#Simple comic book characters full#

(via Marvel) This award-winning design by Jim Steranko was directly inspired by Salvador Dali. The comic book world of supernatural and alien powers made it an obvious target for colorful, abstract illustrations. These factors led to a decline in superhero stories and a rise in comic titles that would appeal to more adult sensibilities-the Silver Age of Comic Books. Fans were growing up-some of them returning home from a horrific World War-and the idea of an invincible, caped avenger casually overcoming the worldвЂ™s great evils became less and less convincing. Not unlike the youth of its readers, the Golden Age was a time of whimsy and innocence that couldnвЂ™t last forever. (via DC Comics) The Silver Age (1950-1971) Originating during this era was one of the most memorable vigilantes along with one of the most often memed panels.

#Simple comic book characters full#

Panels were laid out in basic square grids, often full of more dialogue than imagery.Cartooning was simple as publishers were not yet at the level of investing in or attracting serious artists.Though printed in booklet form, comics did not deviate far from their newspaper ancestors, telling a straightforward story through basic sequential images.Superman set the tone for every superhero to come after, even becoming the first to earn his own exclusive comic book dedicated to his adventures in a time when characters were typically restricted to one-shot stories in variety publications. Readers couldnвЂ™t take their eyes off of him. But Superman was the first super-powered musclehead to don a cape and skin-tight spandex to fight crime. Newspaper comic strips (where the term вЂcomicвЂ™ book comes from, incidentally) already existed along with radio shows featuring masked vigilantes like the Shadow. (via Marvel) via MarvelДropping literally out of the sky to kick off the Golden Age, Superman represents the comic book origin story. Characteristic of the Golden AgeвЂ™s idealism, superheroes were often used as a platform for instilling national pride and patriotism in the face of WWII. They fulfilled every kidвЂ™s dream of gaining larger-than-life powers, effortlessly overcoming their bullies and leaping out of their colorless neighborhoods into adventure. And thatвЂ™s exactly why the comics of this age caught like wildfire. There was a clear stylistic distinction between good and evil, and superheroes were nothing more than happy-go-lucky do-gooders that battled and always defeated villains motivated by money or world domination. The Golden Age was truly an idyllic time. While there might not be any mutants or doomsday weapons in the actual history of comics, its panels are every bitВ as unpredictable. The history of comic book styles is one as dynamic as the stories they contain, shaped not only by the hands of countless writers and artists but by millions of readers across nearly a century. Comic books began as a dime-store novelty, and since then, they have gone through countless transformations, artistic explorations, public excises, declines and revivals. In a time when audiences were racing in droves to catch the latest talkie and hand-drawn animation was just finding its legs, a new medium brought kids (and adults, letвЂ™s be honest) back to reading.