What was the best comic book era?

[Mr.Pumpkin]

What was the best era for comics? Why?

Golden Age: 1938-1945
Atom Age: 1946-1955
Silver Age: 1956-1969
Bronze Age: 1970-1980
Modern Age: 1981-present

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

What was the best era for comics? Why?

Golden Age: 1938-1945
Atom Age: 1946-1955
Silver Age: 1956-1969
Bronze Age: 1970-1980
Modern Age: 1981-present

There's an Atom Age now?

And the Modern Age has been going on for a reeeeeeeeeeeeeeally long time. Can we call 1981-1995 "the dark age" and 1996 to the present the "Neoclassical Age"?

[Asmith]

What was the best era for comics? Why?


That's easy... it's the comics you were reading when you were 10.

[Pól Rua]

Now.
Because even though so many modern comics just suck wet farts out of the arses of dead pigeons (Thank you, Dave Sim), the availability of reprints has never been greater.

But yeah, Asmith nailed it.

[volrath50]

That's easy... it's the comics you were reading when you were 10.

I started reading comics as a kid during the Clone Saga, Onslaught and Heroes: Reborn. As a result, I am a twisted, broken individual.

[Ronald Bryan]

I guess the Modern Age, since it has lasted more than twice as long as any other era.

[KiplingKat]

I don't know why people say the Bronze Age ended in 1980 since there were no significant changes in format, storytelling, subject matter, art, etc. Yeah, through the 1980's you had a couple guys (Moore, Gaiman) doing fringe work, but they did not impact how mainstream comic books were created/presented until much later after the fanbase at large had picked up on what they had been doing.

Expand that definition of the Bronze age from early 1970's to 1990, and I'd say that was the one. When I started reading comics in the early 1980's it was Claremont's X-Men & New Mutants, Miller's Daredevil, Simonson's Thor, Stern's Avengers. Jim Shooter with an editorial staff that actually did their jobs (as opposed to now.) I got *so* spoiled.

[howyadoin]

There's an Atom Age now?This is the first I've heard of it, in 40-odd years of reading comics and almost 10 of posting at CBR.

[The Black Guardian]

What was the best era for comics? Why?

Golden Age: 1938-1945
Atom Age: 1946-1955
Silver Age: 1956-1969
Bronze Age: 1970-1980
Modern Age: 1981-present
I tend to see my Ages differently than you:
- Golden going until the start of the Silver.
- Bronze lasting until 1986.
- And there being the beginnings of an Age after the Modern/Dark/Iron Age.

Regardless, "best" is subjective. I enjoyed the Bronze Age the most. It seemed, to me, to have the right mix of darkness and Silver Age silliness.

[Paradox]

KiplingKat time quibbles:

I don't know why people say the Bronze Age ended in 1980 since there were no significant changes in format, storytelling, subject matter, art, etc. Yeah, through the 1980's you had a couple guys (Moore, Gaiman) doing fringe work, but they did not impact how mainstream comic books were created/presented until much later after the fanbase at large had picked up on what they had been doing.

Expand that definition of the Bronze age from early 1970's to 1990, and I'd say that was the one. When I started reading comics in the early 1980's it was Claremont's X-Men & New Mutants, Miller's Daredevil, Simonson's Thor, Stern's Avengers. Jim Shooter with an editorial staff that actually did their jobs (as opposed to now.) I got *so* spoiled.

I always end in in '85, myself. Crisis on one side and the beginning of the Dark Age with Dark Knight and Watchmen on the other. At Marvel their commercially driven cross-over madness begins with Secret Wars and continues with endless amounts of pointless guest-starring by the anti-hero three, Wolvy, Punisher and Ghost Rider.

EDIT: Half a Coke to BG :tongue:

[Paradox]

howyadoin didn't know:

This is the first I've heard of it, in 40-odd years of reading comics and almost 10 of posting at CBR.

I must spend more time at the Classics board than you. I've heard Atomic Age for that post-war era for years, but not before getting on the 'Net.

[DoctorDoom]

For me it's the modern age, since it's what got me into comics.

[Paradox]

Oh, yeah, almost forgot... :tongue:

Definitely a Bronze Ager here. Nice mix of Silver Age sensibility with more modern, "grown-up" characterization. And artists who knew how to tell stories rather than just draw pin-ups.

And just for the record, I was early/mid 20s, not 10. :biggrin:

[dupont2005]

whatever age early 80's comics fit in. seems to change on a person to person basis:smile:

[Reptisaurus!]

Right now.

Strangely, I don't have any nostalgic attraction to my horrible-ass childhood. I like some of the same stupid crap I did when I was ten, but not much of it.

Edit: Although if we're specifically limiting this to mainstream floppies, I'll say the quality's been pretty much th' same between 1950 and now.

[dupersuper]

That's easy... it's the comics you were reading when you were 10.

This is true...

but every era has cool stuff. I buy writers and characters I like, i don't check the copyright date first...

[howyadoin]

I must spend more time at the Classics board than you. I've heard Atomic Age for that post-war era for years, but not before getting on the 'Net.I'm rarely on Classics. Too many old people.

[Pól Rua]

I quite like classics. It's the bizarro forum. 90% of the posts are positive assessments of comics and creators and well-constructed criticism of things they don't like.
I don't think I've ever seen the word SUXX0RZ on Classics.
I'd post there more often but I think I'd start lowering real estate values.

[thehod]

I'm rarely on Classics. Too many old people.

There is literally too many things to post in response to that comment.

[thehod]

I'm a fan of all ages, myself.





That didn't quite come out the way I intended.

[StarsAndGarters]

That's easy... it's the comics you were reading when you were 10.

I hardly read comics at age ten. I think I had a couple odd issues of Uncle Scrooge and Star Trek and that was it. I only started reading comics a lot at about 18 when a friend got me into it. Which is probably why there's nothing I'll rabidly defend to the death as the best thing ever.

[StoneGold]

I say the Age of Feathers, which goes from 2182 to 1438.

[Paradox]

What did I tell you about the brown acid?

[Pól Rua]

What did I tell you about the brown acid?

That's not acid.
Which isn't to say that you shouldn't still watch out for it.

[pariah-1972]

I love anything from the 70's and 80's personally considering how influential that time was i'm sure it's more than just nostalgia.

[pariah-1972]

I love anything from the 70's and 80's personally considering how influential that time was i'm sure it's more than just nostalgia.

[Eric D.]

That's easy... it's the comics you were reading when you were 10.

what he said...

[theflyingfrogunderdog]

Bronze Age is the best because there was true diversity of genre within anthology stories. And the art techniques were much more interesting back then. Here's a few examples of comic issues i remember having back in the groovy day, that are so much more interesting than the comics today.

Remember these types of stories?

http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/tales-of-the-unexpected/158-1.jpg

Remember this type of art technique?

http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/swamp-thing/11-1.jpg

Art note: Nick Cardy did the Unexpected cover and Louis Dominguez did the Swamp Thing cover, in case anyone was wondering. :wink:

[Paradox]

You choose a Swamp Thing cover from that era and don't use Berni Wrightson???? Tsk.

[rick]

The era between 1979 and about 1987 really deserves to have it's own name.

After all it was that period of time that saw the introduction of the direct market, the rise of indepenedent comics. It was an era when literly dozens of huge creative talents like Dave Sim, Los Bros Hernandez, Peter Bagge, Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Steve Rude and Tim Truman took comics by storm. It was the era when classic creators like R Crumb, Kim Dietch, Gene Colan, Neal Adams, Mike Kuluta, Jim Starlin and even Jerry Siegel came into their own once again, and it was the era when comic creators began taking true control of their work.

Like everyone else my favorite period in comics was what they were putting out when I was 10, but the 80's were undoubtedly a special time in comics.

The Modern Age came somewhat later.

[Cloudman]

Modern age. Just try to ignore Liefeld.

[Mr.Pumpkin]

That's easy... it's the comics you were reading when you were 10.

I like this post:biggrin:

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I've always heard some magazines (Comic Book Buyers Guide) and others list the ages like this. And they use certain comic books to make that change fit in a way.

Silver Age 19??-1972 : The Death of Gwen Stacy to some is the day the Silver Age ended. I've seen that held up as the Silver Age ending.

Bronze Age 1972-1986 : Crisis on Infinite Earths and the end of the debut of Modern Age Superman is seen as the end of the Bronze Age.

Modern Age 1986- ?? : The debut of Modern Age Superman is seen as the debut of the Modern Age.


Ok I am tempted to say 2006 is the end of the Modern Age for a reason. That were living in a Retro-Silver Age now where as we see the characters have been restored to their "Silver-Age" pasts.

Superman was Superboy as a kid and joined the Legion
There is a Multiverse again.
Spider-Man isn't married and is back to his early 70's self with girls.
The X-Men are hated and feared as mutants
Wonder Woman is using Diana Prince as an identity.
Supergirl , Krypto , Superboy and others are back.

There is changes in this retro-Silver Age but it seems like DC/Marvel have moved back to the past in a way . So thats my term for everything from I guess the debated 2004-2006 period.

[Bicycle-Repairman]

Ok I am tempted to say 2006 is the end of the Modern Age for a reason. That were living in a Retro-Silver Age now where as we see the characters have been restored to their "Silver-Age" pasts.

It could be said that we are now in the Postmodern Age of Comics. Comics have reacted to the Modern Age by reintroducing traditional elements (DC undoing many of the post-Crisis changes, Marvel erasing Spider-Man's marriage, the reprinting of large amounts of classic material) or by carrying Modern Age trends to extremes (big event crossovers, dark and violent stories intended for more mature readers).

[Jacob B]

Modern age. All though I gotta give props to the Silver Age for the debut of Blob 1964.:biggrin:

[Iangould]

The era between 1979 and about 1987 really deserves to have it's own name.

After all it was that period of time that saw the introduction of the direct market, the rise of indepenedent comics. It was an era when literly dozens of huge creative talents like Dave Sim, Los Bros Hernandez, Peter Bagge, Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Steve Rude and Tim Truman took comics by storm. It was the era when classic creators like R Crumb, Kim Dietch, Gene Colan, Neal Adams, Mike Kuluta, Jim Starlin and even Jerry Siegel came into their own once again, and it was the era when comic creators began taking true control of their work.

Like everyone else my favorite period in comics was what they were putting out when I was 10, but the 80's were undoubtedly a special time in comics.

The Modern Age came somewhat later.

I'd actually argue that you need to subdivide the post 87 period as well.

There's the period running roughly from McFarlane's Spidey #1 to, say, Deathmate - call it the IM-age. Marked by speculation and by flashy art and very uneven writing.

Then you have what I see as the current era starting somewhere around 96 or 97 marked by stuff like the collapse of the speculative bubble and the rise of more genuine "mature" mainstream material (as opposed to tits-n-guns) - such as Transmet; Preacher, Y and Robinson's Starman. This era's also marked by the end of self-publishing as major factor in the commercial comics market and the rise of companies such as Dynamite, boom and IDW which may be smaller than the majors but seem to be run as actual businesses.

[Darrell D.]

The era between 1979 and about 1987 really deserves to have it's own name.

After all it was that period of time that saw the introduction of the direct market, the rise of indepenedent comics. It was an era when literly dozens of huge creative talents like Dave Sim, Los Bros Hernandez, Peter Bagge, Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Steve Rude and Tim Truman took comics by storm. It was the era when classic creators like R Crumb, Kim Dietch, Gene Colan, Neal Adams, Mike Kuluta, Jim Starlin and even Jerry Siegel came into their own once again, and it was the era when comic creators began taking true control of their work.

Like everyone else my favorite period in comics was what they were putting out when I was 10, but the 80's were undoubtedly a special time in comics.

The Modern Age came somewhat later.

Yeah, I would have to agree with that. I turned 15 and started reading stuff like Nexus, Flagg!, Cerebus, Love and Rockets, Neat Stuff and discovered my stack of big 2 comics every week started dwindling. It was an amazing time for, I guess 'Indy' would be a good name. But, really, they were just amazing comics. There was a definite punk attitude, such as 'anyone can pick up a pencil' and stop complaining about the shit that Marvel and DC was putting out, and DO it. And try not to suck.

[Ontir]

The one where comics were 25 cents a piece or less!

[Bicycle-Repairman]

Like all attempts to categorize periods in art, defining a demarcation between different ages of comics is difficult. Styles develop gradually and trends overlap. However, there some important events like the debut of Superman and the creation of the Comics Code Authority that had a widespread effect on the industry.