The Various Ages of Comics

[iSteve]

I was leafing through the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide that I bought yesterday and noticed how they listed a couple of ages of comic books that I personally had never heard of - the Platinum Age and the Copper Age.

The Ages in Order:

1) Platinum Age (1883-1938) - pre-superhero comics - usually collections of reprinted comic strips

2) Golden Age (1938 - 1956) - with the advent of Superman in Action Comics #1, the superhero comic book was introduced

3) Silver Age (1956 - 1970)

4) Bronze Age (1970 - 1984)

5) Copper Age (1984 - 1992)

6) Modern Age (1992 - Present)

Haven't seen it laid out quite this way before. I looked for information to clarify what constitutes the Copper Age (it looks like it starts about the time of Crisis on Infinite Earths) but found very little. If anyone else knows much about it, I would appreciate any information.

[iSteve]

It looks like the beginning of the Copper Age was marked by publications of titles like Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, and Crisis. And it goes up through the early nineties before the investor bubble burst.

[fred]

I think that it's odd that we haven't had a new age since 1992. A lot of things have changed since then. Like for instance, the stories are a hell of a lot better.

[acomicbookgirl]

I just thought it was just Gold, Silver and Bronze.. Which reminds me, Steve do you bag and board your Golden and Siver age comics?

[iSteve]

I just thought it was just Gold, Silver and Bronze.. Which reminds me, Steve do you bag and board your Golden and Siver age comics?

I'm almost finished with Silver and Bronze. All my comics are bagged. I may start boarding the rest - haven't fully committed yet.

[iSteve]

I think that it's odd that we haven't had a new age since 1992. A lot of things have changed since then. Like for instance, the stories are a hell of a lot better.

Fred, when did comics start printing on glossy paper inside? I would think that that change would mark an era.

[acomicbookgirl]

I'm almost finished with Silver and Bronze. All my comics are bagged. I may start boarding the rest - haven't fully committed yet.

Um.. does the old paper smell go away? Crap, I missed getting the other issue Byrne did for Alpha Flight..

[iSteve]

Um.. does the old paper smell go away? Crap, I missed getting the other issue Byrne did for Alpha Flight..

For older comics, I don't think that special smell goes away - like a fine wine, it should only improve with age! ;)

[acomicbookgirl]

Ok. Um when you got the older comics, did you keep them in the bag they were in or did you re bag them?

[iSteve]

If the bag they came in was in good shape, I used it. If not, I replaced it.

[acomicbookgirl]

Thanks! :) After seeing my box of goodies, i'm tempted to find the John Byrne's Wonder Woman stuff.. I'm intrigued..

[iSteve]

Thanks! :) After seeing my box of goodies, i'm tempted to find the John Byrne's Wonder Woman stuff.. I'm intrigued..

Go for it!

[comhcinc]

i don't recognized anything other that the gold and silver ages. i'm not sure there has been any other giant changes that qualify.

[fred]

Fred, when did comics start printing on glossy paper inside? I would think that that change would mark an era.

you may have something there. I think story, tone, and quality should define an era though.

[acomicbookgirl]

you may have something there. I think story, tone, and quality should define an era though.

If that's the case, it would be somewhat complicated now.. There have been "so many events" within the last 10 years or so.. What factors do you look into?

[fred]

not story as in one consistent story, but story rather in prevailing types of stories

[acomicbookgirl]

Like what?