The year was 1935. The Depression cast its gloomy shadow over the dense urban landscape of America. Crime was assuredly on the rise along with unemployment. There was no internet or television, and not everybody could afford a radio. It was a scary time for anyone let alone a child who just wanted to escape it all. And whispers of war loomed towards the end of the decade. But for those seeking it, hope would arrive as a spaceship streaking across the Smallville sky, as a bat gliding through the Gotham night, as a red blur cutting its way through Keystone City, or as a green aura hovering over the skyline of Coast City. National Allied Publications, later Detective Comics, told more than just simple kids’ stories. They told fantasy stories that allowed its readers to immerse themselves in a universe where the good guys always won and the bad guys always lost. Thus, the Golden Age of Comics was born.
When I was six years old, I remember buying my first comic book. It was the first issue to introduce a reimagining of Patrick “Eel” O’Brian, the criminal who would become Plastic Man. Add onto that my obsession with the first two Superman movies and the reruns of the 1960’s Batman television series, and you have yourself a full blown addiction to the rich universe of Detective Comics. If you’re reading this while you’re in line for an autograph, a long awaited panel, or even if you’re just sitting down to have a bite in downtown San Diego, take a quick look around. Chances are you’ll see someone wearing a shirt with the logo of Superman, Green Lantern, Batman, Wonder Woman, or The Flash. Maybe it will be some of the lesser known characters like Nightwing, Captain Marvel, Bizarro, or any other Lantern Corps symbol. More often than not, you’ll even see the actual superheroes (not to mention their archenemies) walking around in scantily clad tights (for better or for worse).
DC is one of the few companies that not only has lasted three quarters of a century and is still going strong, but has permeated every aspect of pop culture. The “C” in DC may stand for “comics” but the stories have been retold as radio shows, television shows, movie serials, full length feature films, and some of you might even remember there was a Superman musical on Broadway some years ago. There are novelizations, songs inspired by characters, college classes dedicated to the mythologies of Batman, not to mention the numerous fans donning tattoos. If you can still find a phone booth nowadays, I dare you to walk into it without a little piece of you wanting to hum John William’s theme to Superman out loud.
When I was ten years old I won my first writing contest with a story about an alien ladybug raised here on earth. But I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been strongly influenced by the writing style of DC writers. In fact, one of my all time favorite how-to-write books is The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics by legendary DC writer Dennis O’Neil. At my very first day of my very first Comic Con I remember walking to my car exhausted and empty handed. That is until a tall, skinny man slipped off the edge of the sidewalk. Without thinking I reached out my arms and made sure the gentleman didn’t fall on his face. “Thanks, kid,” and those were the first words the dark and gritty writer of Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns, Frank Millers said to me.
Being a child of the 80’s had its advantages and disadvantages. Among the disadvantages are the constant threats of nuclear warfare with Russia, the insurgency of all different kinds of drugs being sold in my neighborhood, and really horrible fashion sense. However, as a comic book fan, the advantages were plentiful. The first Batman movie, the second Superman movie, The Watchmen series, Batman: Year One, The Dark Knight Returns, Alan Moore’s run on Swamp Thing, the Crisis on Infinite Earths arc, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman is premiered, and not to mention the death of Jason Todd as requested by fans via a 1-900 number all occurred in the 80’s and were all products of the DC universe.
Now of course the 90’s were no different with Jeph Loeb and Tim Sales’ epic run with Batman in The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, and Catwoman: When in Rome. This decade also saw the emergence of the brainchild of Bruce Timm, Batman the Animated Series, which introduced one of the most twisted and loveable of villains, Harley Quinn. Next to the episode that rejuvenated the story of Mr. Freeze, Harley is one of Paul Dini’s most ingenious of creations. Of course, it doesn’t matter what title I mention from that decade, there is one comic book storyline that stands out from all others. It was a story that caused such a stir that it even made headline news. I had never seen such frenzy for a comic book outside the comic book world. I am speaking, of course, about the Death of Superman. Dan Jurgens created Doomsday, the one character that pushed the Man of Steel to his breaking point and the world couldn’t take its eyes off the pages.
Here we are in the twenty-first century and we still look up to the skies for the heroes of DC to provide that escape from an unfeeling world. Geoff Johns reinvigorated the readership of the Green Lantern when he premiered the Blackest Night story arc last year. And with the critical and commercial success of Nolan’s Batman movies (not to mention the Green Lantern movie and Superman reboot on its way), it doesn’t look like we’re going to see the end of the DC universe any time soon. So when the confusion of Comic Con finally calms down, when you return home exhausted and most likely broke, and when you have to face the mundane banality of everyday life, just remember that you don’t need the bat signal to call on your favorite superheroes. Seventy five years and going strong, DC continues to entertain and teach us. Here’s to 75 more!
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