When the comic book format was introduced in 1934 with the publication of Famous Funnies, only the Japanese and the British comic book industries were close competitors to the United States with the number of titles. In the US, comic books have been primarily marketed to young adult readers, although there have also been titles produced which catered to adult audiences.

The comic book history in the US can be divided into several historical eras or ages which include:

• The Platinum Age
• The Golden Age
• The Silver Age
• The Bronze Age
• The Modern Age

The terms for these ages were originated by the Fandom Press and the debate continues among historians as to the precise boundaries for these ages.