The Golden Age is considered to be a period in American comic book history where comics experienced a surge of popularity, the superhero archetype was created and defined, and many of the most famous superheroes debuted. The period saw the arrival of the comic book as a mainstream art form, and the defining of the medium's artistic vocabulary and creative conventions by its first generation of writers, artists, and editors.
Comic book fans and historians widely agree that the Golden Age began no later than 1938 with the debut of Superman in Action Comics #1, published by DC Comics. However, there are other theories.
Superman was so popular that superheroes soon dominated the pages of comics, which characterized the Golden Age. Between 1939 and late 1941, DC and her sister company All-American Comics introduced such popular heroes as Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, the Atom, Hawkman, and Aquaman, while Timely Comics, the 1940s predecessor of Marvel Comics, had titles that featured the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner, and Captain America.
This video features background scenery and character models from the computer game City of Heroes, and is a fitting tribute in honor of the 70th anniversary of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman.
Circulation figures suggest that in the 1940s the best selling superhero may have been Captain Marvel (Shazam!), published by Fawcett Comics, trouncing Superman and Action Comics.
Quality Comics' Plastic Man and cartoonist Will Eisner's non-super-powered masked detective The Spirit, originally published in newspaper inserts, were extremely popular.
World War II had a huge impact on comic books, particularly superhero comics. They gained immense popularity as cheap, portable tales of good triumphing over evil. American publishers showcased their heroes battling the Axis Powers. Covers featuring superheroes punching Nazi leader Adolf Hitler or fighting buck-toothed Japanese soldiers have become icons of the age.
Superheroes weren't the only comics to appear on the newsstands. Displayed side by side with Superman and Captain America were western, romance, and even jungle adventure comics.
There are differing opinions on what is considered the end of the Golden Age. Some include:
To be continued...(in the Silver Age)
Information gathered from Wikipedia. Fonts and background effects courtesy of Blambot.