How Comics Were Censored in the 1950s

After World War Two, the comic book industry trend was toward gory real-life stories or tales of horror. Severed heads and graphic violence were often part of these stories. Many of the most extreme examples came from artist Jack Cole, best known as the creator of Plastic Man.

Censorship of comic books officially began with psychologist Dr. Frederick Wertham's infamous book, "The Seduction of the Innocent." The book aimed at the crime, superhero, and horror comics genres, in particular EC Comics published by William Gaines. "The Seduction of the Innocent" further claimed that the glorification of sex, violence, and drugs in comic books was a root cause of juvenile delinquency, one of the prime social issues of the 1950s. Among other comics, Wertham accused Wonder Woman comics of promoting lesbianism, and Batman and Robin promoting homosexuality.

Strangely enough, "The Seduction of the Innocent" became a best seller and spurred a full Senate investigation led by popular anti-crime crusader, Senator Estes Kefauver. EC Comics' William Gaines was the only representative from the comic book industry called to testify before the Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency. Unfortunately for the comic book industry, Gaines was a weak and inarticulate presence in front of the committee.

While the Senate Subcommittee did not find that violent and lurid comics were the sole cause of juvenile delinquency, it did recommend that the comics industry police itself. Shortly thereafter, the Comics Code Authority was established.

DC Comics wound up putting together editorial boards on the recommendations of psychiatrists, child welfare experts, and a few famous individuals.

The Comics Code Authority

The Code included these stipulations among others:

"No comics shall explicitly present the unique details and methods of a crime."

"Policemen, judges, government officials, and respected institutions shall never be presented in such a way as to create disrespect for established authority."

"In every instance, good shall triumph over evil and the criminal punished for his misdeed."

"The word 'crime' shall never appear on a cover."

"No comic magazine shall use the word 'horror' or 'terror' in its title."

"Although slang and colloquialisms are acceptable, excessive use should be discouraged."

"The treatment of live-romance stories shall emphasize the value of home and the sanctity of marriage."

Aftermath

As for EC Comics publisher William Gaines, he went on to publish Mad Magazine. Strangely, Mad never went under the same scrutiny as the comics because it was closer to a magazine format.

It's no wonder that Robert Crumb and the underground commix movement of the late sixties emerged from this repression.

SOURCES:

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6542
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6543
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/flashpoints/visualarts/comiccode.html
"The Comic Book Villain, Dr. Frederick Wertham", Jamie Coville, URL: (http://www.psu.edu/dept/inart10_110/inart10/cmbk4cca.html)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comics_Code_Authority
"The Long, Gory Life of EC Comics", Franlin Harris, Reason Magazine, URL: (http://www.reason.com/news/show/36164.html)
http://www.cbldf.org/history.shtml
"Reliving Comics' Days of Infamy", Randy Dotinga, Wired Magazine, URL: (http://www.wired.com/news/culture/1,59684-0.html)
Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Comic Books and Juvenile Delinquency, Interim Report, 1955 (Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1955).