Part 1: The DC Universe-The Golden & Silver Ages
If the world of comic books is dominated by two major publishers, DC and Marvel, then I'm a DC guy. The commonly understood difference between the two is that DC has the best characters, but Marvel has the best stories. Personally, I haven't found that to be the case; I think DC has both. I've tried to read Marvel from time to time, but their stories are too complex; there are too many titles, too many characters and too much history that I don't know.
So my collection is largely DC. And when applying the guidelines for organizing comic books, I will base timeframes for publication eras or periods around characters and events in the DC Universe. For example, while the Golden Age is generally considered as lasting anywhere from the late 1930s to the late 1940s or early 1950s, I will say that it specifically began in June, 1938 with the first appearance of Superman in DC's Action Comics #1.
I can't be as specific about the end of the Golden Age; however, when World War II ended and the popularity of superheroes waned (in favor of Western, science fiction, romance, crime and horror) and many of their titles were cancelled. For example, All-Star Comics, which featured the Justice Society of America for 57 issues over 10+ years, became All-Star Western with #58 in April, 1951. This is as good an indication of any that the Golden Age was over.
The Golden Age was the period when comic books for the first time became a mainstream art form and enjoyed huge popularity. It was during this time that the archetype of the superhero was created and defined, with the debuts of the DC characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. World War II had a significant impact on comic books and superheroes of the Golden Age, as did the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945.
I don't own any comic books from the Golden Age. My collection begins with the Silver Age. When I was growing up, my grandmother Ruby had a box in her upstairs bedroom that was full of comic books my father and uncle read when they were kids. While these were mostly Western titles, there was one superhero title that was my favorite: Action Comics #253 (June, 1959). Years later, I discovered that this comic featured the second appearance of Supergirl and, if it were in any better condition, would be worth a lot of money. I will always consider this the first comic book of a collection that would span roughly 40 years of my life, but over 60 years of publishing history.
At the end of the Golden Age, links were alleged between comic books and juvenile delinquency. In response, publishers created the Comics Code Authority in 1954 to regulate the content of the mostly crime, horror and romance titles that were popular at the time. In further response, they also began reintroducing superhero stories. A new version of The Flash appeared in Showcase #4 (October, 1956) and was so well-received that more superhero titles were created and the Silver Age was born.
The Silver Age was the period when comic book superheroes evolved into more fully-realized characters. Many of their origins came from science and science fiction rather than magic and mysticism. For example, the Silver Age version of Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) got his powers when he inherited the ring of a dying alien, while the Golden Age version (Alan Scott) got his from a ring powered by a magical lantern. Other characters benefitting from an update included The Atom, Hawkman, and the entire Justice Society of America, now known as the Justice League of America.
It is here that things get very interesting for me. In The Flash #123 (September, 1961) it was revealed that the Golden Age superheroes lived concurrently with the Silver Age heroes in a parallel universe called "Earth-Two" that was separated from our Earth ("Earth-One) by a frequency discovered when Barry Allen vibrated at the right speed. The creation of Earth-Two allowed for many entertaining stories as characters crossed between Earths and often teamed-up for their adventures.
I own a couple dozen DC comics from the Silver Age. Besides Action Comics #253, some of the others in my collection that have appreciated significantly* in value include:
· The Atom #7 (June, 1963), 1st team-up of Atom & Hawkman, as well as 1st appearance of Hawkman after a tryout in The Brave & the Bold.
· Justice League of America #27 (May, 1964), appearance of Robin.
· Justice League of America #46 (August, 1966), 1st appearance of Silver Age Sandman, 3rd appearance of Golden Age Spectre in Silver Age.
· Green Lantern (Vol. .2) #37 (June, 1965), 1st appearance of Evil Star.
· Superman #173 (November, 1964)
· Batman #169 (February, 1965), 2nd appearance of Silver Age Penguin.
· Showcase #62 (May, 1962), 1st appearance & origin of The Inferior Five.
· Batman #183 (August, 1966), 2nd appearance of Poison Ivy.
· Detective Comics #341 (July, 1965)
· Hawkman #14 (June, 1966)
· Atom & Hawkman #43 (July, 1969), 1st appearance of Gentleman Ghost.
· Justice League of America #64 (August, 1968), 1st appearance & origin of Silver Age Red Tornado.
· The Inferior Five #10 (September, 1968), Superman cross-over, appearances of Marvel's Fantastic Four, Spider-Man & Sub-Mariner.
* When comics that were originally priced at 10 or 12 cents are now worth at least more than $100, I consider the appreciation to be significant. If my math is correct, that's as much as a 1,000% increase.
These DC issues are known for the stories and art by famous Silver Age legends such as Carmine Infantino, Gardner Fox, Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson. Nearly all were edited by Julius Schwartz. However, you also see early work by writers and artists who would earn their legendary status in the next era: Curt Swan, Dennis O'Neil and Joe Orlando.
A final note about the Silver Age is a reminder that the Batman television series starring Adam West first aired in 1966. It's popularity caused comics to reflect its campy qualities and influenced DC Comics for the remainder of the Silver Age.
Part 2: The DC Universe-The Bronze Age
Another event that marked the end of the Silver Age and the beginning of the Bronze Age occurred when Jack Kirby departed from Marvel Comics in 1970 to join DC where he would write and illustrate a series of books collectively known as "The Fourth World". Also, many other veteran writers and artists of the time retired or were promoted to management positions, ushering in a new generation of creators.
The Bronze Age was similar to the Silver Age with superheroes remaining prominent. However, for the first time, darker plot elements and more mature storylines began to appear featuring such issues as alcoholism, drug abuse and environmental pollution. This shift in content was reflected in the way comic books were marketed and distributed. By the end of the Bronze Age, comics were no longer targeted at children and sold primarily at newsstands; instead, publishers targeted a smaller, more mature audience who would buy a more expensive product at specialty comic book shops.
By the end of the Bronze Age, the can of worms that DC had opened in the Silver Age with its "Flash of Two Worlds" story had expanded beyond only two Earths into a complex "multiverse" of many parallel Earths. Opting to streamline its continuity, DC embarked on a year-long publishing event crossing over into nearly every one of its titles at least once during the year. Crisis on Infinite Earths, among other things, revised and updated its major characters.
I own nearly 300 DC comics from the Bronze Age. I recently learned that the most valuable comic I own is Green Lantern #76 (April, 1970), the debut of creative team Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams, which many historians claim as the official start of the Bronze Age. Some of the others in my collection that have appreciated significantly* in value include:
· Aquaman #52 (August, 1970)
· Wonder Woman #200 (June, 1972)
· Wonder Woman #199 (April, 1972)
· Justice League of America #75 (November, 1969)
· Teen Titans #22 (July, 1969), origin of Wonder Girl.
· DC Comics Presents #26 (October, 1980), 1st appearance of New Teen Titans.
· Secret Origins #1 (February, 1973), 1st reprint of Action Comics Superman origin since the Golden Age.
· Justice League of America #97 (March, 1972), origin retold.
· Wonder Woman #202 (October, 1972), debut of Fafhrd & The Grey Mouser.
* With a few exceptions, comics from the Bronze Age have not yet appreciated to the level of Golden or Silver Age comics. I've used $50 as a cutoff for the above list.
These DC issues are known for the stories and art by famous Bronze Age legends such as Dennis O'Neil, Roy Thomas, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Neal Adams, George Perez and Curt Swan.
For me, the end of the Bronze Age varies among the different titles being published in the mid-80's. As far as my collection goes, the Bronze Age ends with the conclusion of the storylines associated with Crisis on Infinite Earths (March, 1986), which occurred at different times for different titles. Nearly seven years before, DC published the first comic book miniseries, The World of Krypton (July, 1979); 16 months after that, it found success revitalizing an underperforming property with The New Teen Titans (November, 1980). The subsequent success of Crisis on Infinite Earths popularized the epic crossover as a means of relaunching characters and restructuring universes.
The Bronze Age is the first era in which I bought and read comics as they were being published, instead of buying them as "back issues" (or inheriting them from grandparents). About 1/3 of my DC comics from this period are from the 70's and 80's, the years of my childhood and early teens. (Unfortunately, there are some great comics from the 70's that I didn't keep, although I can't remember when and where they went.) The remaining 2/3 of my DC comics from the Bronze Age come from its final days, when I was a new college graduate and the perfect demographic for what the publisher was trying to accomplish with Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Part 3: The DC Universe-The Copper Age
About the time Crisis on Infinite Earths was concluding, DC released two highly-acclaimed series that redefined the superhero genre and began a trend toward "grim and gritty" comic books. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller and Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons represented a shift from previous ages by deconstructing iconic characters and envisioning dystopian worlds in which they live. This was the beginning of the Copper Age with an increase in adult-oriented content.
During the Copper Age, there was a trend towards more emotional realism, with the motivations of superheroes (and super villains) shifting from purely altruistic to deeply psychological. For example, Batman's arch-nemesis, The Joker, was portrayed less as an evil criminal and more like a mentally ill psychopath who shot and paralyzed the original Batgirl in 1988's Batman: The Killing Joke and killed Robin (Jason Todd) in the "Batman: A Death in the Family" storyline.
Three of the biggest superheroes were reimagined at the beginning of the Copper Age as their original series were cancelled and then reintroduced with new number ones: The Flash (in which Wally West became The Flash after Barry Allen's death), Superman (written by John Byrne) and Wonder Woman (written by George Perez). Also, the regular Batman series was injected with a little of Frank Miller's dark tone when he wrote a 4-issue story arc called "Batman: Year One".
For me, the Copper Age was significant for two developments. First, single-issue stories became a thing of the past. Instead, multi-issue stories with increasingly "soap operatic" plot developments and cliffhangers became the norm. Second, crossovers and events became regular occurrences. Whether in stand-alone miniseries, tie-ins or themed "annuals", DC continued to find creative ways to spin the success of Crisis on Infinite Earths. These included:
Legends (1986-1987). Crossover event known for introducing a new comedy/action take on the Justice League, the villain-based black ops Suicide Squad, and the introduction of Captain Marvel into the DC Universe.
Millennium (1988). The first weekly crossover event.
Invasion! (1989). Crossover event known for concluding many plotlines from existing Keith Giffen-created series as well as clearing the slate for new Grant Morrison series.
Armageddon 2001 (1991). Crossover event running through all the annuals published that year and exploring possible futures of its characters.
War of the Gods (1991). Four-issue mini-series crossing over into a limited number of other titles and intended to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Wonder Woman.
Eclipso: The Darkness Within (1992). Crossover event running through all the annuals published that year and featuring the heroes of the DC Universe fighting against vengeance demon, Eclipso.
Bloodlines (1993). Crossover event running through all the annuals published that year and introducing wave of "New Blood" superheroes and titles: Blood Pack, Razorsharp & the Psyba-Rats, Hitman, Anima, Loose Cannon, Argus and Gunfire.
In addition, two major storylines ran through the Superman and Batman titles that removed those heroes from active duty: Superman was killed by Doomsday and Batman's back was broken by Bane. Although both eventually returned, their creators used their time away to introduce many interesting, popular and lasting characters.
I own over 2,100 DC comics from the Copper Age. The ones with any significant increase in value have been mentioned above. However, none have yet appreciated to 3-digit numbers.
I'm going to mark the end of the Copper Age with a final miniseries/crossover event in 1994 called Zero Hour. Although not as famous as the one that started them all, it was significant for "resetting" the entire DC Universe with a "zero" issue of its titles that was an opportunity to retell or clarify its heroes' origins and establish an "official" version. These individual titles and characters were then sent into refreshed directions. Perhaps the most notable result was that Kyle Raynor became Earth's new Green Lantern. (Hal Jordan's story is a complicated saga to be discussed at another time.)
The Copper Age is when I began planning my weeks around Wednesday visits to comic book shops to buy the newest issues of my favorite titles on the day they were released. DCs marketing strategy worked perfectly on someone like me who was obsessive about collecting every chapter of their storylines and company-wide events.
Most historians do not draw a line between comic book ages at this point. However, as explained earlier, I'm basing my eras on characters and events in the DC Universe. And when the entire universe "starts over", it definitely signals the end of one age and the beginning of another. So, while "Copper Age" and "Modern Age" are usually two names for the same era, I am going to split them into two. This reduces the duration of my Copper Age to about half that of the previous ages; however, the average duration will be restored with my Modern Age.
Part 4: The DC Universe-The Modern Age
In the Modern Age, while comic book characters continued to became darker and more psychologically complex, their creators became better-known and active in changing the industry. Often, the big comic book news was about which creator signed an exclusive deal with a particular publisher, or which one would be writing or drawing a specific book. For me, the emphasis switched from the stories of superheroes themselves to the "interpretation" a creator might give those superheroes. And for the first time, I was buying comics not because of who they were about, but because of who wrote or drew them. (This is not to mention the trend of "stunt writing" by celebrities from other media who occasionally crossed over into the world of comic books.)
Zero Hour, the event that ended the Copper Age, also served as a turning point for DC regarding how they viewed their Golden Age characters and their ongoing story potential in the Modern Age. The critical hit Starman started a trend of stories set in the present but reflective of the past. To this day, the theme of "legacy" runs through many of DC's titles, perhaps most apparent in Justice Society of America.
The trend of publisher-wide reinventions, consisting of miniseries and spinoff storylines in established books, continued throughout the Modern Age in DC events. During the mid-90s, I experienced an uncharacteristic lull in comic purchasing and did not experience the following events: Unleashed (1995), The Final Night (1996), Genesis (1997), DC One Million (1998), and Our Worlds at War (2001)
Interestingly, I have since tried these storylines in various back issues and found them to be not very interesting to me. However, I was back in full swing and haven't missed a beat with the following game-changing events, to list only a few:
No Man's Land (1999). Storyline running through the Batman titles where the characters fight to retain control in an earthquake-ravaged Gotham City.
Day of Judgment (1999). Miniseries where demonic forces threaten Earth and Hal Jordan becomes the Spectre.
Identity Crisis (2004). Miniseries written by best-selling author Brad Metzler. When Sue Dibny (Elongated Man's wife) is murdered, it is revealed that the Justice League has performed "mindwipes" on various supervillains and on Batman himself.
Green Lantern: Rebirth (2004). Miniseries and relaunch written by fan favorite Geoff Johns. After the Spectre leaves his soul, Hal Jordan returns to life as Green Lantern.
Infinite Crisis (2005). A "sequel" to Crisis on Infinite Earths. Several characters previously-thought dead from the old multiverse, such as Earth-Two Superman, return in an attempt to change the universe for the better.
One Year Later (2006). At the end of Infinite Crisis, all comics jumped forward one year.
52 (2006). A weekly event series chronicling the missing year between Infinite Crisis and One Year Later. This is a year without Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman and ends with the multiverse (containing 52 Earths) being reestablished.
Countdown (2007). A weekly event series involving, among other things, the new multiverse and three characters supposedly killed in Infinite Crisis: Jason Todd, Donna Troy and Kyle Rayner.
Final Crisis (2008). The miniseries event to which Countdown was counting down. During Final Crisis, Batman and Martian Manhunter were killed and Barry Allen (The Flash), who died during Crisis on Infinite Earths, returned to life.
Battle for the Cowl (2009). Storyline where the heroes and villains of Gotham City decide who will become the new Batman following his death in Final Crisis. Ultimately, Dick Grayson (the original Robin and then Nightwing) becomes Batman, Damian Wayne becomes Robin and Tim (Drake) Wayne becomes Red Robin.
Blackest Night (2009). Stemming from the Green Lantern books rejuvenated by Geoff Johns, this miniseries and line-wide crossover event chronicles the war between DC's living heroes and villains and it's dead, resurrected as the Black Lantern Corps.
Brightest Day (2010). Bi-weekly series picking up immediately where Blackest Night ended, but less of a line-wide crossover.
Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne (2010). Guess what? Batman wasn't really dead; he was merely lost in time. In this miniseries, Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City following his disappearance in Final Crisis.
Flashpoint (2011). The final event miniseries of the Modern Age. An alternate timeline created by Reverse Flash somehow sets the stage for a company-wide reboot of DC Comics in September of 2011 when every single comic book title will begin with a new #1.
Another trend during the Modern Age was overlapping storylines. For example, from 1991-2000, the Superman stories were written on a weekly basis but published in four different titles: Superman, Adventures of Superman, Action Comics and Superman: The Man of Steel. If you wanted to keep up with existing stories, you had to buy all the titles; if you bought only Action Comics, for example, you would get only ¼ of the story. A triangle was featured on the cover of every Superman title with a number on it. This number indicated which week of the year the Superman title was released.
Other trends in the Modern Age included: fewer pages/higher prices, fewer stand-alone issues/more chapters, the rise of trade paperbacks for reprints and collected editions, the influence of Japanese comics and animation and the avalanche of superhero adaptations for movies and television.
Superstar creators of the Modern Age who worked at DC included writers Brian Azzarello, Peter David, J. M. DeMatteis, Neil Gaiman, Geoff Johns, Dan Jurgens, Jeph Loeb, Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Gail Simone and Mark Waid and artists Ed Benes, Tony Daniel, Bryan Hitch, Adam Kubert, Andy Kubert, Jim Lee, Frank Quitely, Alex Ross and Tim Sale.
I own nearly 3,000 DC comics from the Modern Age, with only a handful appreciating to any notable value ($65 being the top). I've recently realized that I'm no longer buying comic books with any hopes of seeing significant additional investment value as my collection grows. But by now, I am hopelessly addicted to reading them and their continuing stories. It remains something that I truly enjoy.
This change in attitude reflects something that happened to the comic book industry at the beginning of the Modern Age. During the Copper Age, several specific issues sold for thousands of dollars, leading to the belief that comic books were good financial investments; collectors bought large numbers amounts of comics thinking they would be valuable in the future. This in turn led to an industry boom where retail shops and publishers made huge profits and many companies expanded their lines.
But the market experienced a glut of merchandising, resulting in a crash. Sales plummeted, retail stores closed and publishers downsized. In 1996, Marvel Comics, the largest company in the industry, declared bankruptcy. The crash also marked the relative downfall of the large franchises that led to the glut as they were notably scaled back, although several franchises have once again gained prominence, due to the success of feature films and various animated series. Looking back, it's coincidental that the aforementioned "lull" I experienced buying comics in the mid-90's seems to coincide with the comic book "speculator crash".
This brings us to today… August, 2011. Next month, DC Comics begins an ambitious initiative where every title that exists now will be cancelled and an entirely new line of 52 titles will begin with a #1 issue. It sounds like the beginning of a new age to me. And since DC will also be making every one of its titles available digitally on the same day as its printed versions, I'm going to call this upcoming era the "Digital Age of Comics". I'm probably not the first person to say that, and I'm sure I won't be the last.
Whether I one day make a transition to digital-only comics remains to be seen. And my thoughts about even being at this point are best dealt with in a different context. For now, I'm going to keep buying and keep reading… as long as the stories are good and the characters are great. DC has been doing it for most of my 48 years; I have no reason to believe they won't continue to do so.