American Superhero Comic Books Of The Golden Age (1938-1954)

In the spring of 1938, the first superhero comic book Action Comic #1 debuted, in which Superman began his heroic journey. Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America and a lot of other comic book superheroes followed. As a popular literature, Superhero comic books have reflected the trends and changes of American society from the beginning. Superhero is now becoming a modern American mythology.Superhero comic books saw themselves how to become a popular literature from late 1930s to middle 1950s. Superhero comic books are mirrors and molders of American social changes and trends. This thesis aims to discover the connections between comic books and American society from 1938 to 1954.We can roughly divide the history of superhero comic books into three periods. In late 1930s to early 1940s, superheroes were vigilantes fighting for truth and justice. Coming into WWII, superheroes became patriot soldiers, fighting against evil powers. When the war ended, like demobilized soldiers, superheroes returned homes and became conforming citizens.The value of this thesis is to include comic book research in the scope of historical study. Superhero comic books were ignored in a very long period. Things have changed since 1980s. The thesis insists superhero comic books have mirrored the changes of American social psychology and are simple expressions of American society. So, a deep research into the history of American superhero comic books will help us get a better understanding of America and American, also are good primary resources for studying American history.