In 1897, “The Yellow Kid in McFadden’s Flats” debuted as the first comic book produced in its entirety in the United States. It introduced, on its back cover, the very term “comic book”, and utilized the word balloons now generically associated with comic books. It heralded what has come to be known as the “Platinum Age” of American comics.
The Golden Age of American comics is generally considered to have commenced with Superman’s debut in 1938, and lasted until the 1950’s.
The Silver Age centered on subsequent revivals of various superheros who had fallen into dis-use, and the introduction of flawed heroes like Spiderman.