FindMeComics
SellSign UpSign In

GOLDEN AGE

1938–1955

Opens with Action Comics #1 in 1938 and the invention of the costumed superhero, runs through the wartime boom, and closes as the anti-comics backlash and the Comics Code reshape what publishers were willing to print. Superheroes dominate early, then give way to crime, horror, romance and western titles.

512

SERIES

16,818

ISSUES

816

KEY ISSUES

Browse all Golden Age series →

PUBLISHERS OF THE ERA

Marvel Comics 307DC Comics 154Archie Comics 42Scholastic 2Dark Horse Comics 1

KEY ISSUES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE

Action Comics #1

First appearance of Superman (Kal-L). First appearance of Lois Lane. Earliest catalogued appearances of Zatara, Tex Thompson, George Taylor, and 3 more.

Pep Comics #22

First appearances of Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, and Jughead Jones. Earliest catalogued appearances of Fred Andrews, Mary Andrews, Alice Cooper, and 1 more.

Pep Comics #26

First appearance of Veronica Lodge.

Captain America Comics #1

First appearances of Captain America and Red Skull.

Jackpot Comics #5

First appearance of Reggie Mantle.

All-Star Comics #8

First appearance of Wonder Woman. Earliest catalogued appearances of Steve Trevor, Hippolyta, and Mala.

Journey into Mystery #83

First appearance of the Mighty Thor. Earliest catalogued appearance of Korg.

Strange Tales #110

First appearance of Doctor Strange. Earliest catalogued appearances of Wong, Nightmare, Ancient One, and 1 more.

Pep Comics #27

Earliest catalogued appearances of Mister Weatherbee and Dilton Doiley.

Superman #13

Earliest catalogued appearance of Jimmy Olsen.

Marvel Comics #1

First appearance of Namor. Earliest catalogued appearances of Jim Hammond, Dorma, Angel, and 5 more.

Action Comics #23

First appearance of Lex Luthor. Earliest catalogued appearance of Black Pirate.

LONGEST RUNS STARTED IN THIS ERA

Action Comics

1938 · 864 issues

Batman

1940 · 715 issues

MAD

1952 · 550 issues

Superman

1939 · 488 issues

Adventure Comics

1938 · 472 issues

Laugh Comics / Laugh

1946 · 381 issues

Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica

1950 · 347 issues

Archie Giant Series Magazine

1954 · 332 issues

Wonder Woman

1942 · 329 issues

World's Finest Comics

1941 · 322 issues

House of Mystery

1951 · 321 issues

Archie's Joke Book Magazine

1953 · 277 issues

Series are placed by the year they began, so a long run appears in the age it started rather than every age it ran through. Where an age begins and ends is a matter of convention, and the edges are argued over. All ages.