Comic books have been around now since the 1930s. In order to simplify the various eras and styles of comics, collectors have broken down comics' history into a series of rough periods commonly referred to as "AGES". The basic ages associated with comic book collecting are the GOLDEN AGE (1938 to 1955), the SILVER AGE (1956 to 1969), the BRONZE AGE (1970 to 1979), & the MODERN AGE (1980 to present). The dates given are approximate, but are roughly equivalent with the most common conception of the ages, and the above dates are the ones EBAY uses in it's category breakdowns. Some collectors further break down the comic book ages with the ATOMIC AGE (coinciding with height of the Cold War approx. 1945 to 1955), and the DARK AGE (1980 to mid -90s and approximating the "grim & gritty" era noted for characters such as Marvel's Punisher).

THE SILVER AGE:

After the end of EC comics and the beginning of the Comics Code, comics were in a standstill period, with TV & Movie characters sellling the most, mainly through Dell Comics. Then, in 1956 DC Comics revived the Flash in Showcase #4, and the Silver Age of Super-heroes began. Showcase #4 is widely considered to be the first Silver Age comic, although many collectors credit Detective Comics #225 (the first appearance of the Martian Manhunter). The Flash revival proved to be such a success that DC brought back more Golden Age heroes revamped for a new era- Green Lantern, Hawkman, the Atom. Lois Lane & Jimmy Olsen spun out of Superman into their own books. Teams such as the Doom Patrol, Challengers of the Unknown, and Metal Men were very well recieved. The Justice Society was revived as the Justice League of America. The super-heroes were back and back to stay!

And then came Marvel Comics and Fantastic Four #1!

Marvel had long been lagging behind rival DC, publishing mostly romance, monsters, and western comics. Seeing the success of DC's team hero books, Marvel greats Stan Lee & Jack Kirby created their own team of super-heroes, but with a twist. The Fantastic Four were HUMAN heroes, heroes with problems, fears, doubts and emotions. This was NEW! Soon after of course came the rest of the Marvel pantheon...Spider-Man, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man....even a team of Marvel's greatest heroes, the Avengers, in answer to DC's JLA. Marvel soon surpassed the more conservative DC line to become the number one comic book company.  Spider-Man became their number one character, a hero with the same everyday problems as many of his readers. Peter Parker might have just defeated the Green Goblin and saved the entire city, but he still didn't have enough money in his wallet to buy Aunt May's medicine. Readers identified with the Marvel heroes like never before, and Stan Lee & company went on to become as big of stars themselves (at least in the comics world) as any of the characters that Lee helped create with such great artists as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Gene Colan, and others.

But DC had a big impact of their own coming, as the debut of the BATMAN TV series launched a comic book craze to rival the headiest days of the Golden Age. New & campy heroes appeared everywhere, on TV, in the movies, in toys, books, & magazines, and in hundreds of comics from tons of publishers. Harvey had the likes of B-Man and the Jigsaw. Archie became Pureheart the Powerful and Betty became Super-Teen. Archie Comics also revived the Fly and the Shield as the Mighty Crusaders. Gold Key had Magnus Robot Fighter & Doctor Solar. Dell revived the classic monsters Frankenstein, Dracula, & Werewolf as spoofy super-heroes. Even Disney got into the act with Super Goof!

But not all of the hero books from this period were silly....one of the best was T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, produced by the great Wally Wood for Tower Comics. No-Man, Dynamo, & Menthor are still fondly remembered to this day.

And then, just as fast, the craze was over, and the array of costumed heroes faded quickly from the scene.

But then, inspired by the socially relevant comics from Marvel and the increasingly vocal college campuses where comics were most popular, DC released Green Lantern #76. With story by Denny O' Neil & art by Neal Adams, Green Lantern & fellow hero Green Arrow set off on a journey across America, seeking the answers to society's problems on the road and dealing with issues like pollution, racism, and, overpopulation. The times they were a' changin'...and the Silver Age was coming to an end.

But in it's place a Bronze Age was forming!