Penny Dreadful to Pop Culture

Before comics were considered an art form, the seeds of graphic storytelling were planted in penny dreadfuls—cheap, sensational tales sold for a penny in Victorian England. Often featuring gothic horrors, crime, or adventure, these stories inspired American pulp magazines and eventually comic books.

One of the earliest modern comic books, Funnies on Parade (1933), compiled strips from newspapers into a single pamphlet. Distributed as a promotional giveaway, it became a surprising hit. This paved the way for Action Comics #1 in 1938, where Superman made his debut, kicking off the superhero genre that dominates pop culture today.