- published: 10 Apr 2014
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Fantasy comics have been around as long as the medium itself.
The early years of fantasy comics began in the golden age and were populated with such notable works range from All-American comics' (and later DC comics') Greek myth inspired super hero Wonder Woman to Dell's Tarzan.
Starting in the late 40s through the mid-50s Horror-themed fantasy anthologies gained prominence, the most famous of these includes EC Comics' Tales from the Crypt, Haunt of Fear, and Vault of Horror; and lesser notable titles such as American Comics Group Adventures into the Unknown and Forbidden Worlds though this trend saw its prevalence cease with the publication of Dr. Fredric Wertham's book Seduction of the Innocent which directly led to a Senate hearing of the influence of comics on juvenile violence. Though fantasy comics were able to survive in this new atmosphere though in a diminished capacity compared to its much stronger output in these early years.
Fantasy themed super heroes would continue to populate comics through the 50s and regained popularity in 1960s with such characters as Steve Ditko's Doctor Strange published by Marvel comics and Jack Kirby's Thor both appearing in two of Marvel's Fantasy Themed anthologies Strange Tales and Journey into Mystery.