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Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (February 1940). With a premise that taps adolescent fantasy, Captain Marvel is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a youth who works as a radio news reporter and was chosen to be a champion of good by the wizard Shazam. Whenever Billy speaks the wizard's name, he is instantly struck by a magic lightning bolt that transforms him into an adult superhero empowered with the abilities of six legendary figures; one from the Old Testament and five from mythology. Several friends and family members, most notably Marvel Family cohorts Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., can share Billy's power and become "Marvels" themselves. Hailed as "The World's Mightiest Mortal" in his adventures, Captain Marvel was nicknamed "The Big Red Cheese" by arch-villain Doctor Sivana, an epithet later adopted by Captain Marvel's fans. Based on sales, Captain Marvel was the most popular superhero of the 1940s, as his Captain Marvel Adventures comic book series sold more copies than Superman and other competing superhero books during the mid-1940s. Captain Marvel was also the first comic book superhero to be adapted to film, in a 1941 Republic Pictures serial (The Adventures of Captain Marvel). Fawcett ceased publishing Captain Marvel-related comics in 1953, due in part to a copyright infringement suit from DC Comics alleging that Captain Marvel was an illegal infringement of Superman. In 1972, DC licensed the Marvel Family characters and returned them to publication, acquiring all rights to the characters by 1991. DC has since integrated Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family into their DC Universe, and have attempted to revive the property several times. However, Captain Marvel has not regained widespread appeal with new generations, although a Shazam! live-action Saturday morning television series featuring the character ran for three seasons on CBS in the 1970s. Because Marvel Comics trademarked their Captain Marvel comic book during the interim between the original Captain Marvel's Fawcett years and DC years, DC Comics is unable to promote and market their Captain Marvel/Marvel Family properties under that name. Since 1972, DC has instead used the trademark Shazam! as the title of their comic books and thus the name under which they market and promote the character. Consequently, Captain Marvel himself is sometimes erroneously referred to as Shazam. It’s generally accepted among collectors that the first comic book was FUNNIES ON PARADE, published in 1933. This was mainly a collection of newspaper strip reprints, featuring such favorites as Mutt & Jeff, Joe Palooka, Hairbreadth Harry, Reg’lar Fellers, and more. But for all intents and purposes, the comic book industry really started with the publication of ACTION COMICS #1 in June 1938. This landmark issue, the first comic to present all-new material, saw the first appearance of The Man of Steel, Superman. The product of two teenage boys from Cleveland, Ohio, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was an overnight sensation and forever transformed the fledgling comic book industry. It is the publication of ACTION #1 that marks the beginning of the “Golden Age” of comics. The reason for Superman’s instant popularity in the late 1930s is obvious: during this time, America was a nation of immigrants. People were coming from all over the world in search of “The American Dream.” Superman, as the last survivor of the doomed planet Krypton, is the ultimate immigrant. It wasn’t uncommon for children to be separated from their parents during this time, either in their home country or once they got to Ellis Island. This is the feeling, of both adventure and uncertainty, that Siegel and Shuster, both the sons of European  immigrants, tapped into with their strange visitor from another planet. Comics publishers saw the writing on the walls. Suddenly, everyone was scrambling to find the hot new trend. Lev Gleason had been publishing CRIME DOES NOT PAY since 1942, and, a few years later had a blockbuster on his hands. Crime and gangsters were hot! Radio gave us “Dragnet,” “The Shadow,” “The Black Museum,” “Crime Classics,” and “Night Beat,” and comics were quick to jump on the bandwagon. CRIME EXPOSED (1948), TRUE CRIME COMICS (1947), CRIMES BY WOMEN (1948), THE KILLERS (1947), and many, many more crime titles littered the newsstands, fueling the public’s insatiable appetite for “true crime” stories (an appetite that continues unabated to this day. Witness the O.J. Simpson cottage industry and the ever-ongoing Jon Benet Ramsey investigation, not to mention the current phenomenon of court TV shows, such as “The People’s Court,” “Judge Judy,” and all their various imitators and competitors). The infusion of this new genre would prove to be the savior that the comics industry had been looking for. It would also prove to be its downfall. Another trend in popular culture in the late 40s and early 50s was the horror film, which, in turn, gave birth to the science fiction movie. Horror films had lain dormant since the start of World War II. Who cares about vampires and werewolves when there’s a real monster to fight in Germany? Avon Publications tried to enter the horror comics niche in 1946, but EERIE, their sole offering, lasted only one issue. But by 1949, the war was over, and monsters were making a comeback in both films and comics. 1951 gave us “The Thing.” “It Came From Outer Space,” “War Of The Worlds,” “Robot Monster” and “Invaders From Mars” terrified us in 1953, “Godzilla” first stomped Tokyo in 1954, and Cold War paranoia reached its height in 1956 with “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers.” 14th April 1950 was arguably the start of the silver age of comics, and in particular, with the birth of the Eagle. The Eagle and its characters have been well documented in books and more recently on the Internet. What I would like to do is take you back to a time before the Eagle comic had hit the streets. To a time when its founder, The Reverend Marcus Morris, was appointed as a vicar of St James's, Birkdale, Lancashire. Marcus was born in 1915 and educated at Cheltenham and Brasenose College, Oxford, graduating in 1937. He was ordained at Liverpool Cathedral in 1939 after two years studying theology at Wyecliffe Hall and, in 1940, moved to Great Yarmouth. After taking a number of positions he accepted the post of Vicar at St. James? in Birkdale - a suburb of Southport. With the position came the parish magazine which Marcus renamed The Anvil in 1946, and which gave him an outlet for his journalistic urges. He had long felt that parish magazines, which were the main written method of presenting himself to his followers, were dreary and ineffective. The comic first appeared on 26 July 1938 and was published weekly. During the Second World War, The Beano and The Dandy were published on alternating weeks due to paper and ink rationing. D.C. Thomson's other publications also suffered with the Oor Wullie and The Broons annuals falling victim to paper and ink shortages. Paper and ink supplies were fully restored shortly after the end of hostilities and weekly publication of The Beano and The Dandy soon followed. As of 2007, over 3000 issues have been published. The Beano is currently edited by Alan Digby, who replaced Euan Kerr in summer 2006. Euan Kerr now edits the BeanoMAX, a version of the Beano for older readers. Its iconic characters such as Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx, and The Bash Street Kids have become known to generations of British children. Earlier generations will remember other notable characters which have been phased out, such as Biffo. Some old characters have made a return like Lord Snooty. The comics were distributed in some of the British colonies or former colonies as well. Because they were sent by sea mail, they would go on sale some weeks after the date shown on the cover. The comic holds the record for being the world's longest running weekly comic. Comic books were an easy fit for 1930’s America. They were cheap, easy to produce, and even easier to sell. With large booms in pulp, radio shows and comic strips, comic books were the next logical step. It was the arrival of Superman in 1938 and Batman roughly a year later that heralded not only the rise of superheroes, but the Golden Age of Comics. The entry of the United States into World War II didn’t halt comic book reading – if anything it accelerated it, with heroes were throwing down with the likes the Nazis and dictators even before the bombs fell upon Pearl Harbour. Once the war began, comics weren’t just morale boosters – they were part of the war effort like any other industry. Patriotic heroes like Captain America urged the purchase of war bonds, and entire runs of comics were bough from the stands and scrapped for recycling to help overseas troops. Though such sacrifices played their part in the “Greatest Generation”, they would have far-reaching ramifications on the comic industry in later generations – nearly forty years later. When one thinks of terms such as old rare comics, valuable comics or collectible comics, you're usually thinking of the Golden Age of Comics. Starting with Action Comics #1 in 1938 and continuing through the end of World War II, the Golden Age of Comics sets the standard for comic book collecting. Being a Golden Age comic book collector takes patience, money and a willingness to compromise. Due to the age of these old comics, they are much more difficult to find than comics within the past 50 years. Finding high grade copies of these comics is near impossible, causing the comic book values to skyrocket. Strategy As stated, your strategy to finding these comics should be: willingness to compromise. 1. Compromise: if you can't find the specific issue, is an issue in the title enough? 2. Compromise: be willing to accept a lesser grade, high-grade is thought to find 3. Compromise: price, the Golden Age comic prices are not cheap. Title or Issue? Finding Golden Age comics takes a much more disciplined approach to collecting than newer comics. It can take months or years to find the specific issue you are looking for at the price you are willing to pay. If you are willing to compromise, focus on a particular title instead of the specific title and issue. For example, if you want the first appearance of Batman in Detective Comics #27 because you are a fan of Batman, you may want to focus instead on collecting titles in which he appears. Detective Comics #27 is not for sale too often. Consider these other book titles with appearances from Batman: Detective Comics, Batman and World's Finest Comics. Grade Grade should also be part of your search strategy. Finding a Near Mint (NM, 9.2) comic from the Golden Age would be difficult and expensive. If you find a comic you are searching for, but the condition is Very Good (VG), you may want to buy that comic since a higher grade copy may not become available for a long time. A smart collector will grab the issue they're looking for when it is available. Then, when the higher grade is available you're looking for (next month or next year), you can then trade up. Suggested Search Titles Here are some suggested popular Golden Age titles by DC, Marvel/Timely and a few others: o Action Comics o Adventure Comics o All-American Comics o All Flash o All Star Comics o All Winners Comics o Amazing Man Comics o Archie Comics o Batman o Blue Beetle o Blue Bolt o Captain America Comics o Captain Marvel Adventures o Classics Illustrated o Daring Mystery Comics o Detective Comics o Famous Funnies o Flash Comics o Four Color o Green Lantern o Human Torch o Marvel Comics o Marvel Mystery Comics o More Fun Comics o New Fun Comics o Pep Comics o Sensation Comics o Sub-Mariner Comics o Superman o Walt Disney Comics & Stories o Whiz Comics o Wonder Woman o World's Finest Comics o Young Allies Comics The thing about comic books is that a true fan never outgrows them. You can part with your skateboard or bicycle. You can tuck away your high school yearbook and your class ring. Stuff can go off to the farthest corners of your attic, never to be seen again (until you move), and the old adage of "out of sight, out of mind" rings true. But not my comic books. I've spent far too many years with this circle of friends to sacrifice them to paper-eating creatures that scurry around the attic and basement of my house. Oh no ... these beauties are lovingly preserved in plastic sleeves, protected from the onslaught of senseless destruction by this almost invisible shell. The Mona Lisa has infrared lasers. I have boxes of sheet protectors. What do you do with a treasured collection when it becomes so large that you are trying to decide between keeping your income tax returns and personal records in your file cabinets or your first 50 copies of Spider-Man comics? How likely is the IRS to come looking for me and my 2002 tax return? Is it really worth taking up precious space when Peter Parker needs me? I tried three-ring binders. They worked great! One binder per superhero. Then, one binder per superhero, per year. And the years passed. Not only did I have years and years worth of comic books, but I found that I was adding more titles to my collection. Do you have any idea how much a pile of binders can weigh? Ask the moving man. He was a Marvel Comics fanatic so he didn't complain. In fact, he admired my collection and treated it like the glassware from the kitchen. At long last, I did the unthinkable. I logged onto eBay and listed a few comic books. It was like giving up a member of the family. But then I discovered that I wasn't losing a comic book but gaining a friend. The buyers I encountered were as enthralled with comic books as I am. I was helping them fulfill their need for more great reading. It was, I imagine, like donating a kidney to someone in need of a lifesaving organ. I had become a sort of do-gooder. We swapped stories along with payments, and I found myself buying a few more books from my buyers. The next thing you know, I was buying more than I was selling. I had long ago moved my collection from the large file cabinet to an even larger bookcase - until my seemingly sturdy bookcase caved into the weight of the countless binders. So I did what I should have done all along. I bought a bigger bookcase. The author is the Admin of Herobits.com at http://www.herobits.com, The 1950’s dramatically altered the superhero landscape. Noted psychiatrist Frederic Wertham published “Seduction of the Innocent”, a book which pinned much of society’s ills on comics. He alleged Batman and Robin were homosexuals, and Wonder Woman was not only a lesbian, but also a threat to the woman’s place in the American household. Wertham’s scathing criticism caused comic book sales to plummet. Grisly horror and crime comics like Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror were left crippled. The entire incident culminated in a Comics Code Authority that oversaw comic book content, and as a result, comic books for the next decade were largely sanitized. Changes in technology furthered the development of the comic. The invention of photoengraving in 1873 made newspaper illustration relatively inexpensive. In addition, the size of the reading public grew, and at the turn of the nineteenth century, a wide range of comics became a staple in American life. In 1892, James Guilford Swinnerton's strip for the San Francisco Examiner was among the first to include continuing characters in a daily newspaper. In 1893, Joseph Pulitzer's New York World published its first full-page color comic, and in that same year the New York Recorder also featured a color page of comics. By the early 1900s, regular strips were appearing in the newspapers of major cities throughout the United States. Comics could be original or adaptations of literary works: in 1929, Harold Foster adapted Edgar Rice Burrough's 1914 Tarzan of the Apes for distribution by the Metropolitan Newspaper Service. Art, we all know this word but how many of us knows what is art and what it contains inside it. Infact it has only a begining,it has no end. There are different type of priviliges and occupations in this world and the companies attempting to get their goal to keep stay and being up in their field by using art like marketing ,product promoting ,speech,communication etc. Art is not a profession it is a passion, art is a language to communicate with others and it is a medium to express our imagination,emotions,concepts,ideas,feelings and have atlast loud voice so that we can hear it's song. Comic art is one of the medium which is not only entertain to children but also could play a dynamic role to promote a story,screenplay, product and any kind of buisness with it’s funtionality,uses and it,s effective and reflective modes.Many companies like confectionary, beverages and advertising based organisations are getting benefits by it’s multidimensional results.For instance we should have a look at movies like 300,dark night,wanted,superman,spiderman hulk etc.these movies are totaly based on comic art and not only made a history in entertaining world but also given a big finacial business to the advertising and entertainment world. Generally a comic book prepared by expert visualisers,illustrators (pencillers & inkers)and expert digital colourists and they follows the story and illustrate it according to the scene. Many comic companies have published the renowned writer's classic stories and converted into graphic novels like the invisible man,time machine,20,000 leagues under the sea,king soloman's mines,master of the world,journey to the center of the earth and have given a healthy and knowledgeable entertainment to the world. There are many artists who have a big fame by their great job and giving a good entertainment to the world by their stylish and fantasy art e.g boris vallejo,frank miller,alex ross ,cartoonist pran and so on.At last we can say that art has no limites at all and we can share our thoughts and communicate with others by using it's language. British comics typically differ from the American comic book in a variety of respects. Although historically they shared the same format size, based on a sheet of imperial paper folded in half, British comics have moved away from this size, with The Beano and The Dandy the last to adopt a standard magazine size in the late 1980s. Until this point, the British comic was also usually printed on newsprint, with black or a dark red used as the dark colour and the four colour process used on the cover. The Beano and The Dandy both switched to an all colour format in 1993. Although originally aimed at the semi-literate working class, the comic eventually came to be seen as childish, and hence was marketed towards children. In today's market in Britain comics intended for teenagers or adults are considered to be more or less stretching the medium beyond its primary audience. Historically, stories were of one or two pages in length, although now last longer and continue over a number of issues and period of time. Whilst some comics contain only strips, other publications have had a slightly different focus, providing readers with articles about, and photographs of, pop stars and television/film actors, plus more general articles about teenage life, whilst throwing in a few comic strips for good measure. Since the 1950s, it has been traditional that the most popular comics have annuals, usually published just in time for Christmas, and summer special editions. In British comics history, there are some extremely long-running publications such as The Beano and The Dandy published by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd, a newspaper company based in Dundee, Scotland. The Dandy began in 1937 and The Beano in 1938. They are both still going today. The Boys' Own Paper lasted from 1879 to 1967. The intellectual span of British comics over the years has stretched all the way from the cheerfully moronic obscenities of Viz (adult) to the political awareness of Crisis (adolescent to adult) and the sound educational values of Look and Learn (children's). There has also been a continuous tradition of black and white comics, published in a smaller page size format, many of them war titles like Air Ace inspiring youngsters with tales of the exploits of the army, navy and Royal Air Force mainly in the two world wars, also some romance titles and some westerns in this format. Iconic characters such as Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx, and The Bash Street Kids have become known to generations of British children. Earlier generations will remember other notable characters which have been phased out, such as Biffo the Bear. Some old characters have made a return like Lord Snooty. The comics were distributed in some of the British colonies or former colonies as well. Because they were sent by sea mail, they would go on sale some weeks after the date shown on the cover. The comic holds the record for being the world's longest running weekly comic. Spiderman comics have always been on high demand because they are not only bought by children but also by adults who probably read them when they were kids as well.  Spiderman comics are a Marvel Comic original that made its debut in 1962 and was written and created by Stan lee and Steve Dikto. In his first appearance in Marvel Comics Spiderman made his debut in a guest appearance spot, but would later have his own comic line. The Spiderman character real name is Peter Parker a quite and unsure fellow, who after he is bitten by a spider which had been used for experiments, which means basically the spider had been given different gene’s that made it stronger, faster and could sense danger when it was near and this what transferred into the young Peter Parker and transformed him to his alter ego the wise cracking, web sling Spiderman. Spiderman comics became a big hit with the kids as well as with adults and this spun into two cartoons. One cartoon was about Spidey on his own and the other was him and iceman and was called the double duo, which actually was also a comic book. The cartoons then lead to a Spiderman movie which would later be remade in early 2000 into the Spiderman movies which we have come to love. Spiderman also shares the scene with other characters like Mary Jane Watson who is Peter Parkers love interest, then there his Aunt and off course the bad guys like the green goblin and Dr. Doom as well as Doc Octopus. The suit of Spiderman has always been red and blue but there was a time the suit changed to black in 1984 when an alien material or matter attached itself to Spiderman’s suit. Even with the emergence of popular entertainment outlets such as the internet and satellite television, comic books have maintained an impressive market share of consumer spending. There simply is no replacement for the unique way a comic can present a story and engage its readers. Because of this, comic book collecting has also grown in recent years with a new generation of readers enjoying this rewarding hobby. For collectors who are just beginning, there are a couple of different approaches to take to the hobby. Some people are simply fans of a particular hero or publisher. They purchase comics for their own entertainment and don't concern themselves much with the after-market value of the publication. Other collectors concentrate on acquiring limited edition or rare comics for the sake of achieving a return on their investment. This form of collecting usually requires an advanced knowledge of the market as well as the necessary funds to make large purchases. There are five distinct eras of comic book memorabilia. The Platinum Age represent the oldest time period, dating between the 1800's and 1937. The Golden Age covers the years of 1938 to 1955. Silver Age comic books are dated between 1956 and 1969, and the Bronze Age occurred between 1970 and 1979. The Modern Age includes everything that was produced from 1980 through today. Each time period is unique and distinctive in the way the publications were written, produced, and distributed. Obviously the older periods offer the most valuable items, but there are still plenty of rare and limited comics to be found in the Modern Age. Most people who want to convert old comics to cash, regardless of whether they are a collector or they have discovered a stash in their attic, want to get top dollar for no effort. Unfortunately, back in the real world, the price you'll get will depend on the effort you devote to selling your comics. However, there are some tips that will help whether you just want quick cash or you're going to bring your A-game hustle. In this article I'll tell you three secrets to bringing home more money for your old comics. My first tip is to sell your valuable comics individually, and bundle your cheap comics together. You want to extract the maximum value from your expensive comics while not accepting spare change for the rest. By selling your valuable comics individually, you'll be able to hold them back if the price isn't right. When bundling your cheap comics, you could split them by character, for example, so that with some luck someone will buy all your Superman comics because they're a Superman fan or because they want a specific issue. My second tip is to try to sell your comics at as many different places as possible. There is a huge list of places you could sell your comics, such as eBay, Craigslist, Comicbookclassifieds.com, or at comic conventions or shops. If you try to sell your comics on eBay, and you're only offered chump change, you don't have to accept it. It takes no time at all to stick an ad on Craigslist or to pop in your local comic shop. My third tip is to pay attention to how you present your comics. With your more valuable comics, this can mean submitting them to the CGC for grading. A comic that is professionally graded is more appealing to buyers. Equally, if you are selling your comics online, take good photos - that doesn't mean misleading buyers and hiding defects, but clearly presenting your comics. People are more likely to buy a comic that has several photos of the cover and inside pages rather than a comic with just a dark photo of the cover or no photo at all. THE VAULT OF HORROR, THE CRYPT OF TERROR, THE HAUNT OF FEAR… if it slithered, slimed, crawled, killed, maimed, or devoured, it found a home in the pages of these books. No idea was too twisted, no image too terrifying for Gaines’ Ghouls to illustrate for a white-knuckled public. “O. Henry”-style twist endings abounded: a baseball player who killed a rival was himself killed and his body parts used to play a midnight ball game. In another, a dutiful wife found that her husband, the butcher, had sold tainted meat that had accidentally killed their son. Come the next morning, his remains are proudly displayed in the meat case, while she stands glassy-eyed behind the counter. And science-fiction wasn’t neglected, either. There were books like WEIRD SCIENCE, WEIRD FANTASY, and INCREDIBLE SCIENCE FICTION. Rockets, spacemen, and a plethora of weird aliens populated these magazines, with all the promise of the newly-born Atomic Age. But then the unthinkable happened. The publication of SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT in 1954 by Dr. Frederic Wertham rocked the comic-publishing world. Wertham claimed to be a crusader, obsessed with protecting America’s youth. He claimed to have done a study of juvenile delinquents that “proved” comic books had turned them into criminals. Never mind that the majority of his subjects came from broken homes or from parents who had had unfortunate run-ins with the law; comic books, and comic books alone, were the scourge of the country and had to be wiped out. British comics are direct descendants from serialised children’s papers of the early Twentieth century such as The Magnet and The Gem.  Although comics already existed alongside these magazines, there is a direct correlation between falling sales in serials and their growth in popularity. When the paper shortages of the 1940s were lifted and the improvement of printing techniques allowed larger, clearer pictures to be produced, the comic began to replace the more outmoded format and presentation of the serialised story. The American demand for pulp fiction; sold on newsstands and corner shops, spread to the United Kingdom, where increased literacy amongst the lower classes additionally created a greater demand for inexpensive and accessible reading materials. Pulp fiction and serials also presented another new facet; their distinctive short format. In comics this size and shape was translated into a journal comprising a twenty eight page layout. This provided a short space in which to present punchy, dynamic stories which had great success with the growing mainstream of new readers. With the obvious bonus of imagery, the war comic in particular became popular, with strong emphasis on adventure, action, and the technical detail involved in drawing the machines of war. The comics’ format also capitalised on this innovative use of illustration and succinct format by inventing the distinctive ‘splash page’ introduction. This was an illustration which encompassed the entire first page and thus presented a far more vital introduction to the narrative6. Another essential element in the rise of the war comic, this device highlighted large-scale drawings of combat and machinery in action. Bill Elliott made his first comics appearance in Dell publishing's Four Color anthology series with #278 (May 1950). The issue features him on the cover in a bright red shirt, gun drawn, and there is a photo back cover as well. For some reason the title just says 'Bill Elliott'. As a separate series, Wild Bill Elliott #2 appeared a few months later (November 1950) and ran through #17 (June 1955). Every issue had a photo cover and numbers 2-10 have photo back covers as well. #2 shows Wild Bill on Thunder, dressed as Red Ryder. For a Free Download of Comic Books based on Movie and TV Western Cowboy Stars such as: Buck Jones, Cisco Kid, Durango Kid, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, John Wayne, Johnny Mack Brown, Lash LaRue, The Lone Ranger, Red Ryder, Rocky Lane, Roy Rogers, Tim Holt, Zane Grey, Zorro, TV Westerns, Movie Westerns and many more, go to this web site: A comic book is usually a magazine that is made up of artwork coupled with dialog and regularly includes a concise narrative style. The very first comic book existed in 1934 in the United States, reprinting earlier comic strips from daily newspapers, which had established a lot of story telling devices that are now used in comics in the world today. The term comic book emerged because the original book had been reprinted using comic strips, but regardless of the name, they are not always humorous as the daily funnies; most of the modern comic books contain drama or dark stories or reveal the unpleasant side of life included in either super hero stories or stories about normal citizens. A comic book is a 32 page magazine that is about 7 by 10 inches in size. Each page is usually divided into about 6 panels. Panels are around 2 by 4 or else 3 by 3. In this 32 page book, there can be as few as 80 panels as many as 220 panels. The panel size is one method that the artist portrays the passage of time. Small panels are used to show that time is going by quickly whereas large panels are used to portray that time is passing more slowly. The very first full page panel of the comic book is the splash page and is used to set the opening events of the story. This page also contains the title of the story and has the names of the writer, penciller, colorist and letterer. The new comic book is one of the cheapest types of magazines to purchase. However, if one is a collector of comics, then the collector may pay much higher prices for the more collectible comics. A good collector will do research online to become familiar with where comic books are sold and at what prices. The comic book has a strong and loyal customer following; the collector not only is knowledgeable about fair market prices for comic books but is also familiar with the stories and history of events in the characters' lives. Many comic book retailers are open late in the evening. Comics are currently released on Wednesday of each week, so having late store hours on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday allows the shoppers and collectors the ability to purchase the newest releases after working hours. Comic books hold or appreciate in value over time so a collector can sell them after reading them. Comic books are worth more if their new condition is maintained. Any purchaser of comic books would be wise to store their comics in a comic book bag with a board. There are some pricing guides that are heavily relied upon when determining the value of comic books. These guides include Standard and Over street catalogue  of comic books. These guides for comic books provide a collector with pricing for the different conditions as well as key plot or character development milestones. A collector is always prudent to speak to a professional book seller. When D.C. Thomson's, The Dandy Comic, was released on the 4th December 1937, it broke the mould on the way comics were to appear forever more. Prior to The Dandy Comic, childrens comics were broadsheet in size and not very colourful. This is to take nothing away from their content, but when compared to The Dandy Comic, and later on, The Beano Comic and The Magic Comic, these broadsheets looked rather staid in comparison. Having said all that, the size wasn't exactly new. The story papers, which had been going for many years, were already tabloid size, it was just new to comics. Modern comics have several forms: the single-frame story, in which one picture conveys the entire tale, relies heavily on familiar characterization and sequence of spatial relationships within the frame; the gag strip, made up of three or four pictures with a joke in the last frame, such as Sad Sack (1942); the serial strip, which shows a new piece of the story every day or once a week, such as Terry and the Pirates (created in 1934 by Milton Caniff); and the comic book, in which complete stories are contained within the pages, the first of which, Funnies on Parade, was published by Procter and Gamble in 1933 and sold for ten cents. By the late 1940s, more than 50 million copies of comic books were sold a month. The first comic strips were syndicated in 1914, and any small-town newspaper could purchase them. By the mid-twentieth century, Chic Young's Blondie was the most highly syndicated comic strip in the world, and Mort Walker's Beetle Bailey, which displayed an American irreverence to military authority, was syndicated in more than fifty countries. There are thousands of comic book characters in existence from past to present. Many are well known while the majority are more obscure to the general public. And while top ten lists are generally subjective and based on opinion, there are certain comic book characters that will be discussed in this article that are worthy of that distinction by most standards. These are in random order. Superman - There absolutely cannot be a top ten list of comic book characters without the Man of Steel. He's one of the first (arguably THE first) superhero to ever grace the four-color world, and thus his history is one of the richest. He's also one of the most popular in both comics and worldwide as viewed by the general public. He represents truth, justice, righteousness and morality. And while many find it hard to relate to him, those same people look up to his characteristics and admire his altruistic spirit. Batman - Not quite so altruistic, but every bit as popular and loved is the Dark Knight. He may not always do the right thing, or do it the right way, but his motives are always pure, and his intent is always clear. He's a thinking man's hero, but he's also a warrior's hero. He's well rounded and complete, and a little bit gritty, and that's why we like him. Spider-Man - The boy next door; the everyman; the geeky kid a great majority of us can relate to who overcomes the odds and becomes something great. Spider-Man gives us hope that we can achieve that same greatness in our own special ways. He truly is a standard bearer and a true hero to the core, always trying to do the right thing, but many times messing it up horribly, thus proving he's still human, and thus endearing him more and more to our hearts. Lex Luthor - The arch-nemesis of the 'Blue Boyscout', Superman, Lex Luthor is all kinds of evil wrapped up in money and a well pressed, expensive suit. He's diabolically clever and vicious, and he never lets Supes sleep on the job. Cementing his legacy as one of the greatest villains of all time, Luthor wins our allegiance for the depth of his character and his driven purpose. Captain America - Maybe not as popular in modern times as he was in the days of World War II when he first appeared on the comic scene, but still a symbol of America and classic comics from the Golden and Silver ages. Captain America is displaced and so he views the world a bit differently than the rest of us. He sees things the way they should be in his mind, which isn't always the most popular point of view. He's often portrayed as a boy scout, but truthfully he's much deeper than that, and that's where the appeal lies. Wolverine - Overused or not, Logan is one of the most popular comic book characters in existence today. When he first burst onto the scene in the revitalized X-Men he quickly gained an everlasting fan base because of the difference he brought to the table. He's not your typical do-gooder hero, though he always does fight for the right causes. He's temperamental, at times insecure, rude, crude and unpredictable. He's a loner with a heart of gold and a penchant for violence. He's an anti-hero who takes no crap, but at the same time he deeply cares about those he surrounds himself with. And it's those complexities that make him stand out in our minds. Wonder Woman - The first widely received female superhero, Wonder Woman is by far the most popular female comic book character to date. She comes from a world where women are dominant, which gained her popularity early on in the women's liberation movement. She stands head-to-head and toe-to-toe with any male superhero, and she shows them up oftentimes. She's a strong, beautiful, intelligent and yet still feminine heroine with a costume that has become more than iconic. The Joker - The thorn in Batman's side rightly deserves a place on this list for his epic battles with the 'Caped Crusader'. Of all comic book characters in the superhero realm, there is none quite like the Joker. He's maniacal, insane, and ruthless, yet charming, smooth and debonair at the same time. He's a mass murderer and a child killer, and he's obsessed with Batman. He's just too crazy not to love! The Flash - If underoos and t-shirts are any indication, The Flash is one of the most noticeable and popular iconic comic book characters of all time. He's a fan-favorite of comic readers and non-comic fans alike. He's known worldwide and his trademark red costume with the white circle and yellow lightning bolt are instantly recognized. But more than appearance, it's his powers and his wit that land him on this list. He's one of the original comic relief superheroes in the genre with his sarcastic and humorous banter that rivals that of Spider-Man. And who doesn't love super speed powers? He's the best at what he does. The Incredible Hulk - Mr. Green Genes himself has to make this list merely for his iconic status in the world of comics and beyond. He's a classic hero that has gained notoriety through comics, television and film. And with the popularity of the second Hulk film that just released, his star will only continue to rise. Couple that with the massive success of Planet Hulk and the Incredible one is a force to be reckoned with. Whether it’s his intense power, or the dynamic between that power and the weak, but intelligent alter-ego Bruce Banner, we love him no matter what. There are many other comic book characters that could have easily made this list, like Magneto, Iron Man, Robin, Green Lantern, Professor X and so many others. The names represented above, though, are undoubtedly some of the greatest comic book characters ever created. Looking for rare and collectible comic books? Whether you are a seasoned collector of Golden Age comics or just starting with some recent back issues, finding the comic you want, when you want it could be a daunting task. Where to Find Comics The two best places to find comics are the Internet and the world famous San Diego Comic-Con. Visiting the local comic store is still an option, but your changes of finding that Amazing Spider-Man #1 is slim. In this article, we'll focus on how to find comics on the Internet. Specifically, vintage comics that are at least ten years old. In general, comic searches will be focused on ages: Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age and Modern. Surprisingly, the large search engines, such as Google, are not the best place to look for comics. The results you'll find will be to dealer sites, but not to their constantly changing inventory. Your search will be focused on the following categories: comic book specific search engines, auction sites, dealer sites, classifieds and forums. Comic Search Engines Your best bet for one-stop shopping is a comic book search engine. This type of website will search as many sites on the Internet that it can find and present the compiled results to you without you having to visit multiple sites. The largest, ComicSeeker.com (http://www.comicseeker.com), is simple to use. You type in the title of the comic you are searching for and the optional issue number. The results are then presented from various sites on the Internet. When you find the comic you want, you go from ComicSeeker.com to the site where the comic book if for sale. Auction Sites Ebay. Of course, there are other auction sites out there, but for sheer volume, Ebay (http://www.ebay.com) is the leader. On any given day, there are thousands of comics for you to purchase. If you do buy from Ebay, use caution when selecting a seller and always check their feedback. It is not uncommon for the comic you purchase to be in a lower grade than described. There are honest sellers and feedback is the best way to weed out the bad ones. There are some comic book specialty auction sites. The largest is Heritage Comics (http://www.heritagecomics.com) based in Texas. You can also bid at Vault Auctions, Hakes and OnlineComicBookAuctions.com. Dealer Sites Most of the major and minor comic book dealers now have websites. Some have their own search engine, making it easy for you to search their inventory. Some even let you specify a specific grade that you are searching for. Others aren't quite as advanced yet and require you to click from page-to-page to look through their inventory. The largest dealer site isn't really a dealer, but a consignment/exchange: ComicLink (http://www.comiclink.com). At ComicLink, you will probably find the most active trading of Gold, Silver and Bronze age comics on the Internet. Classifieds Comics are not usually sold through online classified sites, but sometimes you can get lucky. As with the auction site category, the classified category is dominated by one major site, Craigslist. Craigslist (http://www.craigslist.org) operates several local versions, so it is best to stick to searches at your local site as the comic seller may not want to ship to you. Our tip for searching Craigslist is not to search. They have deployed a new technology call RSS/XML. If you have downloaded the Firefox web browser, it is easy to take advantage of this technology. First, go to your local Craigslist and type the term comics in the search box and select the For Sale section. When the results page loads, you will notice a small icon in the right side of the location bar of Firefox. Click this and the feed will now be saved as a Live Bookmark. From now on, you can instantly see all posts at Craigslist with comics in the description. Forums Community forums are a great way to buy comics from other comic collectors. Some forums have specific topic areas just for people who are selling comics. However, the best tactic is to simply be active in the forum and keep your want list in your post signature. Some popular forums are CGC Boards, CBG Extra and About.com Comics. Conclusion With so many options on the Internet, it shouldn't take you long to find the exact comic book you are searching for. By using this multi-tier strategy, you should be able to find multiple copies of the comic you want and purchase based on grade and price. Good luck and have fun. While comic book series have been around since the 1930s, it wasn't until the 1960s that something changed within the comic book industry, instigating widespread interest in comic book heroes and narratives. Some say it was Stan Lee's re-envisioning of the industry, adding new psychological dimensions to his characters. Others say it was the teaming up of superhero teams and new plots that interested readers on another level. It could have also been the adaptation to television and movies that exposed comics to more people. Whatever the case, independent book stores popped up in the 1970s and 1980s, inspiring a new breed of ultimate fans: the comic collector. A serious comic collector will need to be aware of what issues he or she has, as well as the condition of each piece. To keep track of large volumes, it's recommended that you get comic book collection software to help you. These programs allow you to input new and existing comics into a personal database, quickly scan/search for certain criterion that buyers may be looking for, compile a wish list of items you want to include and determine the value of your collection. This can also help greatly when you're listing your information on sites like eBay. New and bargain collectors can find free software to accomplish the basics at Comic Collector Live. For mid-level collectors, Collectorz offers improved ways of inputting new or existing comics and search capacity for $24.95 or $39.95 (pro version). For the hardcore collector, Comic Base offers a variety of programs, ranging from $49.95 (express) to $299 (archive edition), allowing you the best ways to create wish lists and determine the value of your collection based on comic book industry standard criterion. There are many places where a collector of such books can buy or sell a comic book collection. Buyers can check such book stores, the publishers' websites (Marvel, DC Dark Horse, IDW), eBay, Craigslist, Mile High Comics, G-mart, Comics-Db, My Comic Shop, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. As can be expected, sellers can also unload their collections at many of these same places. At Comic Shop Locator, you can find a place to trade-in your old stash for quick cash, although this isn't the way to make the best money. Auction houses are sometimes good, particularly if you have a full collection of a comic book series. You can find some at Comics Heritage Auctions, Morphy Auctions and Christies. However, by far, the best way for a patient and savvy collector to sell is an internet auction like eBay, where top prices can be commanded. A comic collector will naturally be curious about what old comic books are worth. Popular and respected guides include The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, Comics Buyer's Guide magazine, Wizard Magazine, the Comics Buyer's Guide Standard Catalog of Comic Books, and the Human Computing's ComicBase software program. Online, comic collectors can also check out free resources like Comic Book Realm, Comics Price Guide or Nosto Mania. At Gp Analysis buyers can view price data gathered from online auction houses and private dealer sales, which are updated daily. Leveraging against several sources is usually the best way to determine an old comic's true value. I don’t know if you feel the same about comic books like I do, but one thing is for sure, I have held on to my first ever comic book for a very long time and I believe now it will probably cost you quite a penny especially since it is mint condition and it is a first series. When shopping for a comic book it is good to learn all you can on that comic especially if it is the rare or hard to find kind. Apart from superheroes I have always loved comics like Archie, Jughead and the rest of the gang. I was also a big fan Josie and the pussycats and off course the DC comic’s collection as well as Marvel comics. Many people do not know the value of their comic books and how much they can get for them if they have kept them in prime condition. In fact most time people just leave their comics lying around in their homes without ever thinking that if they needed another one and had kept the one they had in good condition they would be able to trade it in for another. This kind of trade is offered by several comic book stores. The older your comic the more value it has and the more care you have to give it especially if it is a first edition or a very rare copy. Many a times you will find such comics in auctions or if you really want to luck out look for yard sales where people are moving out because you will find people are either selling their comic book collection at a very low price or giving them away for free. Always have them appraised. The Grade of a comic is the condition that it is in. This is determined by many different factors. There is the cover of the comic. Is it creased, torn, or even attached? The inside of the comic is also very important. Is the colour faded or yellowed? Coupons that have been cut out will drastically decrease the value. But don’t worry too much. Even if a comic book is relatively worn, if it is a comic book that is rare, has the first appearance of a character, very old, or highly sought after, then it very well could still be worth a good deal of money. But be careful, rating a comic can be very subjective. The most famous serial of the silent era, and still iconic to this day, is The Perils of Pauline. It was released by Pathé in 1915 with actress Pearl White playing the title character. It was the French studio's first American success, began the golden age of the silent serial and launched Pearl White's career as the "Queen of Serials". Not all of this serial survives but prints of many episodes are available commercially. Flash Gordon, released by Universal in 1936, is the most famous example of the sound serial era. Buster Crabbe played Flash Gordon and Charles Middleton was cast as Ming the Merciless. This serial was Universal's attempt to regain an adult audience for the format and benefitted from a larger budget in addition to the studio’s access to props and material from their own feature films. It did not gain the adult audience but it was a commercial success. Much like The Perils of Pauline, it made Buster Crabbe the "King of Serials" and began the golden age of the sound serial. It was followed by two sequels, Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938) and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940), as well as the semi-sequel Buck Rogers (1939) which also starred Buster Crabbe in the title role. Columbia, which managed to acquire more licensed properties than the other studios, had one of its most influential releases in 1943's Batman. The production was cheap, with unintentional humour and poor direction but it remained popular. It was followed by one sequel, Batman and Robin (1949), but it's major successor came decades later on television. Theater showings on the serial, with all fifteen chapters in one sitting under the title "An Evening with Batman and Robin", became very popular for their "camp" value in the 1960s. This led the commissioning in 1966 of the Batman television series starring Adam West and Burt Ward. The serial is also responsible for the now standard appearance of the character Alfred in all media and the style of the television show affected the original comics for several years. Republic had many successes, with the entire sixteen serial run directed by William Witney and John English, between The Lone Ranger (1938) and Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc. (1941), considered as the best. Highlights include Drums of Fu Manchu (1940), which featured strong use of cinematography to add to the suspense, Mysterious Doctor Satan (1940), originally intended as a Superman adaptation, and especially Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941), which was the first film adaptation of a superhero comic. Spy Smasher in 1942, directed by William Witney alone, is also often cited as Republic's best.

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