of the Silver Age of comics?
DC started a revival in superhero comics with October 1956's Showcase #4 featuring The Flash. Many historians peg this as beginning the Silver Age although Marvel had revived old superheroes as early as 1954.
When did underground comix reach their peak output before declining?
Legal issues and paper shortages led decline in underground comix output from its 1972 peak. Passage of anti-paraphernalia laws in US in 1974 caused closing most head shops throttling underground comix distribution.