Not to be confused with James Robinson's Elseworlds mini-series, Golden Age is the first of several genre specific sourcebooks for Mutants and Masterminds. As the title implies, this book is all about designing characters and adventures in the time period that spanned 1935-1955.
Chapter 1 gives a brief publishing history of Golden Age comics. While much of what's in here isn't new to any longtime fan, this is more meant to be a brief intro for those young whippersnappers who may be wondering what all the hubbub is about. The most notable characters, series, and creators from that time are discussed, as are some of the prevailing trends and fads of the day.
Chapter 2 delves into the real world history of the time period. It starts off with a brief overview of the WWII and the Korean War. It then seques into the history of the period as whole and the moods found therien, and how those moods can be incorporated into a campaign. The bulk of the chapter deals with the actual life of that period, discussing society, economics, technology, entertainment, and the like.
The author, Christopher McGlothlin, is a history teacher and that really shows with this chapter. It really gives a good deal of insight into the era, which is perfect for making characters who lived during that time, or to illustrate the differences between then and now.
