HISTORY OF DC COMICS

Brand Overview

DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest It is impossible to put a figure on the likely
American comic book companies founded in fan base numbers for DC however the 2020
1934. The majority of its publications take place DC Fandome saw 22 million people check
within the fictional DC Universe and feature in during a 24hr period at this year’s virtual
numerous culturally iconic heroic characters, convention.
such as Superman, Batman and Wonder
Woman. The universe also features well- The net worth of DC Comics isn’t readily
known supervillains who oppose the available. However, we can estimate the
superheroes such as Lex Luthor and company’s net worth based on a few factors.
The Joker. First, as one of the biggest comic book
companies in the world they sell millions and
DC Comics, Inc. is an American comic millions of copies each year the popularity of
book publisher. It is the publishing unit of DC which then leads to massive licensing revenue.
Entertainment,[4][5] a subsidiary of the Warner DC makes a hefty sum from retail sales.
Bros. Global Brands and Experiences division Batman is the most licensed of DC characters
of Warner Bros., a subsidiary of AT&T’s Warner and is believed to be worth around $28 Billion
Media. As such is one of the largest global in retail revenue alone since the characters
brands of our time! inception in 1939.

Second, movie sales. DC Comics has enjoyed

massive box office revenues over the years. In
the last five years the critically acclaimed DC
movie franchise has grossed an estimated $4
Billion!

Scheduled DC Movies in 2020/21/22

Wonder Woman 1984 – 12/20 The Flash – 06/22
The Suicide Squad – 08/21 Shazam!: Fury Of The Gods – 11/22
The Batman – 10/21 Aquaman 2 – 12/22
Black Adam – 12/21
 It was during 1965 when the industry During the 1990’s comic book popularity
introduced a new super hero by the name of began to decline. As a result, the comic book
Flash. This character was created many years industry started a new approach and with it
before but was brought back and updated to came different lines that were intended to
be placed in more popular times. This time appeal towards a more mature audience and
more emotional and personal compelling also adult readers. They also took a big gamble
stories were used along with some better that was very drastic as they featured the
storyboards and artwork which helped to death to some of the key, and most popular
liven up the character. characters, such as the death of superman.

The company did the same with all the other DC Comics then launched the super heroes
characters too, which included batman and of their industry into the DC Extended
superman and Wonder Woman. Shortly Universe (DCEU) which revolutionized their
afterwards the Justice League society and world of comic books and the popularity
the Justice League of America was created. began to once again grow.
All of these super hero characters also gained
The History Of DC Comics great appeal through cartoons and also live By constantly diversifying and evolving the
television shows. Marvel Comics, who at first DC brand offering their characters regained
were not so eager to follow the same path of attention and have continued to grow in
its rival DC, soon gave in and then started to popularity through critically acclaimed movies,
DC Comics is known as the king of all rise of Batman. There was another line
create their own group of super heroes. theme parks and product partnerships to
comic books. It has been the leader in of comic books, known as Action Comics,
ensure their continued presence as huge part
the industry since its launch in 1934. They which featured a new super hero named
of American and World culture.
paved their way with their styles and strategies Superman.
and many other comics book industries in
America followed them such as their rival Over the years these two super heroes
Marvel Comics. The history of DC Comics has became quite popular and to this day they
gone on to be a huge part of American culture. are still two of the most popular characters to
ever appear in comic books and went on to Superman Green Lantern
DC Comics were able to survive and continue spark the way for many other costume clad First appeared in Action First appeared in All-American
to thrive even when there were times when super heroes. Comics #1, which was published Comics #16, which was published in 1940
they had gone through declining periods in 1938 – considered the first
when comics books were losing interest. There once was a time when this industry was costumed hero, a pioneer of the The Flash
However, today they have proved to be one under an attack during the 1950’s (the golden genre First appeared in Flash Comics #1, which
of the most successful stories in the comic age) as they were not considered to be up was published in 1940
book industry and are a subsidiary of Warner to any American standards for any children Batman
Brothers Entertainment and are also part of and the younger generation too. Even during First appeared in Detective Aquaman
Time Warner too. these times DC continued its success along Comics #27, which was published First appeared in More Fun Comics #73,
with several other companies, by diversifying in 1939 which was published in 1941
DC Comics made a name for themselves in the storylines into areas such as westerns and
1939 as they were then founded by Malcolm romantic stories but it was their reemergence Wonder Woman Cyborg
Wheeler-Nicholson. During that time its of the super hero genre which would lead First appeared in All-Star First appeared in DC Comics
company was known as National Allied them to a huge recreation of what made Comics #8, which was published Presents #26, which was published in
Publications. The initials for the DC Comic them so successful in the comic book industry in 1941 1980
books were from taken from the Detective known as the Silver Age.
Comic series. With that series came the
Comic Book Terminology

Anthology: Comics that contain multiple short stories. Historically, these were often testing
grounds for new characters

The Big Two: DC Comics and Marvel

Cover: The front page of a comic book, usually boasting a feature image, title, pricing and enticing
snippet of text

Crossover: When characters and storylines cross over into another title

Event: A large-scale crossover story, which often includes characters from a shared universe
joining forces (e.g. Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis)

Gutter: The space between panels

Indie: An independent publisher that publishes comics independently from the Big Two and
other smaller corporations

Onomatopoeia: Words chosen to convey sound effects phonetically (e.g. ‘BOOM’, ‘POW’ and
‘BANG’)

Panel: A box on the page of a comic book

Run: The number of consecutively published comics in a series by a writer and/or artist.

Splash page: A panel that fills the entire page

Story arc: Smaller stories, or a storyline that spreads over multiple issues

Team-up: When multiple characters join forces

Two-page spread: Comic book art that fills two pages

Variant cover: An alternative cover of an issue. Often they include the art of a different artist, and
fewer copies are available
TM & © DC Comics. (s20)