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
PUBLISHERS OF THE ERA
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.
