DC Comics History: The Silver Age Rebirth of Superheroes
It was on a controversial note that the Golden Age ended. The history of American comics was changed forever by the adoption of the Comics Code. It will take decades to break free of it and, even then, its influence would never completely fade away.
In March 1955, the Comics Code’s seal began appearing on DC Comics covers, like Action Comics #202, Superman #96, Batman #90, Detective Comics #217, Wonder Woman #73, and more… but not on too many costume superhero books, as those had already started to fade away.
The New and Improved DC Comics Superheroes
At that point, in 1956, Irwin Donenfeld, son of Harry, had become editorial director and came up with the idea for Showcase, a comic book that would be used to introduce new characters and ideas with limited risks. It was to experiment and try to find the next big title for the company. Science-fiction fan Julius Schwartz was put in charge of editing Showcase #4. His idea was to bring back The Flash. The fastest man alive had stopped running seven years before, but Schwartz was not just going to pick up Jay Garrick’s adventures where they had been stopped. He organised an almost complete overhaul of the story, only keeping the costume and powers. The editor recruited writer Robert Kanigher and artists Carmine Infantino and Joe Kubert to deliver this first attempt at reviving a DC Superhero. The new Flash, Barry Allen, came with a modern take, more science-fiction oriented. This comic book is now designated to mark the start of the Silver Age of Comics.
For the first time since the early 1940s, a superhero not related to Superman got a solo title (but the old numbering was used, starting with The Flash #105).
Showcase #6 introduced The Challengers of the Unknown, created by Jack Kirby before he began working with Stan Lee at Marvel Comics. Gardner Fox, Edmond Hamilton, and Bob Brown introduced Space Ranger in Showcase #15. Fox and Mike Sekowsky launched Adam Strange’s Adventures on Other Worlds in Showcase #17. Jack Miller and Ruben Moreira created Rip Hunter, Time Master for Showcase #20. Finally, the second big Silver Age update came in Showcase #22 with Green Lantern by John Broome and Gil Kane, who reinvented the whole mythology of the character, making of Lantern Hal Jordan a space cop working for the Guardians of the Universe. The Silver Age version of The Atom (aka Ray Palmer) came from Gardner Fox and Gil Kane in Showcase #34. And more new characters and updated heroes continue to be introduced in the title for a good time.
In March 1960, in the pages of The Brave and the Bold #28, writer Gardner Fox presented another one of his updates with a new take on the Justice Society of America. The team roster was different, with Aquaman, the Flash, Green Lantern, the Martian Manhunter, and Wonder Woman at the core, with Superman and Batman making only minor appearances as they were occupied elsewhere, in World’s Finest Comics. This new team was introduced with a new name, the Justice League of America! Julius Schwartz thought that “League” could have a greater appeal for young readers. It was such a success that it inspired Marvel Comics to launch the Fantastic Four.
A new era of superhero comics had started.
In 1961, National Allied Publications was renamed National Periodical Publications with Jack Liebowitz as president, replacing Harry Donenfeld, while Irwin Donenfeld had become executive vice-president. This was also the year the cover price went from 10 cents to 12 cents.
Here Comes the Batmania
Guided by Julius Schwartz, Gardner Fox brought back heroes from the Golden Age in the now classic story “The Flash of Two Worlds” in The Flash #123 (1961), illustrated by Carmine Infantino. This key issue introduced Earth-Two, paving the way for the multiverse. But DC Comics was not to stay stuck in the past and tried to stay in tune with youth culture. This culminated with the 1966 Batman TV Show broadcast on the ABC network.
Developed by Bill Dozier and starring Adam West as Bruce Wayne, this TV version of the cape crusader’s adventures is famously campy and was a massive hit. As a consequence, new readers started buying Batman comics like never before. Suddenly, the character started to appear on a lot of covers, helping boost the sales of every comic possible. That success opened the door for more heroes to go on TV, mostly in animated shows.
Merging Away from Silver
In 1967, Carmine Infentino went from designing covers for the entire DC line to art director, and once Jack Liebowitz negotiated a merger with Kinney National Services, he became editorial director. As such, he started changing the company by hiring new talent like Dick Giordano and changing the editorial staff.
DC Comics was ready to enter the Bronze Age of Comics…
This article was written with the help of 75 Years Of DC Comics: The Art Of Modern Mythmaking by Paul Levitz, published by Taschen.
