In general, the stories from the different eras, in and
around Neptune City, can be generalized by the following:
- Pulp Era - An era of
adventure, excitement and danger. Masked mystery-men, rocket-ships, and scantily
clad women menaced by monsters. An era of two-fisted heroes, steel-jawed
detectives, flying aces, and jungle heroes set in stories of mystery, horror
beyond imagination, romance, spicy adventures, and foreign intrigue.Gangster
stories as well as crime fighting belong here as well.
- Golden Age - The
superhero archetype is first defined and the heroes who will shape the eras to
come are created. It was a simpler time... A time of just causes and vengeance
filled characters who had brightly clad costumes and spunky sidekicks at their
sides. It is not surprising that this era corresponds with the period before and
during WWII.
- Atomic Age - Super Heroes
are largely forgotten, as the country (in its new found struggle against
Communism) is suspicious of anyone who hides their face behind a mask. This is
the era of romance stories, as well as horror, giant monsters, westerns, science
fiction, and spy tales. Luckily for the superheroes of Neptune City (and
elsewhere) the era goes as quickly as it comes.
- Silver Age - Super Heroes
return - bigger, flashier and more amazing than ever. The villains get much more
flashy, as well, and the plots of stories become more of an ongoing struggle
between the villains and the heroes - without the death and dire consequences of
the Golden Era. Super Heroes now are taking part in truly amazing stories (outer
space, worlds of magic, other dimensions, and so on), and backgrounds and
rationale for powers becomes more important.
- Bronze Age - This is a
continuation, mostly, of the Silver Age. The villains get a little bit more
serious, the stories get a little bit more serious, and the heroes get a little
bit more serious. In some ways, this era is a return to the Golden Age - not
grim and gritty (yet), but still the stories and motives have an edgier feel to
them. Real life problems and social relevancy seem to creep into many stories at
this time. In the Bronze Age many of the USA-5O stories take place.
- Iron Age - This is the era
in which the reputation of the Hero suffered most. Now it is common for heroes
who flaunt moral authority, have the power (and often the desire) to kill, and
who have lost the black and white sense of right and wrong. Stories in this
period are gritty, grim, and full of moral ambiguity. Characters (heroes and
villains) quite frequently reflect the mixed currents of what appears to be both
right and wrong (and in-between) in society at the time, as do stories set in
this time.
- Neo-Silver
- The hero has been through the era of losing his moral compass, and has
emerged as a champion (once again) for what is right in the world. Although
there are the shades of gray and questions about morality from the real world -
and these are not ignored - the characters reflect a much more black and white
approach of the earlier eras. Stories continue to be complex, and set in amazing
settings. The sense of the fantastic and grandiose has returned to the stories
of this time.
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