Charlton Comics, founded in 1945 in Derby, Connecticut, was a major American comic book publisher until its closure in 1986. Initially focusing on low-cost pulp-style comics, Charlton gained prominence in the 1950s and 1960s with characters like Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, and The Question, created by Joe Gill and Steve Ditko. Despite not reaching the heights of Marvel or DC, Charlton maintained a diverse range of titles, known for their experimentation with storytelling in genres like horror and science fiction. One of Charlton's notable contributions was the creation of the "Action Heroes" line in the 1960s, featuring characters like Blue Beetle and Captain Atom. Though Charlton faced distribution issues and financial struggles, it continued publishing until 1986. Despite its closure, Charlton's characters remain influential, with many being revived or adapted by other publishers. The company is fondly remembered for its impact on the comic book industry.