The Folio Society, independent publisher of luxury editions, has teamed up with US publisher DC Comics to publish DC Comics: The Golden Age (1938-1956), a collection of eighteen stories from the formative age of American comic books, including the debut adventures of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and more.
Selected and introduced by former DC Editor-in-Chief Jenette Kahn, the edition also offers the chance to own an identical copy of Action Comics #1, the comic book featuring the first appearance of Superman, complete with the original accompanying strips and vintage ads.
Scanned directly from original copies held in the DC archives, these classic comics have been exceptionally bound in shimmering gold cloth, and housed in a specially designed presentation box.
The edition also includes an original art print by award-winning DC artist Yanick Paquette.
Here’s a slideshow of some of the pages…
DC Comics: The Golden Age (1938 –1956) offers 18 stories from the formative age of American comic books. The edition the first in a series of DC ‘Ages ’ collections, selected and introduced by former DC Editor-in-Chief Jenette Kahn, the first woman at the helm of the legendary publishers, who, during her 27-year tenure she transformed comics into a sophisticated art form.
“Comic books were once disdained as a disposable children’s medium, “ says Kahn, “but with their clamshell packaging and gorgeous facsimile reproductions, The Folio Society affirms comics’ essential place in cultural history as a totally original and resonant art form.”
The Folio Society edition offers the chance to own Action Comics #1, the comic book that gave the world its first super hero, as a meticulous 68-page facsimile complete with original ads. First published in April 1938 and originally selling on newsstands for ten cents apiece, the comic featuring Superman s rollicking debut is now considered the most valuable in the world.
Although sporting his signature red cape, Superman had yet to gain his famous powers of flight and battles corrupt politicians and landlords in lieu of crazed Super Villains.
DC Comics: The Golden Age (1938 – 1956) also contains classic adventures featuring the original Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, and DC ’s Captain Marvel (later known as ‘Shazam’), as well as Wonder Woman ’s first mission to America in 1942’s Sensation Comics #1.
In her new introduction, Jenette Kahn reflects on these foundational stories, which “provided the roadmaps for decades of invention to come”.
“Wonder Woman was the counterpoint to the scores of male heroes who were flooding the newsstands. Although she was stronger and faster than her male opponents and could easily overpower them with force, she was driven by humane principles of peace, justice, and sisterhood,” she notes.
The edition has been made according to The Folio Society ’s exceptional production standards. Scanned from original copies held in the DC archives, the comics have been reproduced in treasury format. The book, with endpapers featuring DC ’s Golden Age pantheon and bound in shimmering gold cloth, is housed in a specially designed clamshell box. An original art print by the award-winning DC artist Yanick Paquette, which updates the classic montage featured in 1939’s Superman #3 is also included.
The Folio Society’s Head of Editorial, James Rose, comments: ‘Bringing massive pop culture characters of page and screen, such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern into the Folio publishing programme is a privilege. Internationally acclaimed, these carefully curated seminal stories collect the earliest – often startling – incarnations of our modern Super Hero icons”.
Tom Walker, Publishing Director, said of the collaboration: “DC Comics founded the super hero as we know it today and The Golden Age explores the roots of a pop culture phenomenon. With production values to suit the most exacting super hero, we are delighted to partner with DC Comics and proud to showcase the epoch-making stories selected by the hugely respected Jenette Kahn in the first of these Folio Society editions”.
The Folio Society edition of DC Comics: The Golden Age (1938 –1956), selected and introduced by Jenette Kahn, is exclusively available for £185 / US $260 from 1 September 2023 exclusively from foliosociety.com/DCGoldenDC Comics.
The Silver Age will be published in Autumn 2024 and DC Comics: The Bronze Age in Autumn 2025. There will also be a DC character series starting with DC: Batman in Spring 2024.
• DC Comics: The Golden Age (1938-1956) is exclusively available at foliosociety.com
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Comics, downthetubes Comics News, US Comics
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