I think the biggest point is that silver age comics were written more specifically for children, modern comics are written more specifically for adults!
Silver age and Golden age comics are great on a pure nostalgia basis, but certainly were not better written or drawn than modern comics.
How many Superman stories in the silver age revolved around some stupid plot where Supes or one of his cast, were mutated into some ridiculous thing or another, and the same story would essentially be repeated issue after issue, with slight variations!
The Dark Knight and Watchmen really kickstarted an era of storytelling that actually appealed to adults rather than appealing to the child inside of them.
(although I would say that stories like Crisis on infinite earths, had a lot to do with it as well)
Previously asked and answered. Repeatedly.
One example:
Less sophisticated in some ways, but more sophisticated than the new work in other ways.
Less padded, more character-driven, arguably more sincere, arguably more tightly scripted, definitely less profanity-laden and less cynical.
Silver Age comics were written with more playfulness and fun. More heroism and affection for the characters. (As opposed to the dark, threatening, cynical shock-fest of the current books.)
One article I wish I'd saved was where Gardner Fox attended a convention a few years ago, after a long separation from the comics field. A question from the audience asked him about one of the more recent storylines in GREEN LANTERN continuity, I believe it was about the whole parralax thing.
Fox began answering saying: "First of all, I'd never write a story like that..."
At which point he was interrupted by wild applause and cheering from the audience.
It was widely recognized in that room that Gardner Fox was a skilled writer who understood his characters, and could captivate readers by portraying his characters as individuals of unusual inner strength, conscience and virtue,
without cynicism, profanity, gonzo-violence and other shock elements.
And based on that reaction, and on the large audience for COMIC BOOK ARTIST, ALTER EGO, the E.C. library and other E.C.-related Gemstone publications, Two Morrows' large line of books and magazines about the earlier eras in comics, other books of comics history from many other publishers about Jack Kirby, Will Eisner Steve Ditko, Dick Ayers and many other creators, the huge sales of an endless release of the older works in expensive MASTERWORKS and DC ARCHIVE and other hardcover editions, I'm far from alone in this sentiment, and there is a large group of readers who reject the current market and spend their money on the more palatable work of an earlier era.
The mere reprinting of it, and the volume of which it sells, which justifies reprinting more and more Golden Age/Silver/Bronze material in hardcover and other editions, speaks of its acclaim, despite what you say about "only the most shocking GL/GA stuff ever got any attention".
Neal Adams DEADMAN and BATMAN/DETECTIVE
Kirby's
Fourth World/NEW GODS material
KAMANDI
KILLRAVEN
This stuff has been acclaimed for years, and is back in print.
Again: I do keep sampling the new material, and have cited many examples of stuff I like, although very few (HELLBOY, LEAVE IT TO CHANCE, YOUNG AVENGERS, SOJOURN, GROO...) that I can fully enjoy without reservation. But I do sample the new material constantly, I do give it a chance. But I find it overwhelmingly substandard, for reasons I've made crystal clear. I'm not completely closed off to new material (as you deceitfully misrepresent), but I do find very little of it worth seeking out and reading, and prefer an earlier era that has a far higher ratio of great material.
