Superheroes have been popular with teenagers for years. The paper comics were on top of this popularity long before any superhero movie, TV show, or internet thread was made available. Comic book enthusiasts revered these paperbacks far more than the stories. These comics really touched on political, societal and social thresholds and shed light on the state of the era in which they were introduced. From its inception to this day, Marvel Comics has been at the forefront of the industry.
Marvel’s historical past dates back to October 1939 when the first comic book entitled Marvel Comics #1 was published. The first edition sold over 80,000 copies. With the success of that comic, particularly the popularity of the very first superhero Human Torch, Marvel introduced a second superhero named Captain America in 1941.
World War II spelled the end of the Golden Age of comics. Marvel’s comics responded to the precipitous decline in the popularity of superhero books, featuring characters like Captain America and introducing a new selection of humorous books centered on characters like Super Rabbit.
But the start of the Vietnam War heightened interest in superheroes, prompting Marvel to create 4 brand new superheroes, teaming up as The Fantastic Four. There were also other characters like X-Men, Ant-Man, Iron Man Hulk and Spider-Man. All of these characters etched themselves into the minds of teenagers and continue to form the basis of various Hollywood blockbusters.
Collectors will pay outrageous amounts to get golden comics, even millions for the vintage editions in perfect condition. You can ask your parents and grandparents if they hid a lot of money in a drawer made up of sentimental items from their childhood years. Believe it or not, even the government recognizes the tremendous impact superhero comics have had on pop culture. In 2007, some commemorative stamps featuring superhero characters were introduced.
