Treasury Comics

With stagnating sales in the 70’s DC and Marvel were looking for ways to make extra revue, comics were still not in comic shops because they were not yet created. These periodicals were in Mom and Pop stores all across North America. Many didn’t want to carry them, there was not much money to be made on a 15 cent comic. Carmine Infantino then DC Comics president is credited in the creating this concept. It was attempted in the forties by Fawcett Comics, but fell on the wayside. The 70’s were just right and the "tabloid" or as they were know by many fans "treasuries" took off like gangbusters. The standard size of these books were 10" x 15" inches and as soaring costs of paper climbed, the format disappeared and is sought by many today. One main theory was that many stores did not know how to store them and most became damaged. Bob Kelly the self appointed guardian of of this period in comic publishing has a great site dedicated to the hallowed "treasury" and you can discover insightful stories behind the format with his blog. Read more >>