
In essence, the term “Modern Age” in comic books is somewhat vague regarding its beginning, particularly when discussing Marvel Comics, but it’s more clearly defined for DC Comics. Generally speaking, most experts agree that the Modern Age commenced with the publication of three groundbreaking comics: “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, “Watchmen”, and “The Dark Knight Returns”. These comics were released within a year of each other and significantly altered DC’s comic book production methods. Importantly, “The Dark Knight Returns” and “Watchmen” initiated the “Dark Age” of comics, a period approximately spanning fifteen years at the onset of the Modern Age, from around 1986 to the beginning of the 2000s. Both these stories gained immense popularity due to their departure from the restrictions imposed by the Comics Code Authority, allowing them to explore darker themes and mature content that resonated with readers.