The rules of Silver Age superhero comics
So, a post, or rather a reply to a post in scans_daily made me think about this. The history of comic books can certainly be separated into several distinct-though-overlapping eras, even though people may not be in agreement about what those eras are. As for me, I see them this way (note that this is simply my opinion based on my experience with comics and in no way claimed to be accurate fact):
The Golden Age: The before-war and war eras, from the first pulp-inspires masked heroes to the eventual decline of superhero comics after WW2, and the cancellation of many non-superhero titles in the wake of the Comics Code. Characterized by much more mature storytelling than in succeeding eras, an almost complete lack of censorship and, during and right after WW2, extreme war-related violence.
The Silver Age: The glory age of the CCA, from its inception (which arguably breathed new life into the superhero genre even as it neutered it, by removing most of the competition) to its decline and fade into obscurity. Characterized by a perfectly sanitized approach to heroes, life, society, crime and most everything, really. While it had a definite beginning, it had no definite ending, as it faded almost imperceptibly (if you were watching as it went) into the next big era.
The Bronze Age: As the CCA started to decline, comics writers and artists could afford more and more freedom in their creations. As stated previously, it "faded in" from the Silver Age, so it doesn't really have a fixed beginning, but it lasted until the nineties. Characterized by more complex storytelling, overarching plots and crossovers. Also the time when Marvel's cosmic titles got defined as a separate sphere, occasionally interacting with but mostly staying away from their Earth-based titles. At DC, it could be separated into "pre-Crisis" and "post-Crisis" eras, the two being markedly different, but there was no such distinction at Marvel.
The X-TREEEEEME Age: It can be called many names, from Modern Age to Dark Age to Iron Age, but this one is my personal favourite. It basically took up most of the nineties and holds a very... special place in my heart as the era that introduced me to superheroes. It's the age when the superhero comic boom that started at the beginning of the Silver Age culminated, characterized by collectible comic book covers (in shiny holofoil), redundantly numerous comic book titles for the same character or team, "grim and gritty" storytelling and art that was so bad even the Cosmic Marvel titles were affected, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, the clone saga and a lot of other things, some of them surprisingly good. This too can be separated into two sub-eras, this time all across the board: the first half of the era was basically the worst, while by the second half things had calmed down somewhat and a lot of good titles began appearing.
The New Age: Starting from when the ridiculousness of the X-TREEEEME Age imploded on itself, a new era began. It took a lot of cues from the previous era, but removed the unnecessary elements. The number of comic titles was drastically cut back, usually to one or less for one team (this relegated some previously established superhero teams to guest appearances in other teams' comics). The storytelling was, if possible, even darker and more angst-ridden in many titles than previously and the deconstruction of heroes was a prevailing trend. Well, I say "was", but this is the era that we're currently living in, even if there have been changes in modus operandi since it began. While many things in the new era (like the return of some particularly daft Silver Age sensibilities) anger comics fans, it has also given us some of the best stories in superhero comics.
But that's not really what I wanted to write about. In my reading of Silver Age superhero comics, particularly DC ones, I've come to the realization that, beyond the Comics Code, they had a lot of unwritten rules that everyone obeyed. This is my attempt at cataloguing them.
1) Characters can be categorised into three groups: Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks. Any character that shows up in a distinct role (speaking or not) must be one of these. Love interests fall into the sidekick category, as they behave in the exact same way.
2) Status Quo is GOD. Any story that says otherwise is imaginary.
3) As a corollary to rule 2, even though heroes frequently have casual access to abilities and technology that could alter the far or near past to erase tragic events, they must never think of using them so.
4) Villains and sidekicks are allowed to try and change the status quo, but must not only fail, but realize the futility of their actions before the end of the issue.
5) Change in character never happens unless precipitated by rays or magic.
6) Villains are never allowed to reflect on the results of their actions unless said reflection indicates a change of character and as such, is precipitated by rays or magic.
7) Heroes are only allowed to reflect on their actions if they think they've killed someone or if precipitated by rays or magic. In neither case is their reflection allowed to have effects lasting beyond the page on which it is shown.
8) Any hero is allowed to be a horrible ass to anyone and everyone around them as long as before the end of the issue it is made clear that it was either due to mind control or him trying to teach the non-supers a lesson.
9) Not only do strong or independent females not exist, they must turn into horrible bitches at the slightest hint of a love interest, ready to metaphorically and literally slit any other female's throat that even dares to come near the object of their love and to force said object into any number of embarrassing situations to receive their hand in marriage.
10) Heroes' plans, no matter how contrived, always fall right into place. A bumbling sidekick can seem to have derailed them, but it will be shown that the sidekick's bumbling had been accounted for.
11) EVERYBODY, including the villains and everyday people, is actually dependent upon the heroes. No task must be shown completed without some sort of help or interference from the heroes, however slight.
Well, this is what I could come up with so far. I know there must be a ton I'm missing, so feel free to post suggestions.
The Golden Age: The before-war and war eras, from the first pulp-inspires masked heroes to the eventual decline of superhero comics after WW2, and the cancellation of many non-superhero titles in the wake of the Comics Code. Characterized by much more mature storytelling than in succeeding eras, an almost complete lack of censorship and, during and right after WW2, extreme war-related violence.
The Silver Age: The glory age of the CCA, from its inception (which arguably breathed new life into the superhero genre even as it neutered it, by removing most of the competition) to its decline and fade into obscurity. Characterized by a perfectly sanitized approach to heroes, life, society, crime and most everything, really. While it had a definite beginning, it had no definite ending, as it faded almost imperceptibly (if you were watching as it went) into the next big era.
The Bronze Age: As the CCA started to decline, comics writers and artists could afford more and more freedom in their creations. As stated previously, it "faded in" from the Silver Age, so it doesn't really have a fixed beginning, but it lasted until the nineties. Characterized by more complex storytelling, overarching plots and crossovers. Also the time when Marvel's cosmic titles got defined as a separate sphere, occasionally interacting with but mostly staying away from their Earth-based titles. At DC, it could be separated into "pre-Crisis" and "post-Crisis" eras, the two being markedly different, but there was no such distinction at Marvel.
The X-TREEEEEME Age: It can be called many names, from Modern Age to Dark Age to Iron Age, but this one is my personal favourite. It basically took up most of the nineties and holds a very... special place in my heart as the era that introduced me to superheroes. It's the age when the superhero comic boom that started at the beginning of the Silver Age culminated, characterized by collectible comic book covers (in shiny holofoil), redundantly numerous comic book titles for the same character or team, "grim and gritty" storytelling and art that was so bad even the Cosmic Marvel titles were affected, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, the clone saga and a lot of other things, some of them surprisingly good. This too can be separated into two sub-eras, this time all across the board: the first half of the era was basically the worst, while by the second half things had calmed down somewhat and a lot of good titles began appearing.
The New Age: Starting from when the ridiculousness of the X-TREEEEME Age imploded on itself, a new era began. It took a lot of cues from the previous era, but removed the unnecessary elements. The number of comic titles was drastically cut back, usually to one or less for one team (this relegated some previously established superhero teams to guest appearances in other teams' comics). The storytelling was, if possible, even darker and more angst-ridden in many titles than previously and the deconstruction of heroes was a prevailing trend. Well, I say "was", but this is the era that we're currently living in, even if there have been changes in modus operandi since it began. While many things in the new era (like the return of some particularly daft Silver Age sensibilities) anger comics fans, it has also given us some of the best stories in superhero comics.
But that's not really what I wanted to write about. In my reading of Silver Age superhero comics, particularly DC ones, I've come to the realization that, beyond the Comics Code, they had a lot of unwritten rules that everyone obeyed. This is my attempt at cataloguing them.
1) Characters can be categorised into three groups: Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks. Any character that shows up in a distinct role (speaking or not) must be one of these. Love interests fall into the sidekick category, as they behave in the exact same way.
2) Status Quo is GOD. Any story that says otherwise is imaginary.
3) As a corollary to rule 2, even though heroes frequently have casual access to abilities and technology that could alter the far or near past to erase tragic events, they must never think of using them so.
4) Villains and sidekicks are allowed to try and change the status quo, but must not only fail, but realize the futility of their actions before the end of the issue.
5) Change in character never happens unless precipitated by rays or magic.
6) Villains are never allowed to reflect on the results of their actions unless said reflection indicates a change of character and as such, is precipitated by rays or magic.
7) Heroes are only allowed to reflect on their actions if they think they've killed someone or if precipitated by rays or magic. In neither case is their reflection allowed to have effects lasting beyond the page on which it is shown.
8) Any hero is allowed to be a horrible ass to anyone and everyone around them as long as before the end of the issue it is made clear that it was either due to mind control or him trying to teach the non-supers a lesson.
9) Not only do strong or independent females not exist, they must turn into horrible bitches at the slightest hint of a love interest, ready to metaphorically and literally slit any other female's throat that even dares to come near the object of their love and to force said object into any number of embarrassing situations to receive their hand in marriage.
10) Heroes' plans, no matter how contrived, always fall right into place. A bumbling sidekick can seem to have derailed them, but it will be shown that the sidekick's bumbling had been accounted for.
11) EVERYBODY, including the villains and everyday people, is actually dependent upon the heroes. No task must be shown completed without some sort of help or interference from the heroes, however slight.
Well, this is what I could come up with so far. I know there must be a ton I'm missing, so feel free to post suggestions.