Digital Comic Museum

General Category => Comic Related Discussion => Topic started by: gothos on January 03, 2017, 03:08:02 PM

Title: How Many Golden Age Superheroes?
Post by: gothos on January 03, 2017, 03:08:02 PM

I think I read an estimate that said 600-- any opinions?

Title: Re: How Many Golden Age Superheroes?
Post by: JonTheScanner on January 03, 2017, 07:09:31 PM

One good way to get an estimate for US superheroes would be to look at the Keltner index and count the number of features in all caps.  I'm traveling right now and can't do it.  Keltner did count costumed heroes like Batman as super.

Title: Re: How Many Golden Age Superheroes?
Post by: mopee167 on February 27, 2017, 12:03:09 PM

Dr. Jerry Bails’ THE COLLECTOR’s GUIDE: THE FIRST HEROIC AGE (A Panelologist Publication, 1969) covers 49 publishing groups. Mr. Bails attempted to list all super-hero strips from 1934 thru 1947. I counted 601 separate entries. Some were groups (JSA, 7 Soldiers, Young Allies, etc.). 


Sidekicks didn’t warrant a separate entry unless they had their own feature. So, assuming one accepts those dates as the parameters of the Golden Age (and that I counted correctly), it’s safe to say there were slightly north of 601 super-heroes in that time period.


I started to look at the Keltner index (1935-1955) but gave up after only two publishers. Too daunting far me! I’ll leave that up to someone made of sterner stuff and/or with younger eyes!

Title: Re: How Many Golden Age Superheroes?
Post by: Roygbiv666 on February 27, 2017, 07:10:47 PM

Nobody's scanned the Keltner index into a spreadsheet?