![]() ![]() Comics took their inspiration from art movements of the past, most notably surrealism, to illustrate the strange worlds in which their heroes lived.The result was a growing pains era of artistic experimentation, fast and loose writing and political suppression all rolled into one. (via DC Comics)Īfter a number Senate hearings, publishers created the Comics Code Authority (CCA), whose strict censorship forbade even the words “horror,” “terror” or “crime” in any titles. Artist Roy Lichtenstein’s pop art gem, “Drowning Girl,” turns the traditional comic panel on its head by portraying only a drowning woman in despair. These comic books were so effectively grisly that morality groups-already raging against comics as “junk food for the young mind”-now regarded them as the indisputable tools of the devil, despite the fact that majority of its readership was adults. The visual styles mimed these darker themes, mixing in surrealistic and sometimes disturbing imagery. These gruesome tales single-handedly rescued the industry from its fate as a half-remembered fad, and their influence stretched beyond comics to likes of acclaimed film director John Carpenter. Publishers explored racier genres, and by far the most successful was horror. ![]() (via Marvel) This award-winning design by Jim Steranko was directly inspired by Salvador Dali. The comic book world of supernatural and alien powers made it an obvious target for colorful, abstract illustrations. These factors led to a decline in superhero stories and a rise in comic titles that would appeal to more adult sensibilities-the Silver Age of Comic Books. Fans were growing up-some of them returning home from a horrific World War-and the idea of an invincible, caped avenger casually overcoming the world’s great evils became less and less convincing. ![]() Not unlike the youth of its readers, the Golden Age was a time of whimsy and innocence that couldn’t last forever. (via DC Comics) The Silver Age (1950-1971) Originating during this era was one of the most memorable vigilantes along with one of the most often memed panels.
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