In the 90s, the entire comic book industry crashed because of speculators collecting comics for the sole purpose of selling them later for what they thought would be millions of dollars. Actually, it lasted a number of years, from at least deathmate 1993 to the failure of marvels heroes world deal 1997, but if you need a year, 1996 isnt too bad a choice. Down a bro, matt takes on one of the most perilous times in comic book history, the dark age of comics. So, i usually hear comic book fans talk about the 90s like they all suckballs. The comic book crash of the 90s and why comics are safe. In the history of mainstream comics, the 90s are usually regarded fairly harshly.
Why do comics from before the mid 90s look so different. And the 90s gave us a comic book revolution with new companies like image, milestone, malibu, dark horse, and valiant. There are three core causes to the comic book market crash of the 90s whose roots began around this time. These 90s childrens books were popular with kids and sleepy babies from 19901999.
We take a look at the innovations, but ultimately the major pitfalls that almost led to the. Millions of people suddenly started entering comic books shops in the early 1990 s and just as quickly stopped. And i think after much due consideration i strongly disagree with the idea that the 1990s. All had built awesome continuity and had a variety of great characters. Once upon a time comic books were ubiquitous and worthless. A firsthand account of the comic book boom and crash of the 1990s and 1980s.
The era was defined by excess, usually including some giant weaponry and hard attitudes. Its something ive always noticed, but ive never really thought to. The great comics crash of 1996 useful notes tv tropes. Specialty stores became places where comic book fans could meet and convene and the stores themselves werent bogged down by the comics code. Okay, first off, im sorry if this is a question with an obvious answer.
The comic book speculation bubble and the 1990s has become known as one of the darkest times in comic book history. Revisiting the 90s speculative boom that nearly ended the. I just got into comics a few years ago, and i dont think they are all that bad, especially in dc. The comic collecting craze of the early nineties was a text book case of bubble economics. Childrens books from the 90s remember these books as a. This list includes the babysitters club, goosebumps and harry potter series. It came crashing into an industry that was unprepared for it but recognized that it was time to make hay while the sun was shining. The 30 best comic book cartoons of the 1990s include classics from marvel comics, dc comics, and image comics, plus an international assortment of toons.
The crash resulted from two main causes, which semicoincidentally emerged alongside the rise of the the dark age of comic books. This video is part 3 of my comic book history series, but stands on its own. There are lessons in the smallest of them, even the bubble that led to the comic book crash of 1993. Why do comics from before the mid 90s look so different from comics today.
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