What defines a 'classic' comic?

[Watchman]

This might be a silly question, but I am just wondering, what exactly defines a classic comic?

Just where and when does the 'classic' era end? During what years would comics be classified as 'classic'? Pre-1990s? Pre-1980s?

[Cei-U!]

We don't really have a hard and fast rule here about what constitutes a "classic" comic... and I for one prefer it that way.

Cei-U!
I summon the fuzzy borders!

[telerites]

I've often wondered that myself for purposes of this forum.

I think it depends on your perspective, i.e. when you got into comics. Older collectors probably consider classic comics differently from younger ones. A classic comic is how each individual defines it.

For me, I'm 41, a classic comic is anything from late 70s and prior (and by prior I go back to the early golden age). I started reading comics in 1972. I have yet to purchase a comic that was published within the last 15 years. That is not to say that books published more recently are not good, but then again I wouldn't really know since I haven't read anything published within the last 15 years.

I do buy new trades/masterworks/essentials/archives, etc. of "classic comics" if that counts as new books. But for me, they have to contain stories from my perspective of classic comics.

[scratchie]

We don't really have a hard and fast rule here about what constitutes a "classic" comic... and I for one prefer it that way.Agreed. If I had to nail it down, I'd probably draw the line in the early 80s, but whether that's because of any objective distinction or because I was a teenager then, I couldn't say. Some people would probably scoff at the idea of calling any post-1949 comic "classic". To each his own.

A classic is anything that stands the test of time, whether that means re-reading it after thirty years or two months.

[InfoBroker]

Sir Tim, our wonderful, intellectual, thoughtful, savy, peacekeeping and streetwise (well maybe not too streetwise) moderator has provided his very broad criteria for what constitutes a reasonable thread for this forum.

See the sticky:Your Guide to the Classic Comics Board, paragraph number two.

My conclusion, based on deep introspective and alert observation comes down to two major filtering points.

It has something to do with comics.

The subject under discussion is at least two years old.


-jb the brown nosing ib-

[spoon_jenkins]

As JB mentioned, the two year rule is pretty much the only limit around here (so some 2004 comics are already "classics" :p ). It works out pretty well, because it allows discussion about almost anything short of current/recent stories.

In practice, there aren't too many discussion about comics from the 90s and the naughts though. I like a lot of comics from 1975 through the 80s. Folks are interested in all different eras. Since I was born in 1979, stuff from the 1980s or earlier is classic to me.

[Sir Tim Drake]

As JB mentioned, the two year rule is pretty much the only limit around here (so some 2004 comics are already "classics" :p ). It works out pretty well, because it allows discussion about almost anything short of current/recent stories.

In practice, there aren't too many discussion about comics from the 90s and the naughts though. I like a lot of comics from 1975 through the 80s. Folks are interested in all different eras. Since I was born in 1979, stuff from the 1980s or earlier is classic to me.

My opinion on the matter is pretty much what spoon says. I prefer to define "classic" as broadly as possible, in order to not arbitrarily limit what can be discussed here.

So the classic era ended on approximately February 8th, 2004. At this time next year, it will have ended on February 8th, 2005. :)

[TheHistorian]

Ah, back in the good ole days of aught two...

[Lone Ranger]

I am a funny age when it comes to comic books. I have always felt that I was in between generations.

I missed the Silver Age and the early, important years of the Bronze Age. Although I read a lot of the early 'grim & gritty' stuff (Miller's DD and Wolverine), I was not actively reading comics during the days of Watchmen, Dark Knight and Crisis - and only read bits and pieces of those stories at teh time.

This has led me to not feel like any one 'age' is mine, so I have been pretty open-minded about all of the Comic Book ages.

I like the fact that we can discuss 'recent' classics here, as it helps keep me somewhat plugged into the industry. It also encourages younger fans to get involved in discussions and perhaps find out more about the good old days.

I have tried to include books from the past 10 years in the Guess the Classic Cover Game as there are some really great covers from that stretch (the Astro City milk carton cover is probably the best).

I do think the '2-year' rule is a good one, as that gives a comic enough time to age like a fine wine and perhaps be collected in a TPB.

It is strange to think that Kingdom Come is 10 years old and the Ultimates line has been around for half a decade, but that's the industry. It's a train chugging along, and you can choose to move between cars at your leisure.

[InfoBroker]

I like the two year rule and the cross pollination of the various ages of both comics and fans that it encourages. I can pick and choose the topics as I see fit, and it gives me wide breadth to comment on comics from any period.

I'm not sure exactly how I would treat some recent comics though. For example, using Astro City as a calibrator, I would obvious talk about the Dark Age arc(s) in the Wildstorm forum since it is still ongoing material. I would also steer most Local Heroes discussions over to that forum as well even though it passes the two year rule, and it definitely is classic comics of prime quality.

The volume one and two material which stretches back nearly ten years (WOW!) I would probably place here, but even then, I guess it would depend on the nature of the thread and the audience I want to address. A lot of it would probably still generate more discussion over there than here.

I would be interested in hearing more about what current comics the Classic Comic Forum regulars are reading and why.

-jb the (forum-armed and dangerous) ib-

[TheHistorian]

I like the two year rule and the cross pollination of the various ages of both comics and fans that it encourages. I can pick and choose the topics as I see fit, and it gives me wide breadth to comment on comics from any period.

I think Classic tends to attract a pretty mature (not necessarily old) group. As long as that continues, and people simply bypass the threads that don't pertain to them, instead of starting trouble, I don't see any problem with the two year rule (guideline is probably a better word). It adds diversity and really doesn't have any downside.


I would be interested in hearing more about what current comics the Classic Comic Forum regulars are reading and why.

They still make new comics?

Just kidding. Good thread idea. Start it up. That would, of course, sort of violate the two year guideline, but for me, Classic is pretty much the only forum I peruse at CBR, at least with any regularity.

[Dial Tone]

As far as time goes, doesn't 20 years define classic? That would be in genereal terms.

Classic can also be defined by quality or impact. Ed Brubaker and Steve Eptings' Captain America will one day be a classic, but Warren Ellis' Iron man will not.

[hondobrode]

I am 39 and have been reading comics for 30 of those years and have had a lifelong love affair with them. I still buy and collect but over the years have grown to appreciate different styles, publishers, mediums, and cultures, both directly and indirectly through our favorite four color medium.

A lot of Golden Age stuff was crap. A lot of stuff made today is still crap.

but...

I love the "classics" - the comics that hold up over time and can speak to the next generation as well as when it was new. In that regard, I would agree that it needs to be at least 2 years old (not new) but really more appropriately, at least by my own aforementioned definition, 20 years old, to truly measure if it would still thrill and delight my son.

By my terms, Simonson's Thor, Byrne's FF, Miller Daredevil and Dark Knight, Moore & Gibbon's Watchmen, and Moore's Swamp Thing would all be in the classics category.

What else would probably be there down the road ?

The original run of The Authority, Planetary, Promethea, Brubaker & Epting's Captain America, Preacher, The Sandman, All Star Superman, and more I can't think of at the moment.

I do know that the older I get, the more I truly enjoy and treasure the comic strips of yesteryear, of most ages, like Blondie, The Wizard of Id, Shoe, Prince Valiant, Little Nemo, Zippy the Pinhead, Bloom County, The Far Side, Calvin & Hobbes, Peanuts, Dennis the Menace, etc.

The Classics forum here is one of my favorites. It's always great reading all of your thought provoking posts !