Set Description:
This set is the TOUGHEST to complete in the Action Comics series as it includes VERY SCARCE AND RARE books.
The first issue in this set, Action Comics #101 was dated October 1946 and the last issue, Action Comics #200 was dated January 1955. Some issues like #123, #128, #141 and #143 are impossible to find.It is extremely difficult to obtain higher graded copies of most issues in this set or even obtain them at all.
Most of the 1946-1956 books are hard to find and if you see one for sale even if it is low grade then you should grab it. The issue with 1946-1956 comics is that their print was very low compared to any other time, the paper used was even cheaper than before and the popularity of super hero comic books was at an all time low secondary to what I am about to describe below.
The year was 1954 and three significant things happened:
1.Dr Frederic Wertham, a long time vociferous critic of the comic book industry, published SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT, a book which detailed the allegedly ill effects upon children of reading comic books containing crime, sex, and violence.
2. The United States Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency in the United States held public hearings on the deleterious effects of comic books on children.
3. Finally, in October 1954, comic book publishers established the self regulatory Comics Code Authority which imposed a strict set of industry standards upon comic books.
All these events would change comic books forever, and not necessarily for the better.
Dr Frederic Werthams Seduction of the Innocent is usually hailed as a classic example of research based upon anecdote as fact and guilt by association: Abnormal and delinquent kids read comic books; therefore, comic books cause abnormal behavior and delinquency! No matter that over ninety percent of all children read comic books at this time, with surprisingly few ax-murderers among them. Still, the extracted pictures from some of the crime and horror comics which Wertham used to illustrate his book were powerful images, especially out of context. It was NOT a good year to be a comic-book publisher.
The United States Senate report on COMIC BOOKS AND DELINQUENCY said in its conclusions that THIS COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD THE CALCULATED RISK INVOLVED IN FEEDING ITS CHILDREN, THROUGH COMIC BOOKS, A CONCENTRATED DIET OF CRIME, HORROR, AND VIOLENCE. This report further concluded that there must be a standard for comic books in the form of a code which would eliminate everything in a comic story that could demoralize youth or even POTENTIALLY EXERT DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS.The result of this whirlwind of bad publicity was the establishment of the CODE OF THE COMICS MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA on OCTOBER 26, 1954. The Comics Magazine Association of America, which consisted of all comic book publishers that wanted to get their comic books distributed, drafted one of the strictest codes of any entertainment industry. The Codes emphasis was on eliminating all traces of crime, horror, violence, and sex in the comic books, with some minor provisions regarding acceptable advertising and treatment of religious figures. The distribution system for comic books also underwent radical changes in 1954 and a major shakeout in distributors and newsstand agents was forthcoming. The real bloodbath, however, would occur in the next two years, as the industry was to feel the full and depressing effect of the Comics Code. With publication of the March 1955 issues almost all major publishers had the Comics Code Authority SEAL OF APPROVAL emblazoned on the covers of their comic books. Action Comics #201 was THE LAST PRECODE ISSUE and Action Comics #202 was published bearing the seal of approval of the Comics Code Authority.
The Golden Age comics are crude and simplistic by todays standards but with a raw immediacy which gives them a hard hitting power that is hard for contemporary comics to replicate. Early creators were energized by the visceral thrill of creating a new art form. They looked everywhere for inspiration to shape their newborn medium-JENETTE KAHN, PRESIDENT AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF DC COMICS
Action Comics issues between #100-200 included many covers that depicted the mighty Superman under attack from the UNDERWORLD but to the surprise and frustration of the Metropolis underworld they find out that that Superman is not only the strongest hero around but also the toughest. His steel hard skin allowed him to shrug off machine gun fire as it it were nothing more than a warm summer shower (Action Comics #153). Supermans skin has bounced off knives (Action Comics #122), harpoons (Action Comics #123) and tomahawks (Action Comics #148).Supermans alien molecular structure which is strengthened by the same solar rays from the YELLOW SUN which grants him his wide array of super sensory powers makes him invulnerable to harm. He can even take pictures of Atomic blasts from very close proximity without being affected by radiation poisoning (Action Comics #101). From the very start, Superman labored day and night to corral bank robbers, kidnappers, and saboteurs. Though loath to use his awesome strength to exhort an illegal confession, he was fond of wondering aloud, while hauling a felon through the air, what might happen if his grip were to accidentally loosen. Working hand in hand with the Police Department (Action Comics #124 and 125) which awarded him SPECIAL DEPUTY STATUS, Superman jailed thieves and murderers by the hundreds. The message was loud and clear-common thugs were not welcome in Supermans domain. In time, crime in Metropolis was left to the super-criminals-such as the IT that terrified the city (Action Comics #162), the Man who conquered Superman (Action Comics #165), the weird menace of the Machines of Crime (Action Comics #167), the INVULNERABLE FOE (Action Comics #173) and the enigmatic SANDMAN (Action Comics #178-The Sandman of Crime) In this set you will also see Supermans secret identity being compromised many times. His secret identity as Clark Kent reporter for the great metropolitan newspaper THE DAILY PLANET makes it possible for the Man of Steel to kick back, relax and enjoy life without the constant demands and pressures that can plague any super-hero. Everyone needs a place to get away from it all-even Superman. This is the exact reason why Superman is reluctant to compromise the secret of his dual identity. He has protected it fiercely and flawlessly, in the process making it the most tantalizing mystery in Metropolis. Amateur sleuths (Action Comics #100-The Sleuth who never failed) and criminal gangs alike worked to crack it (Action Comics #153-The 100 Deaths of Clark Kent). A mysterious future woman wielded it like a weapon by using her ability to read minds and asked Superman to MARRY HER otherwise she threatened to divulge his secret to the whole world (Action Comics #163-The Girl of Tomorrow). The expression on Supermans face on the cover of Action Comics #163 is priceless. Also in this set you will see Superman earn a lot of money by using MUSCLE FOR MONEY (Action Comics #176) and in this issue we learn why Superman was compelled to accumulate wealth. Fortunately, for the Metropolis Savings and Loan, Superman had no need for the money vaulted behind its steel doors, not even to pay the income tax on the countless rewards he donated to charity. Under the TAX DEPENDENCY CLAUSE, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) chose to grant him a special exemption. Since each taxpayer is allowed to deduct for dependents-and they reasoned, THE ENTIRE WORLD DEPENDS ON SUPERMAN-the IRS was willing to overlook the Man of Steels massive tax debt.
My quest to complete this set continues and is going to be an uphill task but I am working super hard on completing this set with the ultimate goal being to achieve 100% completion in the HIGHEST grade possible.
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