The Golden Age of Comic Books

Articles, Comic Books - No Comments » - Posted on November, 16 at 10:32 pm

By and large, the accepted time frame for the golden age of comic books ran from a period from the 1930’s through the mid-1950’s. It was a prosperous time for the American comic book realm. Many of today’s super heroes were inaugurated during this stage. Super heroes flourished in the golden age of comic books. Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Batman, Robin and Hawkman were some of the heroes that a new company called Detective Comics or DC comics, launched. During the 1940’s a precursor to Marvel Comics, called Timely Comics, introduced their version of the super hero genre. They included Captain America, The Human Torch and The Sub-Mariner. Ironically, the Captain Marvel comic books from Fawcett Comics outsold Superman and his associates during the golden age. There were literally hundreds of super powered and non super powered heroes that came and went.

The advent of world war two helped propel the comic book industries popularity. It was an inexpensive means to relax, read and imagine the good guys prevail over the bad guys. In those days, Superman regularly helped the allies thwart Hitler and the axis powers. What better way to defeat the enemy than to watch the heroes in action? Defeating Hitler was on everyone’s mind, and the stress relief comic books provided was helpful to a young man in a foreign land engaged in daily battles.

Superman, Batman and Robin helped the war effort by advertising war bonds. Uncle Sam may have wanted you, but the super heroes lending themselves to the war propaganda helped the cause. Which one was more influential in the golden age of comic books: a sickly looking old man who wanted you to fight, or young powerful super heroes that could do incredible damage to the enemy? The answer is evident.

The war was significant and powerful in the development of the super heroes during the golden age. However, there were other factors too. There were comic books during that period that were not based on super heroes. The genre started to change during the latter part of the golden age, especially after World War Two. Westerns were taking firm root in society as the readership declined for the super heroes. Horror, romance, satire and science fiction all filled the vacuum that was left during the decline. The downward trend was precipitated by, in my opinion, the ambiance of the times with McCarthyism and books being published that suggested comic books and their ilk were detrimental to the society’s young people minds.

The introduction of the funny comics during the golden age were well liked too.

Bugs bunny and Donald duck premiered. The funny comics instilled laughter in the audience and that was important. The importance of laughter during stressful times cannot be overstated. The atmosphere was rife with the arrival of the cold war and the atomic age. Bomb shelters littered the country. With that being said, the funny comic books helped people express amusement in their daily routine.

Whatever genre people chose to read, the Golden Age of comic books influenced the shaping the comic book market.

Online Shopping for Collectibles

Articles, Shopping - No Comments » - Posted on November, 16 at 10:26 pm

Online shopping for collectibles is a very popular option. This is especially true in the case of hard to find collectibles as well as collectibles which are no longer being manufactured. Finding these collectible items in traditional stores can be very time consuming but the use of the Internet enables the shopper to find items more easily and more quickly. However, the process of shopping for these items online is not simplified unless the shopper has a good strategy for finding these collectible items online. This article will provide useful information on finding collectibles online, purchasing collectibles from other collectors and verifying the authenticity of collector’s items.

Finding Collectibles Online
The Internet is a great option for collectors who are looking for specific collector’s items as long as the collector knows where to find these items. Popular options for purchasing collector’s items of all types include auction websites, clubs for collectors and message boards for collectors. This section will focus on the use of auction websites to find collectibles while the following section will discuss the possibility of purchasing collectibles through membership in clubs and participation in message boards.

Auction websites such as eBay are ideal for collectors who are seeking items to add to their collections. Whether they collect figurines, lunchboxes, war memorabilia or any other type of collectible item there is the potential to find items to add to a collection through an auction website. These websites enable online shoppers to search for items and place bids on the items. If the user is the highest bidder at the conclusion of the auction, he will be able to purchase the item.

Purchasing Items From Other Collectors
Other collectors are often one of the best resources for shoppers looking for collectible items. Most items which consumers enjoy collecting have clubs or message boards dedicated to the collection of these items. Clubs which are formed for members who enjoy collecting any type of item often have options for members who wish to buy, sell or trade collectibles. These options may include any combination of a market place on a member’s only section of the website, a newsletter sent to all members or conventions or meetings where collectors can buy, sell or trade items.

Collectors can also participate in online message boards where they can meet and converse with other collectors who share their interests. These message boards may have a section dedicated specifically to allowing members to buy and sell items. In this section the members can typically post photos and descriptions of items they are willing to sell for other members to view. Even if there is not a section dedicated to this purpose, members can still meet other members who are willing to sell or trade items and can make arrangements to acquire these items.

Verifying the Authenticity of Collector’s Items
Consumers who opt to purchase collectible items online are often faced with the dilemma of determining whether or not the items offered for sale are authentic or not. Determining the authenticity of an item can be difficult enough when the shopper has the ability to examine the item in person and can be considerably more difficult to do this with online purchases. In these cases the use of photos and descriptions provided by the seller must be used to determine authenticity.

If You’re Collecting, eBay Selling is for You!

Articles, Selling Your Collections - No Comments » - Posted on October, 29 at 10:16 am

If you or someone you know is interested in collecting, Ebay selling is something you need to get familiar with! Ebay is a huge Internet site that allows people to sell or buy at auction almost anything you can think of. There are very few restrictions on what you can buy or sell. Are you fond of antique toasters? Bicycles? Vintage rhinestone jewelry? Stuffed toys? Elvis memorabilia? Whatever you are collecting, Ebay selling will probably have what you want.

Ebay is essential to know about if you are enthusiastic about your collecting. For instance, if you collect a particular type of antique or vintage dishes, such as Fiesta, you can search Ebay for exactly the piece you need to complete your set. In addition to finding the exact item you are looking for, there is a possibility you’ll get it for a great price as well. That tangerine colored pitcher might be yours for a song. You just have to look.

Collecting is one thing, but what about when the collector gets more items than he or she can store? What if they inadvertently collected duplicates of the same item. Or what if you just have stuff you don’t want anymore? That’s where Ebay selling can help. You can list your item on Ebay, and another collector can find it and make a bid. Ebay is a great way to recycle unwanted used items and make a few dollars as well as helping you with your collecting. Ebay selling is not hard to learn, either.

For just about every item you can name, someone somewhere collects it, and they are probably searching Ebay for what they want. So whatever you are collecting, Ebay selling can help you generate the money needed to add items to your own collection while getting rid of things you don’t need. In addition, you can be gratified to know that the item you didn’t want, like the bikes your kids have outgrown, or your vintage clock, was exactly what some other collector was seeking.

Just like collecting, Ebay selling can get almost addictive. It’s a fun hobby that many people are discovering. So where do you go if there’s something special you are collecting? Ebay! Selling, you’ll find, is almost as fun as collecting, so be sure to try it, too. Remember, too, that Ebay can not only help you complete your collections. It can also be a source for the things you need for other hobbies, interests, and needs in your life.

All About Autograph Collecting and Autograph Books

Articles, Autographs - No Comments » - Posted on October, 22 at 9:35 pm

Before the advent of cell phones, television, ipods, computers, and other forms of technology, autograph collecting was one of the most treasured past times. This interest was done on all levels, the very young, the young adult, the mature adult, and even the more wisdom matured. In fact autograph collecting was so popular until there were special books produced especially for autograph collecting. This autograph collecting was not necessarily geared to celebrities only.

Persons in the community were more accessible than movie stars and sports figures, so autograph collecting was popular throughout all walks of life. In the nineteenth century keeping an autograph book for the purpose of autograph collecting was a popular practice. As the word got around about autograph books and they became available at the local five and dime stores, it was a must have, just as the cell phone is today. The autograph book was even more popular in many areas than the personal diary. Many people during the 1950’s and 1960 have purchased autograph books. Most of these autograph books were designed for just what the name of the books implies and that is autograph collecting. These books were small, about eight inches tall by five inches wide. The book had 70 pages. Some books had different colored pages. Usually the pages were in pastel colors, such as pink, blue, lilac, yellow, and light green.

The popularity of these books was unbelievable in high schools and on the college campus. These autograph books were circulated from classmate to classmate during the recess period and during social functions at school and away from school. There were two goals for this autograph collecting. The first goal and perhaps the most important was to get a signature from every classmate. Secondly, it was a desire to fill every page in the book. You were honored and delighted when someone, who was collecting autographs, asked you for your autograph. Those classmates who were high up the ladder rungs in popularity were sort out first. Sometimes in fact there would be a little line waiting to get the persons autograph. Even more so, everyone wanted to have the teachers, administrators and other school personnel sign their book. Getting these signatures had the same importance as it is to get celebrity signatures today.

Some of these autograph books still exist today. Autograph collecting collections can be found in many special collections on campuses today in the college libraries. Many students wrote their favorite verse or quotation before autographing the book. Others wrote about special memories shared with the person during this period of time. These memories included college pranks, dormitory rooms, card games, hangouts, and stunts. Nothing is left out of these books. Included in these books are accounts of professors and various class experiences.

It was not unusual for some who were less verbal to just autograph the book and date it. As you can see autograph collecting, crosses all walks of life, all races, and socio-economic levels.