Hercules Comic Cover - A magazine cover for hercules the strongest man in the world

The 1940s were a significant and influential period in the history of comic books. During this decade, the comic book industry underwent a number of changes and developments that would shape its future. One of the most significant events of the 1940s was the emergence of superhero comics, which had a major impact on the industry. During this decade, a number of iconic superhero characters were introduced, including Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. These characters became extremely popular and helped to establish the superhero genre as a mainstay of the comic book industry. In addition to the emergence of superhero comics, the 1940s also saw the development of other popular genres, such as horror, science fiction, and romance. Many of the most well-known and influential comic book publishers and creators, such as Marvel Comics and Jack Kirby, got their start during this decade. The 1940s were a crucial and transformative period for the comic book industry, and many of the trends and developments of this decade continue to influence the industry today.

By the mid-1950s, the comic-book industry was imperiled. Superheroes were passé, except for the Man of Steel, a media star thanks to The Adventures of Superman (1953–57), a syndicated program appearing on the medium that had robbed comics of much of its audience: television. To survive, comics had turned to other genres, including science fiction. Science and technology proved a popular theme. Technological advancements spawned during the atomic age piqued Americans’ imaginations, while the Red Scare (fear of communist states like the Soviet Union) fomented rampant paranoia. Science and Cold War mistrust melded in November 1955 when DC Comics introduced—with absolutely no fanfare—the first new superhero in roughly ten years: the Manhunter from Mars.