The world has never seen the like of the American comic book. In their heyday, the top 500 comics sold over 60 million copies a month, and are still avidly collected. Taking us from the 1930s into the 1950s, Nicky Wright tells the fascinating story of the rise of this highly creative popular art form through its decline due to the self-censorship imposed by Congress and the churches. Highly illustrated with a huge range of front covers, comic strips, and images of the characters, the book also covers the personalities who wrote, drew, and edited these classics. It's a history that will enlighten newcomers, enthrall fans, and be as treasured as the best comics themselves.