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History of DC Comics


DC Comics is the industry leader and has been an innovator since its inception many decades ago. Their bold ideas, strategies and styles paved the path followed by many major American comic makers, including mega-rival Marvel Comics.

They have managed to survive and even thrive in some cases during periods of declining interest in comic books. Today, they are a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Entertainment and part of Time Warner.

The Formation of the Company

DC Comics made its debut in 1934, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson. At the time, the company was known as National Allied Publications. The initials DC came about from the Detective Comics series.

This series featured the premier of Batman. Another line of comics known as Action Comics featured the introduction of Superman. Even today, these are probably the two single most popular comic book characters of all time and their creations sparked the first wave of super heroes.

Soon Detective Comics Inc. was formed and then following a merger the organization was known as National Periodical Publications. During this period of change and organizational overturn, the logo “Superman-DC” was continually used and the brand was known as DC Comics amongst comic circles and fans long before it was officially named as such.

DC Comics and the Silver Age of Comic Books

The comic book industry was under attack in the early 1950s for not being up to American standards for children and younger generations. While DC Comics was still successful during this time period with other lines of comics, covering areas such as romance and westerns, it was their reintroductions and revamping of super heroes that led to the massive surge and recreation of the comic book industry known as the Silver Age.

In 1956, DC Comics reintroduced the Flash. The Flash was a character from many years before. However, they updated him to be more popular in the times.

A more personally and emotionally compelling background story was used and the artwork and storyboards were livened up with more dramatic and pronounced designs, brighter colors and so on.

DC Comics did the same for their whole line of super hero characters, including of course Batman and Superman. They created the first team of super heroes, the Justice Society and the Justice League.

Their characters gained mainstream appeal through cartoon and live action television shows. Marvel Comics, initially reluctant to follow the path of DC Comics soon gave in the overwhelming popularity and attention they were gaining and created their own new line of super heroes and super hero teams.

Recent Years

The 1990s was a period of major disinterest in comic books and sales were rapidly declining. After the Silver Age, comic books began taking on more serious and dark matters. DC Comics introduced a range of different lines intended for more mature audiences and adult readers.

They took another drastic turn featuring the deaths or otherwise dramatic changes to many of their mainstay characters. For example, The Death of Superman was one of the most popular comic books of all time. These issues saw great sales but the industry itself was still in a period of decline.

DC Comics essentially launched the super hero industry and revolutionized the world of comic books. Their characters still hold a great importance to many people. Their popularity is still supreme as well, with everything from movies to theme parks in their honor.