Kip Magee

Dr. Joshua Webster

INT 339

24, October 2017

Kavalier and Clay Amazing Story.

I like to think of Kavalier and Clay as the pioneer of the Gold age of comics. They have learn to challenge the struggles before them. Are they making a change in the social aspect of the comic universe?  Kavalier and Clay went head first into the world of comic books. Clay had the dream to make the visions of his world to be heard and transform into character that he felt will make a differences. Both artist having a strong imagination in order to create characters that have incredible power and ability. Kavalier did his study at the Art Institutes, but both of them were young Jewish men. Kavalier fled a hostile environment of occupy Prague to the city dwellings of New York.  Kavalier live with the fantasy of magic and the thought of being a great entertainer. He incorporated his skills and have transpired to save a Religious artifact that he helped smuggled out of Prague; passed the Nazis. “As soon as the German army occupied Prague, talk began, in certain quarters, of sending the city’s Golem, Rabbi Loew’s miraculous automaton, into the safety of exile.”(Michael Chabon).

 His family was a well off middle class Jewish family but even the tuff times caused a hefty price in order for Kavalier to make it to America. The question is did Kavalier a Clay make a differences in the social change of comics? Kavalier poured out his true feeling about the struggle his family was going through with his art. The future in the field of comic books would not be the same because comic magazine gain a true story teller. Sam Clay with his contact at the Kramler Building made extra efforts to get them audition with Sheldon Anapol magazine company. Sam took a chance with them making an issue of their own to produce the next Superman. You have to understand that comics in this time was just imaginative thoughts. People had not conceive the ideal of running stories of fighting Nazis, changeling Communism and being vigilantes because it just did not exists.

Reflective problems and anxieties in our cultures

I have read stories of fear and people wishing they were something they are not Captain Marvel #1. In the culture of comics books it was made to shape the imagination of the kids. Congress wanted and needed a standard of ethic for the comic book world. In 1954 Comic Codes was developed, and this placed morals values in the issues. Over the years there have been some amazing stories. The development of Wonder Women spark the women’s movement and Superman in the far reach of space. The issues were meant to give hope and take strength with the combination of unity. The future of comics became the past of the Golden Age period. Artist in the 1960 developed more of movements towards fear of communism. This was bring story of racy proportion issues against America’s enemy?  Darwyn Cooke “New Frontier, [portrayed] ‘Superman’,” Challenging the superheroes to except individuals for what they can do to help Earth. Because we are different in appearance and we should accept what is different about a person. I rather like Darwyn ideal example “that because we are different and have special ability we all fight for the same purpose and that is prosperity and freedom.” (Cooke).  

Time period changes and culture different.

The Silver Age of comics made way of feminist and introducing character of African-America status. Even though Wonder Women still hold rank in the comic book world other characters change the rules in the Seventy’s. People look at the art work of artist image of women as less of a being. The ladies heroes wasn’t holding strength in the story lines. Stories like Batgirl the “Killing Joke,” was a show of victimize of females. Even though women are taking on the criminal world figure they have fan characters that speak their mind. The art work by Rafael Albuquerque in Batgirl’s comic change the way artist view their work. The separation from the Comic Code was showing and what can happen when you lose ethics. Moral values is the reason for the strong history of good heroes. To live in justices and the pursuit of happiness is a law model for young enthusiast value.

In closing I think that Joseph Kavalier and Sammy Clay have shape the way of comic’s development and have brought stories to creation that is amazing. The strength of the two together help make the Golden Age of comic book issues. The foundation of their original Story lines shape the movie industry and created a following in the Comic Con World. The diversity in the industry have reached in Marvel and D.C. comics. The Comic Code Standard of 1954 may have shaped the Golden Age but the new animatronic world is making new head waves. We still have feminist in the costume character and critics still call for the metaphor of the Golden Age but time has changed. We can only watch and be amazed at the future of movie illustration and thank the creation of Kavalier and Clay pioneer.

Work Cited

Dawryn Cooke. “The New Frontier.” 1950 Animation movie, D.C Comics, Web 10/1/17

Michael Chabon. “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.” 2012 Random House Trade Paperback Edition, New York. Copyright 2004