What are some of the most important milestones in comics history? I don't mean anything specific to a character or story necessarily, but more for the industry and how it operates. A few I thought of...
The creation of the Comics Code Authority
Coming directly out of the events of the whole Fredric Wertham/Seduction of the Innocent mess, it was the industry's desperate attempt to self-regulate and avoid any outside meddling. Funnily enough, Wertham didn't think it was enough even though it led to the wholesale cancellation of most horror and crime titles and a general dumbing down of the industry as a whole. Up until 1989, homosexuality couldn't even be referred to, much less dealt with on any level.
Marvel's move away from the Comics Code Authority
Marvel dumped the CCA in 2001, allowing it to deal with darker themes and more "real-life' situations. DC followed suit soon after (mostly; it still submits a couple books).
The creation of the Vertigo imprint
Vertigo was created in 1993, right in the middle of the comic explosion and in stark contrast to the type of stories seen in superhero books of the time. Obviously not the first adult-centered line, but arguably the most important. The books released under the imprint at the time have affected mainstream books today. Without Vertigo, there would probably be no Ultimates.
The creation of Image
Nothing in the history of the medium is more important than the formation of Image for creator's rights.
More?
The creation of the Comics Code Authority
Coming directly out of the events of the whole Fredric Wertham/Seduction of the Innocent mess, it was the industry's desperate attempt to self-regulate and avoid any outside meddling. Funnily enough, Wertham didn't think it was enough even though it led to the wholesale cancellation of most horror and crime titles and a general dumbing down of the industry as a whole. Up until 1989, homosexuality couldn't even be referred to, much less dealt with on any level.
Marvel's move away from the Comics Code Authority
Marvel dumped the CCA in 2001, allowing it to deal with darker themes and more "real-life' situations. DC followed suit soon after (mostly; it still submits a couple books).
The creation of the Vertigo imprint
Vertigo was created in 1993, right in the middle of the comic explosion and in stark contrast to the type of stories seen in superhero books of the time. Obviously not the first adult-centered line, but arguably the most important. The books released under the imprint at the time have affected mainstream books today. Without Vertigo, there would probably be no Ultimates.
The creation of Image
Nothing in the history of the medium is more important than the formation of Image for creator's rights.
More?
