Busiek's Marvels and the Golden Age
The History of the Comic Industry through Marvel’s Fiction
Aug 14, 2008
"It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original era of my being..." The book opens with this quote, used as an allegory between the Frankenstein monster and the android that would become the Human torch. These scenes show an artificial life form that can burst into flame. Hidden away from society in a slab of cement block, the creature escapes in a burst of flames and is forced to be accepted by the world. MARVELS chooses to explain the situation like this: "...[He] was not the first anomaly to exist, but on that day[...] the world had its first confrontation with the fantastic. The Golden Age of miracles would begin..." (Busiek xii). It is established that a photographer by the name of Phil Sheldon will be narrating the main piece.
The scene of the birth of the Human Torch is the first of many images used to show the surprise and awe thrust upon humanity. Narrator Phil Sheldon copes with these new wonders and how they affect his world at various points in the piece; trying to understand it and his response (1.14, 1.23), finally coping (1.41), embracing them (2.6-8) and even rejecting them at some points (2.10-16). There are multiple examples of this, but the effect "super heroes" have upon the populace is shown throw Phil Sheldon.
Birth of Superheroes
The opening of the Golden Age is shown by the first scenes of Marvels, as a strange creature is created and at first, shunned. Superman made his first appearance in 1938, after nearly a decade of being rejected by newspapers who thought it too dangerous of a risk. None the less, he burst forth as the most popular feature in the magazine, forcing the world to accept him. Yes, comic books had existed before, but not as powerful as him (Daniels 20-23).
As the world adjusts to the Human Torch, another "marvel" makes his appearance: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner. Sheldon reacts with the same awe described earlier, and he sees the two do battle in a clash over the city of New York. This is considered the first "major cross over" in comic book history.
Much like the battle between Namor and the Torch, other heroes began to crop up during the 1940s, the most notable of these being Captain Marvel. Captain Marvel outsold all other comic titles during the 1940s, and was effectively at war with Superman and other titles. The industry as whole was supporting each other, however, since the medium was new. This is shown through the fact that both Namor and the Torch were in the same city, yet at odds.
World War II and Comics
Marvels continues with the birth of Captain America, and the involvement of super heroes in World War Two. There is a general love of Captain America, and when the Torch and Namor are revealed to be fighting Nazis, there is a patriotic acceptance of all the Marvels (Busiek 1.25 - 30). Sheldon goes through the process of loving the heroes once again.
During World War Two, comic books were big business, since the super hero was often seen as a symbol of America. This, caused widespread acceptance of super heroes across the country, and even those who normally didn't care for comics (much like Phil Sheldon) never questioned their existence .
The happiness ends, of course, as detailed in Busiek's Marvels and the Silver Age.
