The Silver Age is one of the high points in history for the superhero.  Below is a brief summary of some of the most influential superhero and genre books of the period.  Check out our picks for an all-time Silver Age lineup below.

The DC Silver Age period from 1950 to 1970

Justice League of America (1960)

 

Members: Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Superman, Hawkman (in 1964)

 

    Superhero popularity was at a high in the 1950s and with the introduction of the Flash II in Showcase, the Silver Age began.  In 1960, a Silver Age team book debuted, bringing together the greatest heroes of the day, in the same way the Justice Society had brought together wartime heroes in the pages of All Star Comics.  The Justice League was a team book of Silver Age manifestations of DC heroes, who had all appeared elsewhere already.  Their first appearance was in the Brave and the Bold #28 and has become a mainstay of the DCU, in whatever incarnation.  The wartime heroes had come and gone, but in this new book, there was a chance to once again establish the superhero team.

 

Action Comics/Superman

    Action Comics is one of the longest running DC comics to this date.  It introduced Superman in Action Comics #1 and starred Superman through the Golden Age, but its size allowed for other Golden Age tales as well.  Many of the superman family became extremely popular in the 1950s, such as Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, both spinning off to achieve success in their own titles.  Action Comics, even through the Silver Age, has always been synonymous with Superman stories.  Superman also had his own series, as did Supergirl and other superman family members.

 

Adventure Comics (Legion/Superboy/Aquaman) (1954)

    Adventure Comics, which began under the "New Fun" title in 1935, was one of DC's first comics.  It first began reprinting daily comic strips before settling into super-hero anthology once the success of Superman in Action Comics and Batman in Detective Comics, had taken off.  Through the 1940s, the Sandman, Shining Knight and other Golden Age heroes were the norm.  However, the true popularity and notority of Adventure Comics began when Superboy was introduced in 1945 in More Fun Comics, becoming a solo mainstay of Adventure until the 1950s, when Superboy began regularily teaming up with the Legion of Super-Heroes.  In the 1960s, the Legion and Superboy were replaced as headliners by another superfamily member, Supergirl.  The Silver Age of Adventure Comics ended when Supergirl was given her own title and the Spectre debuted as an Adventure headliner, although the title was changed to Weird Adventure.  Adventure Comics was an oversized comic featuring usually three un-related stories, thus could be devoted to more than one superhero.  Aquaman, Superman, Green Arrow the Legion and others appeared regularily until they got their own series.

 

 

Legion of Super-Heroes (1963)

    The Legion of Super-Heroes first appeared in ADVENTURE COMICS #247 in 1958. In that story, Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Boy travelled into the past to offer Superboy a membership in their super-hero club known as the Legion of Super- Heroes. Their appearance was intended to be a one-shot story. However, fan reaction to the team was positive, and they made many appearances in various Superman titles until finally landing an ongoing series in ADVENTURE COMICS. The Legion was DC's first "teen book," becoming so popular that they were given their own series, which succeeded through the Silver Age, although established complicated continuity problems in the modern age.

 

Wonder Woman (1959)

    Wonder Woman was created by Harvard-trained psychologist Dr. William Moulton Marston and debuted in 1942 in All Star Comics.  Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman survived through a down period in popularity for superheroes, establishing her as one of the Big Three. Most early Wonder Woman stories were bizarre and fantastical in nature, although she was revitalized in the Silver Age and several times in the Modern Age.

 

Teen Titans (1966)

    Sidekicks were made popular by Jack Kirby in the Golden Age and in the 1950s, especially in the Brave and the Bold series.  The Teen Titans would first appear in The Brave and the Bold #54 (June 1964). This team was made up of sidekicks or younger versions of major DC heroes. In this issue there are only three sidekicks. Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Robin. Later, the Teen Titans would get more famous members and would grow in popularity. Some of the later members include Wonder Girl, Speedy and Hawk. In January, 1966 the Teen Titans would have their own series.

 

The Spectre (1967)

    With the popularity of the supernatural in the 40s, it was natural a supernatural superhero develop.  He was created however, by science fiction writer, Jerry Siegel and debuted in 1940.  He became one of the mainstays of the Justice Society.  Following a team up with the Silver Age Flash in The Brave and The Bold, The Spectre received his own short lived title starting in November-December 1967.

 

Metal Men (1963)

    One of the Silver Age teams to debut in Showcase was The Metal Men, a team of robots, appeared in Nos. 37-40 from April to  appeared in Showcase Nos. 37-40 from April to October 1962 and then received their own title with Metal Men No. 1 in April 1963.

 

Showcase (The Flash II) (1959)

    Showcase is well known for bringing in The Flash and starting the Silver Age. This comic is also responsible for bringing a slew of other heroes and teams. In Showcase #17 (November 1958) a hero called Adam Strange appeared. The Silver Age Green Lantern appeared in Showcase #22. It was published in September 1959. In this issue Hal Jordan meets a dying alien named Abin Sur, and becomes the Green Lantern in his place.  Showcase #34 would bring in another hero called Atom. He is Ray Palmer, a physics professor who, through his costume, could change his weight and shrink down to the atomic level.  The Spectre would re-appear in the Silver Age in Showcase #60 (January 1966), having been one of the few golden age characters that DC did not revamp. He would go on to his own series in November 1967.

 

Challengers of the Unknown (1957)

    The Challengers were Ace Morgan (crackerjack test pilot), Red Ryan (mountain climber and all-'round daredevil), Rocky Davis (heavyweight boxing champ) and Prof Haley (scientist specializing in underwater exploration).

Rip Hunter: Time Master (1960) Bonnie Baxter, Corkey Baxter, Jeffery Smith, and Rip Hunter

Aquaman (1962)

    Aquaman got his own series after a successful debut in Showcase.

The Brave and the Bold (Green Arrow)

    This title was better known for bringing in superhero teams than individual heroes. The first of these teams was Suicide Squad, who first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #25 (August 1959). It also debuted the Justice League of America, Hawkman and the Teen Titans.

 

My Greatest Adventure (The Doom Patrol) 1964

    The Doom Patrol first appeared in the 80th issue of My Greatest Adventure, a DC comic that had hitherto featured non-series fantasy stories, which were usually told in the first person.   They were billed as "The World's Strangest Heroes", and with writer and series co-creator Arnold Drake letting his imagination run free, lived up to that sobriquet. Fans responded favorably, and a year later, the title My Greatest Adventure had been replaced on DC's schedule by The Doom Patrol.

 

Batman & Robin

Detective Comics

        featuring: The Boy Commandos, NewsBoy Legion, Batwoman

    Most of the early 40s Batman stories dealt with a series of mysteries, usually with a narrator style prose and an adventure for Batman to step into.  In the 50s, Batman often undergoes a series of challenges, set up by villains, which are often elaborate and fantastical, especially when the Joker was involved.  This is the closest to the Silver Age version, which is heavily influenced by the Batman television show, although often putting Batman in more fantastical places.  The New Look Batman of 1964 had a bat in a yellow circle, developed Batman as a mythos, and introduced other bat-characters, such as Batwoman.  Batman-Superman tales also dominated the 60s, including an introduction of a World's Finest series.  Batman would not be given another new look until the 70s.

 

Sea Devils (1961)

    While most of America has its face turned to the skies and the exploration of the starts in the 1960s, the band of adventurers known as the Sea Devils turned their sights to the depths of the world's seas. This is another Showcase spinoff, with Sea Devils No. 1 premiering in September 1961 after appearing in Showcase No. 27, 28 and 29.

 

Lois Lane

    With her popularity on the then popular TV show, Superman's girlfriend Lois Lane received her own title in the appropriately named Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane No. 1 in April 1958 after tryouts in Showcase Nos. 9 and 10.

 

Jimmy Olsen (1954)

    Jimmy Olsen had his own magazine from 1954 on. The magazine published an unusually large number of good stories. It is one of the biggest outpourings of pure storytelling in the history of the comics medium. There were usually three short stories in each issue, mostly focusing on adventure and comic genres.  It lasted 101 issues from 1954-1967.

 

Captain Marvel (Fawcett)

    Although the Marvel Family's last issue was in the early 50s, Captain Marvel no doubt assisted in the rise of the superhero that dominated the Silver Age.  Captain Marvel was so popular in its day that it spawned other spinoff series, even those dedicated to lesser known Marvel Family members.  Captain Marvel was such an integral part of Fawcett that when the company lost a court case regarding the Marvel license, it ceased publishing comics altogether.

 

Mystery in Space (Adam Strange)

    Mystery in Space is DC's most important science fiction comic book. During 1951 - 1964, its stories followed the same paradigms; this is a very long run for a single editorial approach. All of the stories were pure science fiction. They tended to be very dignified. The heroes tended to be idealistic young men. They usually were members of some skilled profession, one that plays a role in the story. If the story takes place in the present, the hero will be in suit and tie; if in the future, the hero will be in an elaborate sf costume. Mystery in Space contained both Adam Strange and general, non-series science fiction stories. Adam Strange stories are not discussed in this article. The early Knights of the Galaxy tales are marked (KG); Space-Cabby are marked (SC); the Star Rovers are marked (SR), Interplanetary Insurance Inc. are marked (I).

 

Strange Adventures (1950-1964)

    Space Adventures was the companion book to Mystery in Space, in that it had a similar tone and was completely science fiction oriented, without deviation.  However, whereas Mystery in Space dealt with exploration of other planets, Strange Adventures stories usually took place on Earth.  Stories would often begin by presenting a normal situation then twist it toward the fantastical.  Captain Comet sometimes starred and is extremely important to comics because he was the first mutant superhero.

 

Tales of the Unexpected

    Tales of the Unexpected is important to the Silver Age because of the development of science fiction and the introduction of important characters spun off from Showcase, the Silver Age try-out book.  Stories often involved travel through the stars, star travelling villains and fantastical situations, such as evil doubles.  The Space Ranger is one of the most important stars of this series.  After his tryout in two issues of Showcase (1958), the Space Ranger appeared in Tales of the Unexpected (#40 August 1959 - #82 April-May 1964), then in Mystery in Space (#92 June 1964 - #103 1965).

 

Weird Science (1954) (EC Comics)

    Children and young adults loved the horror genre in the early 50s, prompting the EC Comics to churn out horror stories by the truck-load.  Weird Science and Weird Fantasy are important to the Silver Age because with the increase in concentration to the horror and fantasy genre gave rise to the Comic's Code.  The Comic's Code closed down most of the gory, violent comics of this genre and turned the focus even more intently on the superhero in the 60s.

 

Our Army at War (1952)

    Most superheroes in the early 50s were outsold by other genres, including fantasy and horror, until the comics code elliminated the competition.  However, because of the Korean War in 1953, war comics once again became popular.  The "Easy Company" of Our Army at War by DC was one of the longest running war comics ever published.  Other companies joined in, including EC comics who published Frontline Comics.  DC changed the title of their Golden Age Star Spangled Comics to Star Spangled War Stories, beginning with issue No. 131.  This proved that Golden Age heroes and stories regarding the war could be brought back with some success, thereby possibly influencing later stories featuring the Justice Society in the pages of Justice League of America.

 

Hawkman (1960)

    This series was another revamp of an old Golden Age character that had become forgotten.  Hawkman was given a science fiction/fantasy origin and placed on Earth, battling equally science fiction oriented villains and mysteries.  He was added to the Justice League in 1964.  

 

The Blue Beetle (Charlton)

    The Blue Beetle is an important Charlton Silver Age mainstay.  The origin of the Blue Beetle changed over the years, stretching into the 60s and 70s, in order with the prominent genre.  When the heavier influence was fantasy and the supernatural, then the Blue Beetle derived his powers from an ancient scarab.  Vitamin-derived power and other science fiction aspects also were present in Blue Beetle stories.  The Beetle later was a more technological hero, using gadgets like Batman and outwitting his opponents.  Charlton also had other Silver Age series, such as Captain Atom.

 

The Atom (1960)

    Ever since the horror and fantasy genre declined in the 60s, science fiction rose up and began to dominate that period.  The influence can be seen in superhero comics as well, such as the Atom.  The Golden Age Atom was just a tough guy with fists, but his Silver Age counter-part could shrink.  Atom stories had a heavy influence in science.

 

Green Lantern (1960)

    Another revamp of a Golden Age character was the Green Lantern.  He was given a highly science fiction based origin and could nearly do anything with his amazing, fantastical powers.  Green Lantern stories differed from most as they were mainly learning experiences for the protagonist.  He also epitimized other aspects of the period, including a playboy lifestyle modelled after Paul Newman and fashioned after an idealistic hero like JFK.  Green Lantern stories even had an influence by the romance genre, as can be seen in the Carol Ferris interactions with Hal.  The series also established some of its first re-appearing villains, such as Sinestro, who is still well-known today.  The Silver Age version would not need revamping until the late 70s.

 

House of Secrets and the Phantom Stranger (DC)

    

The House of Secrets and the Phantom Stranger are important to the Silver Age because they are heavily influenced by the supernatural and mythic genres, showing the turn away from horror and fantasy.  The Phantom Stranger had his own series from the late 50s into the sixties, but would not appear again until the 80s.  Alan Moore went on to write the fourth origin of the Phantom Stranger in the late 80s, which is generally accepted today.

 

 

 

1950

First Modern Credit Card Introduced

First Organ Transplant

First Peanuts Cartoon Strip

Korean War Begins

Senator Joseph McCarthy Begins Communist Witch Hunt

U.S. President Truman Orders Construction of Hydrogen Bomb

1951

Color TV Introduced

South Africans Forced to Carry ID Cards Identifying Race

Truman Signs Peace Treaty With Japan, Officially Ending WWII

Winston Churchill Again Prime Minister of Great Britain

1952

Car Seat Belts Introduced

Jacques Cousteau Discovers Ancient Greek Ship

Polio Vaccine Created

Princess Elizabeth Becomes Queen at Age 25

1953

DNA Discovered

Hillary and Norgay Climb Mt. Everest

Joseph Stalin Dies

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Executed for Espionage

1954

Britain Sponsors an Expedition to Search for the Abominable Snowman

First Atomic Submarine Launched

Report Says Cigarettes Cause Cancer

Roger Bannister Breaks the Four-Minute Mile

Segregation Ruled Illegal in U.S.

1955

Disneyland Opens

James Dean Dies in Car Accident

McDonald's Corporation Founded

Rosa Parks Refuses to Give Up Her Seat on a Bus

Warsaw Pact Signed

1956

Elvis Gyrates on Ed Sullivan's Show

Grace Kelly Marries Prince Rainier III of Monaco

Hungarian Revolution

Khrushchev Denounces Stalin

Suez Crisis

T.V. Remote Control Invented

Velcro Introduced

1957

Dr. Seuss Publishes The Cat in the Hat

European Economic Community Established

Soviet Satellite Sputnik Launches Space Age

1958

Boris Pasternak Refuses Nobel Prize

Chinese Leader Mao Zedong Launches the "Great Leap Forward"

Hope Diamond is Donated to the Smithsonian

Hula Hoops Become Popular

Lego Toy Bricks First Introduced

NASA Founded

1959

Castro Becomes Dictator of Cuba

International Treaty Makes Antarctica Scientific Preserve

Kitchen Debate Between Nixon and Khrushchev

The Sound of Music Opens on Broadway

U.S. Quiz Shows Found to be Fixed

 

1960

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho Released

Brazil's Capital Moves to Brand New City

First Televised Presidential Debates

Lasers Invented

1961

Adolf Eichmann on Trial for Role in Holocaust

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Berlin Wall Built

Peace Corps Founded

Soviets Launch First Man in Space

1962

Andy Warhol Exhibits His Campbell's Soup Can

Cuban Missile Crisis

First Person Killed Trying to Cross the Berlin Wall

Marilyn Monroe Found Dead

Rachel Carson Publishes Silent Spring

1963

Betty Friedan Publishes The Feminine Mystique

JFK Assassinated

Martin Luther King Jr. Makes His "I Have a Dream" Speech

1964

Beatles Become Popular in U.S.

Cassius Clay (a.k.a. Muhammad Ali) Becomes World Heavyweight Champion

Civil Rights Act Passes in U.S.

Hasbro Launches GI Joe Action Figure

Nelson Mandela Sentenced to Life in Prison

Warren Report on JFK's Assassination Issued

1965

Japan's Bullet Train Opens

Los Angeles Riots

Malcolm X Assassinated

New York City Great Blackout

U.S. Sends Troops to Vietnam

1966

Black Panther Party Established

Mao Zedong Launches the Cultural Revolution

Mass Draft Protests in U.S.

Star Trek T.V. Series Airs

1967

Che Guevara Killed

First Heart Transplant

First Super Bowl

Six-Day War in the Middle East

Stalin's Daughter Defects

Three U.S. Astronauts Killed During Simulated Launch

1968

Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated

Prague Spring

Robert F. Kennedy Assassinated

Tet Offensive

1969

ARPANET, the Precursor of the Internet, Created

Charles Manson and "Family" Arrested

Neil Armstrong Becomes the First Man on the Moon

Rock-and-Roll Concert at Woodstock

Senator Edward Kennedy Leaves the Scene of an Accident

Sesame Street First Airs

Yasser Arafat Becomes Leader of the PLO

 

 

 

The Silver Age

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