Resumen
Since its origins in the 1930s, the comic book industry has been a part of American popular culture. The industry itself can be thought of as having existed in three distinct waves. Wave one describes the industry from its beginnings, with a focus on mass distribution supporting high volume sales of an inexpensively priced product. Wave two is defined by a niche approach narrowly focusing on a target audience of committee fans and collectors. A nascent wave three drien by technological forces (e.g. internet) may augur further changes for the industry.