# Ask the comic guy.. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415 "2003-01-09T01:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 49
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/961 "2003-06-19T06:15:34Z")
Jus’ a quick question…how many “ages” of comics are there? I’ve heard of the **Golden** , **Silver** , and **Bronze** ages, and I _think_ I have a pretty good idea of what they are, but I’m curious as to whether there are any others that I don’t know about. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/962 "2003-06-19T23:49:41Z")
According to serious collector geeks I know, the ages are: The Platinum Age: 1897 - 1932 The Golden Age: 1933 - 1945 The Atomic Age: 1946 - 1956 The Silver Age: September, 1956 - 1969 The Bronze Age: 1970 - 1979 The Modern Age: 1980 - Present ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/963 "2003-06-20T01:50:40Z")
> [@](#): > > And on a slight hijack, what thinkest ya’ll of the X-Men Evolution and Justice League cartoons? Are they faithful enough to satisfy you? I like 'em, but I am curious what such personages as you folk may think. X-Men: Evo is about as unfaithful to the comic as you can get, but I love it anyway. There are a lot of things I could do without (ugly costume design, occasionally stupid dialog when they try to be too hip, and Nightcrawler being obnoxious), but overall I think it’s a fun take on the X-Men. Nice animation, too. I don’t like Justice League as much as earlier Batman:TAS or the Superman series, but it is quite good. I like Hawkgirl a lot (although whoever decided not to call her Hawkwoman instead needs to be smacked), and I could do without Superman getting smacked around like nobody’s business every episode, but all in all it’s good. A _real_ Justice Society appearance someday would be my dream come true. ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/964 "2003-06-20T01:56:11Z")
I’ve heard the current age reffered to as the “platinum” age because of all the gimmicks, rip offs and also because of comic companies like Image(all flash, no meat). ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/965 "2003-06-20T02:15:59Z")
I refer to the present age(ooh let’s say 95 to present) as the holofoil age, or the polybagged age due to the execessive use of special covers or polybagging cards with comics to sell more copies. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/966 "2003-06-20T04:32:15Z")
> [@](#): > > I refer to the present age(ooh let’s say 95 to present) as the holofoil age, or the polybagged age due to the execessive use of special covers or polybagging cards with comics to sell more copies. But wasn’t the heydey of that kind of thing the early 90’s? I know that new series are still kicked off with about a bajillion different covers, but it seems like right around 1991-92 was when absolutely every issue of everything had to be a die cut hologram cover, polybagged with a hologram trading card. I think it kind of dropped off in the later 90’s (for example, the Heroes Reborn titles launched with “only” 2 covers per book). What year was that big DC Eclipso crossover, anyway? Its first issue had a heavy cardstock cover with a giant purple plastic diamond attached to it. Ick. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/967 "2003-06-20T04:36:46Z")
shy guy: > [@](#): > > What year was that big DC Eclipso crossover, anyway? Its first issue had a heavy cardstock cover with a giant purple plastic diamond attached to it. Ick. 1. And you could get that issue without the plastic diamond as well. Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/968 "2003-06-20T04:49:42Z")
I’ve got that issue. The diamond came out really easy, mine’s hinging on falling off. It looks really bad, with the diamond but even worse with it almost coming off. Am I the only one laughing at the thought of people buying five copies of stuff like the foil embossed Punsiher 2099 because they think it’s gonna be selling for a thousand or more like some silver age ones do? They didn’t realize that comics like Action Comics #1 have about 100 copies left, where as those comics they were buying for 3 bucks a pop were going into multiple printings, thus decreasing the rarity and the price they’d be worth in 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/969 "2003-06-22T06:39:50Z")
'nother quick question…how many GRANDCHILDREN does Magneto have, in current continuity? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/970 "2003-06-22T06:58:37Z")
OTOMH Magneto has 1 granddaughter. Pietro married an Inhuman (Crystal IIRC). The tot has not been exposed to Terrigen Mists. It remains to be seen if she has any superhuman abilities. ``` Wanda was married to Vision. They had 2 kids. However, the kids were apparently just bundles of magic and dissolved. Vision was disassembled. When he was put back together, he was solid off-white and had no emotions. Later, he returned to the yellow, red, and green color scheme and regained his feelings. ``` ---
**Author:** ![sotally\_tober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@sotally\_tober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sotally_tober)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/971 "2003-06-22T13:56:06Z")
ok\> What’s the deal with kitty pryde. Is her default state phased or tangible? Anyone who read X-treme 26 knows that CC wrote that [spoiler] Kitty’s default state is being phased. I find that weird. And I thought it was settled long ago that Kitty was back to normal? Ie default solid. She nearly discorporated years back (comic time) after being struck by Blackbolt’s energy blast while trying to shield Rogue. Finding that she couldn’t regain her solidity, kitty turned to Doom and RIchards, who finally came up with a cure for her. Besides, that’s just silly. If she has to concentrate to stay solid, how does she sleep? And it’s ironic that since in this form she’s immue to telepathy, that Stryker is trying to brainwash her. [/spoiler] So, can anyone tell me whether CC was writing off continuity or is there some thing that i don’t know about? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/972 "2003-06-22T15:03:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DocCathode \* > \*\*OTOMH Magneto has 1 granddaughter. Pietro married an Inhuman (Crystal IIRC). The tot has not been exposed to Terrigen Mists. It remains to be seen if she has any superhuman abilities. > > ``` > Wanda was married to Vision. They had 2 kids. However, the kids were apparently just bundles of magic and dissolved. > > ``` \*\* Actually parts of Mephisto (or Master Padamonium) 's missing soul. One of Byrne’s stupider attempts to once again undo 30 years of history because the book wasn’t like it was in 1974 when he was reading it. Actually, in terms of lasting damage, next to Superman (which _still_ hasn’t recovered 15 years later), Byrne’s worst f\*ckup was probably West Coast Avengers. Sure what he did to The Demon in Wonder Woman or Spider-Man in Chapter One was as bad, but they were just ignored. His attempt to un-Englehart Avengers required a 12 issue mini-series, a couple of annuals and a few backup stories…and all the damage _still_ isn’t fixed. And y’know? If _I_ were Wanda (If I were Wanda, I’d look pretty damn silly in her outfit but besides that) and Mephisto stole my kids and said something about them just being hunks of someone else’s soul…given that he’s the prince of lies and all, I’d probably get some sort of independant confirmation rather than just saying “Well…jeepers! Don’t I feel silly. Joke’s on me then, innit? Want 'em back, then?” and letting 'em go. Especially since Dr. Strange, Agatha Harkness, umm…Clea…and at least a few other mystic types never noticed anything was wrong with the kids. > [@](#): > > \*\*Vision was disassembled. When he was put back together, he was solid off-white and had no emotions. \*\* Yeah, Byrne’s stated purpose was to “bring him back basics: to restore Vision to how he originally was” (paraphrased). Of course, the story where Vision first appeared was called “Even an Android Can Cry”, so not only is Byrne trapped in the past and unable to deal with , he’s trapped in a past that _never happened!_. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/973 "2003-06-22T15:18:06Z")
Wasn’t there an Ultimates book between their first one and Ultimate War? By **Ultimates** I mean the group with Cap, Thor and the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/974 "2003-06-23T00:38:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DocCathode \* > **Wanda was married to Vision. They had 2 kids. However, the kids were apparently just bundles of magic and dissolved.** Holy _crap_…I bet Hallmark doesn’t make sympathy cards for when _that_ happens. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/975 "2003-06-23T02:19:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DrFidelius \* > \*\*According to serious collector geeks I know, the ages are: > > The Platinum Age: 1897 - 1932 > > The Golden Age: 1933 - 1945 > > The Atomic Age: 1946 - 1956 > > The Silver Age: September, 1956 - 1969 > > The Bronze Age: 1970 - 1979 > > The Modern Age: 1980 - Present \*\* Okay… that is not a list that I have ever seen as being accurate. What I have seen is: Platinum Age: 1897-1937 Golden Age: 1938-1954 Silver Age: 1955-1969 Bronze Age: 1970-1979 Modern Age: 1980-Present ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/976 "2003-06-23T05:24:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Platinum Age: 1897-1937 > Golden Age: 1938-1954 > Silver Age: 1955-1969 > Bronze Age: 1970-1979 > Modern Age: 1980-Present It seems kind of weird to me to go directly from the Golden Age to the Silver, I prefer there to be an interim (Atomic or whatever) that covers the end of the Golden Age (not really sure what that is, actually, although I’ve heard everything from the last JSA appearance to some Captain Marvel story) up through the beginning ofthe Silver Age (Barry Allen, I assume). Also, that seems like a pretty big chunk to call the Modern Age. Dark Knight, Infinity Gauntlet, and The Ultimates all in the same age? ---
**Author:** ![Sm\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sm\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sm_e)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/977 "2003-06-27T07:53:08Z")
JLI/JLE/JLA/JLA(ntartica) where the most fun I have ever had with a comic book. In fact, my comic collecting pretty much ended with “Breakdowns” So whatever happened to the characters? BLue Beetle and Booster Gold? Guy Gardner? Fire and Ice? Dimitri? Gumby? Captain Whitebread? the Injustice Leauge? G’nort? the Crimson Skier? Max? I can not think of those comics and not laugh. Regardles, thank you for this thread. It has made me want to start up buying comics again. They really need to collect and publish them. (Batman was awsome when he showed up…) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/978 "2003-07-01T08:06:13Z")
Arise, ye great olde one of threads…ia ftaghn! Two questions, this time. 1. How many issues of **Damage Control** did Marvel publish? 2. Do many superheroes “get together” socially, off-duty? I remember seeing a reprinted page of a 1960’s era “Fantastic Four” in a Marvel anthology at the bookstore, showing the “engagement party” of Reed Richards and Sue Storm. The X-Men were there, clustered around the buffet table; Iron Man was hanging around the jukebox, no doubt eyeing the wet bar; and Thor himself was congratulating the happy couple. It was surreal, but in a good way. But, does such a situation happen very often? Do Superman and Wonder Woman get together to swap spandex sewing tips? Does Wolverine get stuck at the “kiddie table” at thanksgiving? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/979 "2003-07-01T08:11:27Z")
Arise, ye great olde one of threads…ia ftaghn! Two questions, this time. 1. How many issues of **Damage Control** did Marvel publish? 2. Do many superheroes “get together” socially, off-duty? I remember seeing a reprinted page of a 1960’s era “Fantastic Four” in a Marvel anthology at the bookstore, showing the “engagement party” of Reed Richards and Sue Storm. The X-Men were there, clustered around the buffet table; Iron Man was hanging around the jukebox, no doubt eyeing the wet bar; and Thor himself was congratulating the happy couple. It was surreal, but in a good way. But, does such a situation happen very often? Do Superman and Wonder Woman get together to swap spandex sewing tips? Does Wolverine get stuck at the “kiddie table” at thanksgiving? ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/980 "2003-07-01T08:26:58Z")
Marvel published 3 separate 4-issue miniseries of **Damage Control.** If you’re missing copies, you can buy them online from [Mile High Comics](http://www.milehighcomics.com/), they have a sale going on that’s about to end. Superheroes socializing happens mostly in team books or “special” issues. My own take is that, storywise, it happens a lot less now than it did in the Silver Age or in the 80s and 90s. You see it more in “flashback” issues or retro-oriented stories. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415.md?page=48) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415.md?page=50)