The different comic book ages and what they brought. 2 2

[oldmilwaukee6er]

3 minutes ago, Readcomix said:

Yep, and pre-code romance and crime are a lot of the reason there the CCA was created (along with horror). A lot of that material wasn't really directed at kids. Crumb cherished his E.C.'s.

Absolutely we can trace u-comix origins to EC fandom/fanzines and the impact of the CCA (e.g. like on Crumb, as below). If only we could have convinced Wertham those early pre-code books were for adults... 

[1950's war comics]

another comic that some consider the beginning of the Bronze age ...

[theCapraAegagrus]

On 1/20/2020 at 2:55 PM, kav said:

Could you elaborate?

All I will say is that I wasn't laughing at you.

[Prince Namor]

On 1/21/2020 at 7:39 AM, oldmilwaukee6er said:

While I like this book as a symbol of the Bronze Age, I must take issue with the notion that drugs kicked off the Bronze Age or that somehow comics are now focused on social issues beginning here. 

No. The groundwork for both of these begin prior to the Bronze Age. Underground artists pushed the CCA boundaries for over 4+ years prior to GLGA76 and established comic books as a viable medium for telling stories to adults, including a way to distribute them directly to the new readership. 

Yes, people forget that... undergrounds don't get nearly the credit they deserve for their impact on this hobby and culture in general.

GLGA 76 is seen as the issue that kicked off social issues for MAINSTREAM comics, I think because it's primary focus was social issues. Previous to that, it'd get a mention, but these O'Neil/Adams stories were created specifically to address social issues. And most likely, in O'Neil's case especially, influenced by the undergrounds from the previous few years. 

The drug issues usually referenced (in mainstream comics) are GLGA 85-86 ('Snowbirds Don't Fly'), and Marvel's hokey ASM #96 - but in reality... Strange Adventures #205, four years earlier, featured Deadman's first appearance, where he takes on some opium dealers. CCA approved!