Mar, 2015 some 60 years ago, during the era of mccarthyism, comic books became a threat, causing a panic that culminated in a senate hearing in 1954. Oct 19, 2017 it is characterized by bright colors and use of recognizable imagery from popular culture like advertisements, celebrities and comic book characters. Comic books in the 1950s the golden age of comic books origin of the term. Whereas current monthly sales of popular comic book titles hover around 100,000 copies, in the early 1940s superman, batman and captain marvel titles each regularly sold in the range of 1. This week, i am taking a quick look at bob powells work for magazine enterprises. If youve ever gone back and looked at some of the old comic book covers from the 50s and 60s, you mightve noticed that most of them were pretty. Steranko is featured in the will eisner comic book hall of fame and became a comic book historian. On the other hand, because of this restriction, the archive offers an interesting window into the themes of lesserknown comics in the golden ageromance, westerns, combat, crime, supernatural and horror. Bill everett at a comic book convention three years before his death bill everetts theme of alienation runs through a great deal of his work, from the angry, antihero figure of prince namor the submariner to his many excellent short stories in the 1950s. One of comics first illustrative stars, he influenced and astounded such later greats as alex toth, jim steranko, and gil kane. Western comics is a comics genre usually depicting the american old west frontier usually anywhere west of the mississippi river and typically set during the late nineteenth century. In other words these will become great inspirations to future comic characters and stories. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long. Feb 07, 2016 meanwhile, like great punk singles in 1977 or great house records in 1988, a great new comic book comes out every week.
Bob powell is one of the alltime great comic book artists. These are the years when comics were considered a new and exciting form of art. Some strict collectors consider the era finished by 1950. Its certainly possible that japanese art influenced the cartoonists and comic book artists in the west who ended up, in turn, influencing early mangas development in the 50s. After two careers, first as a comic artist, then as a designer and storyboard artist, wildey returned to the industry in the early 80s with rio, a beautiful, naturalistic. The founding father of manga is osamu tezuka, best known for astro boy, cyborg 009, black jack, kimba the white lion, and metropolis. The texan comic book offered dusty, dangerous escapism. But once upon a time, the daily newspaper was a prominent part of. With the first versions of superman and famous funnies dating back to 1930s, illustrators and artists have found a new way of displaying their talent. Get indepth insight into the anatomy of a comic book illustration with stepbystep breakdowns that walk you through the entire. The middle decade of the last century was not a good one for the comics industry. I have only come to truly appreciate his work over the past 510 years. Oct 01, 2015 the omnipresent influence of comic books is undeniable, and here we take a look at the famous artists from the medium who have shaped the surface of popular culture. Comic book collecting very few kids in the mid50s consciously collected comic books, thinking theyd be worth money some day.
By the time i was reading these in the late 60s and early 70s, they were part of the marvel comics empire along with other great western titles. Cowboy movie stars of the 40s and 50s sentimental journey. Sherry the showgirl by dan decarlo pin up and cartoon girls. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival. He did plenty of work for many publishers from the early 40s until his untimely death in 1967. Cowboy movie stars of the 40s and 50s see how many you can remember seeing when you were young if you remember most of them. Westerns have been a staple genre of comic books with some ups and downs since almost the beginning of the medium. Two regular titles started in february, 1937 over a year before superman ushered in the superhero age cheslercentaur publications star ranger and comics magazines companys western picture stories, which featured the artwork of the legendary will eisner. Why my mother threw out my comic books part 1 of 3 webages by adam blatner reposted november 18, 2009 this is based on a talk given on 61209 to the summer session of the. Enjoy this awesomeness and disregard the order in which these. Some 60 years ago, during the era of mccarthyism, comic books became a threat, causing a panic that culminated in a senate hearing in 1954.
Apr 28, 2015 when i turn the page and read the pages from any graphic novel i can instantly recognized the art and the artist that drew in each comic panel. We will say that the golden age begins in 1938 and ends in 1956, when the silver age began. Ec comics, vilified in the 1950s, thrive 60 years later. This page will deal with the most valuable of all, golden age comic books. Adam hughes adam hughes, one of the most coveted comic convention. Like so many american art forms that have grown and spread throughout the global audiences, comic books have been one of the most successful ones to become. Golden age western comics lovingly reproduces in fullcolor, restored, complete scans of over 40 of the best western stories created between the years 1948 and 1956. Super heroes all died out between 1950 and 1955 with only superman, batman and wonder woman and a few smaller ones still being published. Pulps were printed on cheap paper with ragged, untrimmed edges. That did gradually begin in the 1960s and by the 1970s there.
Kane cocreated the modernday versions of the superheroes green lantern and the atom for dc comics, and cocreated iron fist with roy thomas for marvel comics. Classic western comics return in ac comics march 2019. This, of course, isnt to say that mccarthyism and the. Top 100 novelty hits of the 50s and 60s way back attack. Bower 18711940, a woman whose talent for realistic detail convinced thousands of readers that she was a real cowboy. The painting is one among several works by the artist which depict aerial combat. Pichelli is quickly becoming not only one of the best spiderman artists of all time, but one of the best comic book artists in history. The term is generally associated with an american comic books genre published from the late 1940s through the 1950s though the genre had continuing popularity. Two regular titles started in february, 1937 over a year before. In this video, we take a look at my top 20 picks for the best, most culturally significant comic book of the 1950s. However, through this period comic books based on the superman, batman, and wonder woman characters retained a modest audience.
Centaur publications is credited with creating the first standalone western comics titles launching both star ranger and western picture stories with cover dates of february 1937. He got his first professional work at the age of 16, drawing the title story in the first issue of hulk weekly for marvel uk. Now, powerhouse books is pleased to present a collection of these uniquely american stories as told through a uniquely american mediumthe comic book. Top 100 most valuable comic books of the golden age 19381956 the 100 most valuable comic books from each age. New ideas and ways of thinking about art were fomented, resulting in the formation of a new art movement known as abstract expressionism. Nov 28, 2016 for the price of just ten cents an issue the texan offered up dusty, dangerous escapism for comic readers in the late 40s and early 50s. Through the mid1950s, the void was filled by comic books containing more serious themes such as crime, romance, western, and horror. By creative bloq staff computer arts 11 march 2014 11 march 2014. Especially chapter 18, the wertham crusade pp 263274 harvey, robert c. The period from 1938 through the mid1940s represents the peak of comic book popularity.
A new world new stuff the 1950s was an odd time for comic. Decarlo was the artist of the book, and shared creator credit with writer and future marvel superstar stan lee. The purple people eater sheb wooley 1958 the chipmunk song the chipmunks 1958 the thing phil harris 1950. Featuring western legends of life, literature, and filmdom. Learn and apply the nuances that brings comic art to life with tips and tricks designed specifically to broaden your knowledge in the craft of. Like so many american art forms that have grown and spread throughout the global audiences, comic books have been one of the most successful ones to become popularized in the nation that has brought us a variety of influences. The insane history of how american paranoia ruined and. Roy lichtenstein is the most famous american pop art artist after andy warhol and whaam. Western comics and books page 1 of 5 comic book plus.
The 10 greatest comic book artists of all time creative bloq. The western writers of america, formed in 1952, has cited many fine western writers, including ernest haycox 18991950. Print papers are no longer the primary source of news for most americans, who turn instead to the internet. By the time comic books based on movie and tv cowboys were extremely popular in the late 40s and 50s, hoot gibsons star had long faded at. We start off with one of the first artists to have worked in the american comic book industry. The 1940s was a turbulent time throughout the world, and this was reflected in the art of the period. For the price of just ten cents an issue the texan offered up dusty, dangerous escapism for comic readers in the late 40s and early 50s. Great content one of the best comic book books i own and i own a boatload of comic book books. Dec 22, 2019 and saturday morning cartoons see more ideas about comic books, saturday morning cartoons and vintage comics. Like most publication companies they turned to making western comics, mens adventuredramas, romance comics and anything else that would make a buck. During world war ii, european artists fled to america. See more ideas about tv westerns, tv shows and classic tv.
The term is generally associated with an american comic books genre published from the late 1940s through the 1950s though the genre had continuing popularity in europe, and persists in limited form in american. The good news is we have both these historic issues in our collection. We did our best to bring you only the best comic book artists you should know. The lone ranger and other comic book heroes with mark evanier. Click on any name below for more information about the artist listed. The resulting archive is devoid of many familiar comicbook characters, like those from marvel, d. After the war, sales dropped dramatically and then continued to slide down throughout the 1950s. These lavishly illustrated stories of guts and glory, violence and valor, intrigue, romance, and betrayal. Here is the master list of the artists voted by you by your ballots over one thousand ballots cast.
The golden age describes an era in the creation of comic books published between the years of 1938 and 1955. The content deserved 5 stars, but the package is the worst i have ever encountered. Raine 18711954, a former arizona ranger who wrote more than 80 western novels. The american comic book chronicles continues its ambitious series of fullcolor hardcovers where twomorrows top authors document every decade of comic book history from the 1940s. During the 1940s50s romance and humor comics featuring curvy pinup women were at their most popular. This is the third article in our series, following from most valuable golden age comics and most valuable silver age comics. The 25 greatest comic book artists from the last 25 years. American stories as told through a uniquely american mediumthe comic book. The 5 best modern western comics nerd to your mother. Doug wildey is known to a generation of fans as the man who designed johnny quest for television, but his comic book accomplishments are as a western artist par excellence. Top 50 most valuable comic books of the bronze age. Get indepth insight into the anatomy of a comic book illustration with stepbystep breakdowns that walk you through the entire process. I returned two copies to amazon because the binding fell apart after i opened the cover of the book. Pulp fiction and comic strips had a massive readership.
From the 1930s through the 1970s, mexico had a thriving comicbook industry with several diverse genres. Golden age western comics lovingly reproduces in fullcolor, restored, complete scans of 20 of the best western storiesplus a few pinupscreated between the years 1948 and 1956. The texan comic book offered dusty, dangerous escapism in. Whereas current monthly sales of popular comic book titles hover around 100,000 copies, in. He is best known for his lush paintings, his work in comic books, book covers, movie posters and record album covers. Prior to world war ii, paris was the center of the. Centaur publications is credited with creating the first standalone western comics titles. See more ideas about western comics, comic books and tv westerns.
Here is the top 125 comic book writers master list. May 08, 2012 now, powerhouse books is pleased to present a collection of these uniquely american stories as told through a uniquely american mediumthe comic book. Oct 27, 2014 the walking talking comic book encyclopedia, mark evanier, shares facts with host rob word about two of the most dynamic graphic western artists working in the 50s and 60s. To celebrate the last 25 years in comics, were looking back at the greatest comic book artists from the last quarter century. Pulp magazines often referred to as the pulps, also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. Why comics were so weird in the 50s and 60s issue at.
Following world war ii, the comic book genre began to be a passing fad. Reading comic books and graphic novels for 15 years of my life span i would like to list my top ten comic book artist on. Erotic comics for most artists, erotic means the depiction of what arouses their desire which is usually a beautiful young woman or man, with little or no clothes on. Steranko ranked 4th because he was one of the most influential comic. See more ideas about vintage comics, vintage comic books and comic books. Sep 12, 2019 its certainly possible that japanese art influenced the cartoonists and comic book artists in the west who ended up, in turn, influencing early mangas development in the 50s 70s. Mar 16, 2019 one of archie artist dan decarlos original creations, sherry the showgirl made her comic book debut in july 1956. The western genre in comic books today is virtually defunct. Tales from the crypt was the most famous of the horror and.
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