The defining moment
There are moments within a hobby’s history that defines the particular genre. In 1959 there was the introduction of Barbie. 1978’s electronic game Simon. Action Comics #1. Transformers in 1984. 1909’s Honus Wagner. This list can go on for a few hours, but time is a bit limited here, and besides the reader here could probably come up with ten moments of their own right off the top of their head as well while reading this. Defining moments come in all forms too. Sports, world history, politics, engineering, etc. You get the gist. But you are indeed in a comic book friendly area, so let’s talk about why these examples are being brought up.
Ready? Okay…..within the comic book genre, their too lay many defining moments. You knew where this was headed right? Listed below, well not really a list, but reading onward you will come across SOME of the moments in which the comic book industry shifted a bit. The reverberation felt from the story, change, introduction or whatever it may have been. The best part of these moments? 99.9% of the soon to be mentioned were not even an afterthought at the time. Just business as usual, but the repercussions would be felt for the rest of the comic book industries natural life. Yes, Action Comics #1 was and is an obvious game changer. Yes Amazing Fantasy #15 was as well. Steering clear of books like this though. Some comics spoken about here may be obvious to some, but not to others.
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Hardline collectors will grasp the reality right away, while others may see things in a different way. While compiling comics for this article, one has to understand there are so many comics that have made a difference in the genre that there will in fact be many comics left off. That’s where you can weigh in! Tell us what comics you’d like to add to the pile. Also know, there is absolutely no right or wrong answers here. It’s a matter of opinion and the way YOU see things fit. Let people speak their mind, let them have a voice, let them think what they want, let this writer have his voice too.
In no particular order here, here are SOME comics that made a difference within the realm of the industry.
The comics code authority (CAA) was formed in 1954 and was a self-policing ethic/standard authoritarian. They made sure that comics were on the ‘up and up’. No stories would be ‘approved’ for the comics code if the related material was about drug use. Well in 1971, Stan Lee felt the story he wrote was too good to not tell. His story about drug use shed light on the touchy topic and how bad they can ruin one’s life. Stan could not let the comics code hold him back, so he forged ahead without the comics code approval, marking it the first comic depicting drugs as its main story. Thus marking the first comic without the code on it.
…And just a couple of months later in 1971, DC Comics published their controversial drug issue in Green Lantern #85. Dennis O’ Neil and Neal Adams teamed up to publish DC’s first drug related comic. However, this time the comics code was on the cover. Both comics presented a movement on the drug epidemic occurring within the youth community. Comic books were starting to reach out as a new boundary was broken down. No more were the comic books going to be just about superheroes fighting the Nazi’s or big bad villains. Comics took a turn in 1971 toward the realities of real life. Forever, never turning back.
On to a lighter topic, let’s talk about spider webs. Amazing Spider-Man #298 (1988) was Todd McFarlane’s first Spider-Man comic. Everyone loves to talk about the comic that hit two issues later, which in itself was a game changer, but let’s talk about #298 right now. When Todd took over the art on the Amazing Spider-Man title, no one realized what was about to occur. Many collectors picked up this comic on that new comic book day and were either astonished or confused. Spidey was in positions and angles we never have seen before. Ever. More interesting was the spider webbing. Yes, agreed, the spidey positioned with his leg over his head that in no way is physically humanly possible is still done today by some artist, but not all the time. The one thing that seems to have stuck is the webbing. 99.9% of today’s artist have now gone with this webbing as the norm. Yes, just webbing, but how many artist can say they single handedly changed the way something is drawn for a character that is STILL drawn that way almost 30 years later?! Such a simple thing, yet a game changer because it’s forever etched out to be drawn with its straight lines and circles.
As for Amazing Spider-Man #300, the first Venom, never has a villain made such an impact on one character this late in its tenure with such a fan base. Bane was close, but no dice there. Venom is it.
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons changed the course of comic book history with their 12 issue Watchmen (DC Comics) series back in 1986. This series was and IS so big in every aspect of comic book story writing that in 2005, Time Magazine had this series in the top 100 novels from 1923 to present. Making it the only comic book to ever appear up until that point. Simply remarkable really. Even more remarkable? Not one superhero anyone knew appeared in the pages of Watchmen. No Superman, no Wonder Woman, no Batman, No Joker, no one. Names like Rorschach, Nite Owl, Ozymandias, Silk Spectre, Doctor Manhattan and the Comedian lead the way. Alan Moore’s words filled the dialog and Dave Gibbons gave us the visual. A comic book dealing with regular heroes, regular people and realism as never seen in comics before. This comic series was a defining moment, no doubt.
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Writer, artist Frank Miller has been responsible for many moments within the industry. Mr. Miller has a knack of taking things and turning then upside down and then adding his own spin on it. It’s worked quite a few times, but never as much of an impact as his Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (1986). As did Todd McFarlane’s visual take on Spider-Man, Frank Miller took Batman’s story and visual to another level never seen before for the Batman character. The visual alone sent Batman into a whole new era. The story is now being played out in a twisted way in the new Ben Affleck Batman movies. The ‘older’ Batman. Tim Burton borrowed from Frank in his 1989 film. It’s ‘dark’ because of Frank, not because Tim Burton saw it this way. Frank Miller created the darkness, grittiness, dirty, scowling edge the Batman character so desperately needed. Miller did the same for the Daredevil, Bullseye and Punisher characters. He gave them an identity that still holds true till today.
The only reason Thor is as popular as he is today, is because of one man. That man’s name is Walt Simonson. Thor was in the doldrums of obscurity until Mr. Simonson came in and saved Thor from becoming a footnote. In Thor #337 (1983), Mr. Simonson wrote, drew and inked Thor a new lease on life. He introduced Beta Ray Bill, made a now iconic comic book cover, consistently swiped and gave Thor the makeover he needed. A makeover that hints in every single Thor movie, right up to the Beta Ray Bill head seen on the Grand Masters building in the new Thor movie. King Kirby was Thor’s daddy and Walt is grandpa. Improving on the character’s entire moniker. Giving him new life. Thanks Walt!
In 1982, Jim Starlin changed the landscape on how comic readers depict a death within a comic book. Although this was a Marvel Graphic Novel, “The Death Of Captain Marvel” was a definite game changer. Jim gave us a story of a superhero dying of…..cancer? Yes he actually went there. Amazing story and amazing artwork by Mr. Starlin here. Jim would go on a few years later in 1988 and help bring the entire comic book industry to a complete standstill with his “Death in The Family” storyline in Batman. Comic fans got to vote if Jason Todd lived or died at the end of this four-part story. We all know how this turn out for Jason.
Back in the 80’s, First Comics was a formable independent comic company. They gave readers Badger, Whisper, E-Man, Nexus, Grimjack and many others. But one stands out among the rest. Shatter #1 (Special) was dubbed as the first computerized comic ever. That’s quite an accomplishment back in 1985!! Comics today are done only done through computers now, so Shatter #1 (Special) was well before its time. So kudos to First Comics.
Well, like I did say earlier, time is limited here and this article only grazes the very large spectrum of comics to choose from. The list is endless. What are your thoughts for game changers? Not so much first appearance, but comics of substance. Comics that changed the course.
What do you think?
-Jay Katz
Jay Katz, a comic book collector since 1983, is the owner/creator of InvestComics LLC since 2005. InvestComics LLC was originally a magazine before the website launched in 2005.
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