DC Comics had been around since the 1920s but saw little success, since no one wanted to take a gamble on a comic book series featuring unknown artists and characters. However, the launch of the "Superman" superhero in a 1938 issue of "Action Comics" began a new area of comics graphic novels; one where superheroes captivated audiences with their enviable superpowers.
Public fascination with the superheroes of DC Comics came and went throughout the 1940s and 1950s. In mid-1955, the Silver Age of comics was born, characterized by a revamping of old characters that were somewhat more "human," and an amalgamation of different universes into battles royal.
The Justice League of America would bring together Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash,
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The Silver Age had introduced characters who were more "human" and less stereotypical do-gooders.
They, like humans, hosted a range of emotions, interacted with other humans and struggled with complex psyches. During the "Bronze Age," darker and previously-off-limits themes of drug abuse, personal vices, inner conflict and anti-hero character development entered the comic realm.
Kids were no longer the only readers, so the business savvy comic book creator had to address more serious themes of society, personality defects and science. The 1980s began what is known as "the Modern Age of comic books," which persists today. This "Modern Age" builds off the Bronze Age but delves even further into the darker side of graphic novels, intertwining sex, drugs, vices, psychological struggles, imperfect anti-heroes, cynicism and social critique.
During this time, the DC Comics Batman's The Dark Knight series takes off, X-Men launches into the complex back histories of their characters and the Mutants went to war against the humans, and a number of apocalyptic comics graphic novels came out, threatening the end of the