Or the newest set I want to complete.

Every comic age seems to have a transitional period between the new and the old. Without argument, it is safe to say the Golden Age of comics began with Action Comics #1 which introduces Jerry Siegal and Joe Shuster's Superman.

The Silver Age also unarguably begins with Showcase Comics #4 in 1956 with a reinvigorated Flash, but the definitive end of the Golden Age was never mentioned. Did it fizzle out, maybe linger on beyond its time, or did the last page of Showcase Comics #3 state it was the end of an era?

Did Dr. Frederick Wertham have anything to do with it when his book "Seduction of the Innocent" was published in 1954? Did his influence start to wane in 1956 and finally end with the Marvel explosion of 62'/63'? Titles that were the namesake of the characters portrayed between the covers such as The Fantastic Four, Daredevil, the Amazing Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, and the X-Men were some of their biggest hits with the Writing/Art style using a variety mix of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Gene Colan, John Romita Sr. and Steve Ditko.

DC didn't want to be left out using titles like Green Lantern and Justice League of America, both starting with a number one (this is when #1's meant something). Action Comics, Superman, Batman, Detective Comics, and Brave and the Bold strengthened the Silver Age, but when did it end?

The above mentioned titles along with many more screamed into the next age of comics with the Bronze Age. It arrived this time arguably with Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76 with the amazing cover and art talents of Neal Adams in April of 1970, others might wish to contribute the rise of the Bronze Age a few months later with Conan the Barbarian #1 released in November of the same year.

Titles such as House of Secrets #92, Incredible Hulk #181, Star Wars #1 (.35 cent variant), and Giant Sized X-Men #1 are some of the most popular issues from this era. The age ends somewhere around 1979, which subsequently doesn't mean that the Copper Age begins in 1980.

With the other eras at least agreed upon by book or by year, the Copper Age is a bit more mystifying. No one can truly agree when the Bronze Age ends for my favorite era to begin. Some say 84', others a bit earlier and say 82'.

If the Golden and Silver Age both started with a particular book and the Bronze Age could be attributed to a choice of two. In the eighties Marvel started a deluxe format starting with a character that first appeared in X-Men #130. This character declined to stay with the team and in March Of 81' Dazzler stared in her own series.

The Deluxe format also was the beginning of publishers supporting comic book shops. In 82' Marvel started their Graphic Novel series with "The Death of Captain Marvel" Jim Starlin revolutionized the comic book format with the death of a major character by a disease inflicting millions rather than a super villain. A story which has been said was influenced by his father.

84' just seems to far away from the end of the Bronze Age to be the beginning of anything. Of course this leaves the question if the Copper age does begin with the first deluxe format book published by Marvel, then when does it end?

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb

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