It is six decades – and still counting – those diverse comics full of weird characters and odd storylines we still love today were created. It is worthy to bring to remembrance exceptional comics that are still pleasurable to read today. Beyond the appealing book covers, comics are a specialized form of entertainment that tells scary stories, tales of heroes, as well as magical fantasy that leaves readers in suspense and great awe.
With the significant number of comics that flooded the 1960s, we can still sort them according to their quality. If you are yet to get your hands on any of them, you may consider catching up on them to rediscover a treasure trove of brilliant items. Let’s get in the spirit of the ’60s!
Thor
Thor is a fictional superhero comic book. As the son of Odin, he was raised as the Asgardian God of Thunder and heir to the throne. He wields a legendary hammer with which he commands the thunder, lightning, wind, and storm. Upon his father’s stern warning, he falls in love with mortal women – including Jane and Lady Sif – an act that would account for the accumulation of enemies he would encounter later.
Thor battles and defeats many demons and foes. He appeared in Journey into Mystery created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1962 and became a founding member of the Avengers in 1963. This led to the introduction of “Tales of Asgard,” a new series that adapted Norse legends, including Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun (otherwise known as Warrior Three) as Thor’s companions.
Despite the modifications and renaming of the titles, regular plots and schemes were maintained. The Blake identity was used until 1970. In a bid to punish Thor, Odin transforms him into the mortal Blake. His true identity was, however, restored when he found the cane. Apart from being a superhero comic, Thor has become such a classic that even casinos start picking up the game. Kerching casino is one of those, take a look at a comprehensive review of the game as provided by OLBG.
Amazing Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional superhero created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15, an anthology comic book, in 1962 and then in Marvel Comics, “American comic books.” He also features in a number of movies, television shows, and video game adaptations. The Amazing Spider-Man introduces us to the superhero, Peter Parker, who got his superpowers that would alter his life from a radioactive spider bite. As an orphan who was raised by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben, he has to deal with issues surrounding adolescence and finances.
Rather than render selfless service with his supernatural powers, Spider-Man becomes a television celebrity that cashes in on his talents. After his first performance, he refuses to prevent a robber from carting away the television station’s studio box-office receipts, an act that eventually led to the loss of his Uncle Ben Parker as he was murdered by the same robber that Spider-Man allowed to escape.
The story interested young readers, especially college students, greatly. This prompted an ongoing title and a series of adaptations. Over the years, Peter Parker experienced a series of character development – from a shy, nerdy high school student to an outgoing college student, to a married high school teacher, and finally to a single freelance photographer in the late 2000s.
X-Men
X-Men was a manifestation of the idea of supporting the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Stan Lee intends to drive home messages of tolerance and acceptance rather than those of demonization and bullying. X-Men, introduced in 1963, constitute a team of teenage mutants, led by Professor Charles Xavier, their teacher, and mentor.
Despite being pro-humans, they were hated by the “normal” humans they were determined to defend. According to Lee, in an interview, Professor Xavier is used to represent Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1966, Lee and his X-Men collaborator, “King” Kirby, in their bid to deal with racial equality theme, created Black Panther, a black superhero and king of Wakanda, a fictional African nation.
The themes of this comic, though old, still remind us of the bigotry and racism that continue to traverse the modern world. X-Men continues to serve as an inspiration for those fighting for LGBTQ rights.
Batman
In American history, the 1960s were marked by political turmoil and destructive war. As a way to escape from the crises, fans were drawn to Batman, perhaps owing to the iconic super-team it debuted. Batman, the main character, joined forces with Wonder Woman, the Flash, Superman, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, and Green Lantern to defeat the alien starfish Starro the Conquerer. This is featured in The Brave and the Bold #28 in 1960.
However, the Batman comic was affected by the Batman television series that made its first debut in 1966. It was eventually modified to become a crime and detective comic. Some existing characters were eliminated while new ones were introduced. The new comic story then revolved around Ra’s al Ghul, a homicidal maniac who murders people on a whim.
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional superhero that made its first appearance in Tales of Suspense #39 (which was renamed Captain America) in 1963 and received his title in Iron Man #1 in 1968. Anthony Edward “Tony” Stark, an ingenious scientist, inherited Stark Industries, a mega-conglomerate that manufactured weapons for the United States military, from his late parents. He used to find it difficult to relate to people.
He was kidnapped to build a mass destruction weapon. While with his captors, he suffers a serious chest injury. Later, he builds for himself a suit of armor to escape captivity as well as protect the world. Stark’s identity as Iron Man was initially concealed. His heroic identity saw him through becoming a founding member of the Avengers.
The writer and editor of Iron Man, Stan Lee, uses Stark to explore the role of American technology in the fight against communism from the USSR. The Cold War theme of the comic has earned it a series of adaptations for a number of animated TV shows and films.
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