Pow! Slap! Whack! Zonk!

With rapid changes in technological resources running rampant, the days of the comic book are pretty much in the past. In fact, by the latter part of the 20th century, they had already become matters of note as collectible items. For those of us growing up during the Golden Age of Comic Books, we will always remember Superman, Batman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel. So, let's celebrate!

September 25 is...

National Comic Book Day

1938 edition of Action Comics No. 1,
it features Superman lifting a car on its cover.
Original cost 10 cents

These creative and inventive books have been entertaining both children and adults for more than 200 years! However, the first comic book did not appear in the United States until 1933 and then as a reprinting of earlier newspaper comic strips. American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of Action Comics, which included the debut of the superhero Superman.

One of the entertaining aspects of the comic book are the printed word sound effects. These are used at strategic points throughout the book. The villain might get a punch in the nose (Pow!), a strike across the face (Slap!), a hit on the head (Whack!), fall down a flight of stairs (Zonk!), etc. Each represent the special effect necessary to make the reading come to life.  Vroom! Here comes the superhero to save the day!

While comic books have quite a storied history, it was in the late '30s when they reached massive popularity. By the mid '40s, comic books were outselling traditional books. From Spider-Man to Batman to Superman, something special touched the heart through these sketched panel books.

To celebrate National Comic Book Day, take a few minutes to catch up on your favorite comic or watch a movie based on your favorite comic book series!