Dark comics emerged from the crime comics genre in the early 1900s. Chester Gould's Dick Tracy in 1931 helped popularize the genre. Charles Biro's Crime Does Not Pay in 1942 marked the beginning of the dark comics genre. In the 1940s and 1950s, comic books came under scrutiny for their violent and sexual content. This led to the creation of the Comics Code Authority which strictly censored comics and ended the golden age of dark comics until artists like Frank Miller began pushing creative boundaries again in the late 1970s and 1980s.

1. ‘ Dark’ Comics Born out of Crime Comics genre

2. Frank Miller Sin City (1991)

3. Early 1900s set the stage for comic books “ Hogan’s Alley” a.k.a. The Yellow Kid

4. Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy (1931) Competition: Secret Agent X-9 by Dashiell Hammett

5. Originally named National Allied Publications (1934) but changed to DC in 1936. After WWII starts in 1939, heroes dominate.

6. Crime and detective comics pop up in newspaper supplements. Will Eisner’s The Spirit (1940)

7. Charles Biro’s Crime Does Not Pay (1942) marks the beginning of the genre

9. Only 14/35 publishers participate in the ACMP. Market is not greatly affected in ’48. Mass media, Catholic schools and women’s magazines/clubs continue to vilify comics. Targeted by local bans and boycotts. Burnings continue through ’49.