CSBG Archive
Scott’s Classic Comics Corner: A New End to the Silver Age Pt. 3
Remember all of that stuff I’ve said about T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #20 and Metal Men #37 recently? Well, forget it! I must have been taking crazy pills. I’ve discovered the definitive moment that ended the Silver Age: the publication of Tarzan #206, the final Gold Key issue. Want to know why? Read on.
Tarzan has been a character in comics books since the earliest days of the industry. He had been featured in different titles from different publishers before finding a permanent home in 1948. For nearly 25 years, the license to the Tarzan property was in the hands of Western Publishing (via Dell and later Gold Key). Greats such as Jesse Marsh, Russ Manning and Doug Wildey handled the art chores, and Gaylord DuBois provided endless scripts. There’s some great stuff in there – especially the novel adaptations drawn by Manning. Those were reprinted by Dark Horse not too long ago.
ERB Inc. reportedly grew disenchanted with the Gold Key comics, and when the contract on the license expired, it was handed over to Joe Kubert and DC. Tarzan #206 was the end of an era – the end of the Silver Age of comics. At one point Western Publishing had been one of the true giants of the industry, much of their success due to an endless line of licensed properties. When Western severed ties to Dell in 1962, it continued licensing properties linked to popular movies and television programs. With the loss of Tarzan (and all other ERB properties), the beginning of the end was in sight. Western would limp through the 70s, and ultimately leave the business in 1984. For the record, Dell’s last comic was published in 1973.
Tarzan was the Jewel (of Opar?) in Western’s crown and its loss was almost insurmountable. DC’s aggressive play for the ERB properties signaled that the Big Two publishers were ready to expand from their superhero focus and pay the bucks required to get into the licensed property game. While many people point to the return of horror, or perhaps social relevancy as major signals that the Bronze Age had arrived – for me, the battle over Tarzan was the key event, as the Bronze Age could have easilty been called License Age.
During the 70s, DC published the ERB titles, along with the Shadow, Justice Inc, and even Welcome Back, Kotter. Marvel would bring out Godzilla, Shogun Warriors and even the ERB books after acquiring the license in 1977. It was a crazy time bringing comics into lockstep with pop culture as tie-ins to toys and merchandise really took off during this period. There was certainly never a Tarzan Mego figure during the Dell/Gold Key years.
When Western lost the Tarzan license in 1972, a relationship that had started in the post-WW2 years came to a sad end. In a way, it was the end of innocence for licensed properties in comics. Never again would we see such a long term relationship between licensor and licensee. There was a changing of the guard and Western Publishing was entering its final years. This was the end of the Silver Age.
Next: Deby loses its Dick
12 Comments
Paul Valois
September 18, 2008 at 8:33 am
Not sure about the end of the Silver Age, but I know I loved the Gold Key line. Tarzan, Brothers of The Spear, Mighty Samson, Man of The Atom, Magnus, The Phantom, Dark Shadows, Star Trek, Space Family Robinson, Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery and especially Turok were MUST buys before I suffered my first “comics implosion” and had to drop the majority of these titles to afford the growing Marvel books. I made darn sure I picked up missing issues when they were reprinted as Whitman books and sold in bagged sets several years later.
Paul Valois
September 18, 2008 at 8:49 am
BTW, the end of the Silver Age for me personally will forever be Avengers #66. It was the first book I can remember that featured characters that weren’t cardboard cutouts like the DC heroes or wanna-be hipsters like the earlier Marvel characters. Here was a band of heroes acting like a team of Superheroes would really act (if there were such a thing). Hank Pym, doing research with his Yellowjacket cowl dropped around his collar. Clint Barton (as Goliath), joking about how he was being asked to dent Adamantium, that remained untouched after a belt with Thor’s hammer. The Vision, harboring a sinister secret with a flash in his eye, a far step away from the whiney, crying android we saw just a 8 issues earlier. These were Avengers sure of themselves, ready to take on villains created by the technological advances of their modern word. If Captain America would have sat around the room lamenting his missing Bucky, these guys would have laughed in his face and tossed him out the door.
The Mutt
September 18, 2008 at 9:25 am
Kubert’s Tarzan was one of the greatest runs ever.
Craig B.
September 18, 2008 at 9:50 am
For me, it will always seem like the end of the Silver Age is marked by the “relevant” issues of Green Lantern (starting with #76?) and the Neal Adams Superman issues, such as the end of the Kryptonite. (I guess it’s Neal Adams either way, isn’t it?) The art, the energy, the maturing themes just seem to be wholly different than the late 50′s and 60′s.
Dave
September 18, 2008 at 9:53 am
From what Ive read,kuberts tarzan did NOT go over very well,with the europian fans, who much prefered the Russ manning tarzan.I think the transition from gold key to dc, could have greatly been helped by the continuation of painted covers.
Paul Valois
September 18, 2008 at 10:56 am
Dave: interesting comment. Europeans had their own Tarzan series, running from 1983 through 1987. Although I’ve never seen an issue, I’m led to believe it was more in the Gold Key vein than Kubert’s. My favorite Tarzan comic adaption is still Marvel’s. Although sometimes referred to as the Conan-izing of Tarzan, reading the series as a whole is a real treat.
Anthony Strand
September 18, 2008 at 11:33 am
Craig B.,
Neal Adams did some covers for those Superman issues, but the art was handled by good ol’ Curt Swan. Like the GL/GA stuff, though, it was written by Denny O’Neil.
That storyline is being collected in hardcover soon, I believe.
Grico
September 18, 2008 at 11:46 am
On reflection, I think the beginning of an era is the introduction of a character that defines that era. An old era ends at that point. While Flash began the silver age in showcase 4, i would argue the silver age ended and the bronze age began with the introduction of the Punisher in Amazing Spider-man 129, February 1974. The Punisher began the bronze age and its emphasis on the violent anti-hero and the inherent moral ambiguity of such a character. This would lead to Wolverine in Hulk 180 in October 1974 and Moon Knight in Werewolf by Night 32 in August 1975. The era would explode in the early 80s with the Wolverine and Punisher solo books. That’s my two cents.
comb & razor
September 18, 2008 at 1:42 pm
totally loving this series!
Craig B.
September 18, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Grico, if the creation of a seminal new character, or set of characters, is the key, then I’d echo earlier commenters in this series who talked about Kirby’s Fourth World and Kamandi books. Not sure of Kamandi’s timing versus the Fourth World books, although I think the 4th World came first. Those wild characters and concepts and incredibly bold art all seem of a completely different character than even his wildest Silver Age stuff at Marvel.
Jack Norris
September 18, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I kind of identify the change with Marvel’s logo on the covers going from the box to the line.
McK
September 18, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Everyone goes off on how “retro Silver Age” DC and Marvel are… but one of the highlights of the Bronze Age was the Big Two’s willingness to experiment with other genres — westerns, war, horror, adventure, kung fu, sword & sorcery, and yes, Tarzan. Yet I have to give DC and Marvel credit — they have been making recent attempts to revive these “genre” titles. Of course, most fans could care less — it’s capes or nothing, it seems.
Anyway, I’d argue that’s more “retro Bronze Age” than anything else…