History Creator / CharltonComics

In UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, it was just one of many start-up comics companies jumping on a fad, but by UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, when it got into {{Superhero}}es, it had acquired a certain reputation; though its rates were among the lowest in the business, it gave writers and artists a high degree of creative freedom, which made it attractive to both newbie creators looking to break into the industry and old hands dissatisfied by the corporate policies at the Big Two. Creator/SteveDitko was both of these at different times, and created some of the company's most iconic characters, such as The Question and the revamped Blue Beetle (who was originally yet another company's [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] character.)

* ''ComicBook/{{Nightshade}}''

Among the characters originally owned by Charlton Comics are:

* ''ComicBook/{{Ghost|DCComics}}''

* ''ComicBook/PeterCannonThunderbolt'' (original creator reclaimed the rights; see above)

* ''Timmy the Timid Ghost'': A knockoff comic of ''WesternAnimation/CasperTheFriendlyGhost''.
[[index]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Yellowjacket}}'' (not to be confused with the Marvel character)
[[/index]]

* ''Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt'' (original creator reclaimed the rights; see above)

* ''Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt'' (his original creator has since reclaimed the rights)

The company was a division of Charlton Publications, an equally low-budget magazine company. Its main technique for success was keeping costs low; it used a printing press made of plastic (instead of the more reliable and accurate metal) that had originally been used to print cereal boxes, and kept the same one from its opening in 1931 until closing its doors in 1986.

* ''Peacemaker''

Said characters were [[CanonInvasion integrated into]] Franchise/TheDCU, with some faring better than others; the aforementioned Blue Beetle and Question have probably fared the best, though Captain Atom's been relatively high-profile as well. These characters attained reputation and prestige as [[InspirationForTheWork one of the inspirations]] for Alan Moore's ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}''. Moore originally planned to revive and update a pre-established stable of characters, initially considered the MLJ line only to learn that DC did not have rights to them as he had assumed. On learning of DC's acquisition of Charlton, Moore pitched the series with them, with the editor rejecting the idea since Moore's idea would make them unusable for future use, leading him instead to make original characters similar to Ditko's Charlton creations. The success and legacy of ''Watchmen'' via its CaptainErsatz characters ended up raising the Charlton inspirations prestige (especially Captain Atom, The Question, Blue Beetle).

* Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt (his original creator has since reclaimed the rights)

* ''ComicBook/{{Yellowjacket}}''

Said characters were [[CanonInvasion integrated into]] Franchise/TheDCU, with some faring better than others; the aforementioned Blue Beetle and Question have probably fared the best, though Captain Atom's been relatively high-profile as well. In addition, these were the characters that the cast of Alan Moore's ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'' were based off of (after Moore was denied permission to use the originals), marking them for a permanent place in comic history.

* ''Judomaster''

* ''Nightshade''

Said characters were [[CanonInvasion integrated into]] Franchise/TheDCU, with some faring better than others; the aforementioned Blue Beetle and Question have probably fared the best, though Captain Atom's been relatively high-profile as well. In addition, these were the characters that the cast of Alan Moore's ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'' were based off of, marking them for a permanent place in comic history.

A now-defunct comic book company which, although low in budget and even lower in production quality, left a lasting mark on the face of comics.

* ComicBook/BlueBeetle
* Comicbook/CaptainAtom
* ComicBook/GhostDCComics
* Judomaster
* Nightshade
* Peacemaker
* ComicBook/TheQuestion
* Sarge Steel
* Son of Vulcan

* Timmy the Timid Ghost: A knockoff comic of WesternAnimation/CasperTheFriendlyGhost.
* ComicBook/{{Yellowjacket}}

In UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, it was just one of many start-up comics companies jumping on a fad, but by UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, when it got into {{Superhero}}es, it had acquired a certain reputation; though its rates were among the lowest in the business, it gave writers and artists a high degree of creative freedom, which made it attractive to both newbie creators looking to break into the industry and old hands dissatisfied by the corporate policies at the Big Two. SteveDitko was both of these at different times, and created some of the company's most iconic characters, such as The Question and the revamped Blue Beetle (who was originally yet another company's [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] character.)

Currently, DC's new multiverse has Earth-4, a world where the Charlton characters are the main heroes, if not the only heroes. It really hasn't been elaborated on much, aside from the world basically being Moore's original idea for ''Watchmen''.

In TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, it was just one of many start-up comics companies jumping on a fad, but by TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, when it got into {{Superhero}}es, it had acquired a certain reputation; though its rates were among the lowest in the business, it gave writers and artists a high degree of creative freedom, which made it attractive to both newbie creators looking to break into the industry and old hands dissatisfied by the corporate policies at the Big Two. SteveDitko was both of these at different times, and created some of the company's most iconic characters, such as The Question and the revamped Blue Beetle (who was originally yet another company's [[TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] character.)

* TheQuestion

* BlueBeetle

----

Over time, though, Charlton's fortunes faded, with the vagaries of the comic-book industry and the deterioration of their press into nigh-unusability. Its publishing slowed, then stopped, its [[{{Superhero}} Action Hero]] characters were sold to DCComics, other properties were sold to other publishers, and it closed its doors for good.

Said characters were [[CanonInvasion integrated into]] TheDCU, with some faring better than others; the aforementioned Blue Beetle and Question have probably fared the best, though Captain Atom's been relatively high-profile as well. In addition, these were the characters that the cast of Alan Moore's ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'' were based off of, marking them for a permanent place in comic history.

In TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, it was just one of many start-up comics companies jumping on a fad, but by TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, when it got into {{superhero}}es, it had acquired a certain reputation; though its rates were among the lowest in the business, it gave writers and artists a high degree of creative freedom, which made it attractive to both newbie creators looking to break into the industry and old hands dissatisfied by the corporate policies at the Big Two. SteveDitko was both of these at different times, and created some of the company's most iconic characters, such as The Question and the revamped Blue Beetle (who was originally yet another company's [[TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] character.)

Over time, though, Charlton's fortunes faded, with the vagaries of the comic-book industry and the deterioration of their press into nigh-unusability. Its publishing slowed, then stopped, its [[SuperHero Action Hero]] characters were sold to DCComics, other properties were sold to other publishers, and it closed its doors for good.