The WORST Day in Comic Book History

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[@chibbykill]

LOC and the national archives moving pictures department has both the full audio and video of the hearings

[@jordonleigh174]

Being a comics reader since the 70's, I remember these days quite well. As a kid back then, the Comics Code Authority didn't really effect my enjoyment of the medium until I became aware of the Direct Market and the sheer volume of independent publishers and books. I was fortunate enough to grow up in the mid-west with a fairly liberal family, so what I bought and read was never really an issue. My feelings changed pretty hard though by the 90's when Mike Diana's Boiled Angel caught all of the hell that it did in Florida, which angered me to no end. From that time forward, I became a hardcore proponent of the CBLDF and free speech in the mediums of comics, music, art and literature. Great work, Gentlemen! I always appreciate my daily dose of Cartoonist Kayfabe!!

[@pkkingcrimsonrequiem1332]

The CCA was truly the kneecap shot to the industry that prevented it from ever becoming as big as manga is in Japan. The US industry was truly only healthy for those first 15 years or so (the days of a a million copies per month).

[@Graphicxtras1]

And then went on to publish MAD for 40 odd years, both are up there as some of the greats in the comic book industry.

[@cyberpunkholiday]

This was unexpected-no pun intended- and I’m grateful. Thanks guys.

[@davidmacpherson770]

Peanuts started October 1950 so he was around during this time

[@jamesmoss3424]

Censorship in comics sucks.

[@albatz1377]

It's cause marvel knew that proof X's Astral body form is a giant throbing circumcised Cokk in a later story line ...they didn't want you tobspoil it.

[@pjbrown4736]

CCA hindered artistic expression. It would have left comics to be at best mere kiddie literature, never to be seriously mentioned in conversation as holding importance. And at worst, could have been a mere propaganda tool, no better than a Chick Tract.

[@cuntohaire]

[In response to the 11:00 Mark]
We live in a time where stories (in comics, TV, movies, etc) can't exist with certain words or themes to show the evils of prejudices and violence because it's unsavory and "problematic" for a certain censorious demographic who pretend to not understand the context or purpose of these things. We'll never address that here because we'll get cancelled and deemed a hate group. Where did everyone's balls go?

[@TheCUT-UP]

Chldren can acquire vast language ability, handle vocabulary but are not able to adequately handle mature theming.
If the horror and pulp editions were being sold to adults as they ostensibly were aimed for, it would not matter, but that would not be accurate. I should make the point that most people grow out of reading comics, and the shock-value horror movies are most popular among young people, whereas older adults favor more psychologically, deeply resonant horror.
There are exceptions, the comic readership and the horror addicts, but in large function the violence implicit in superheroism or the horror themes I do not believe exudes significant impact on a majority of people. I do not know if that changes when they are earlier in their stages of development.
Comics are different from film, which is immediately penetrating of the mind with potentially graphic imagery, and with literature, which can conjure detailed and vivid imagery, because the horror comics blend the graphic and the immediacy of the images with a cartoon style that is simple, effective, most appealing for a developing mind. EC's horror comics were trashy, like the black and white boom series are trashy, maybe in a way that appeals to some people on this channel-- and no disrespect is intended by that inference. So was it good material for chldren? Not at all. Maybe Gaines would have had more of a solidified stance if more material he published resembled his later "Master Race" than they did a Saw installment.

[@TheCUT-UP]

There is a Frank Miller, or possibly Alan Moore quote Jim and Ed like to cite in some cases, "The violence in superhero comics is s e x" What should the critical reader make of the covers at 23:33 if this is incisive critique? What should an impressionable reader make of these images?

[@williamibanez394]

@@TheCUT-UP I'm sure if you were to ask a wide range of impressionable young readers what to make of these images you would get a range of responses. And those responses will have a lot to do with how their parents raised them or the environment they live in. A child being raised in a refugee camp surviving daily bombings will have a very different response than someone living in a bubble in Suburban America today. When these comics were made you have to keep in mind it wasn't too long since child labor laws were enacted. 1938 to be exact, the year Action Comics number 1 appeared. It's possible children back then were forced to mature quicker than today. Especially if you were a child of color. I think the youth back then responded to the EC comics because of how they shone a light on the hypocrisy of 1950's America. As a former K-8th art teacher I'll say this, Kids may be impressionable, but they are also very perceptive. They don't get enough credit. Maybe Wertham was partially right. The comics were objectionable. But I don't think they contributed to youth delinquency. Gaines was just catering to an audience that was ready made to consume these comics.