The End of the Comics Code Authority

[Bruce Banner]

Ah, the nostalgia.

[Earth 2 Chris]

It's probably been more irresponsible for comic companies to stick with that dinosaur than to come up with their own ratings. I saw plenty of things in code-approved books that definitely aren't considered G-rated. And I loved every minute of it...

Frederic Wertham is spinning in his grave.

Chris

[Toy Talk]

I spent three hours yesterday talking to the owner of the largest comic book store in America. The topic of the comic code came up but was vastly overshadowed when compared to the drop in business over the last five years. Sadly it appears the time for drastic change in the comic book industry is very near. Sad only for those of us who love the nastalgic feel of excitement we used to get when walking into a comic book store.

Although there appear to be many of us still buying books, the numbers are dwindling. With so few new collectors entering the market, and so many older collectors getting, well... older, sales are taking a nosedive nationwide. There is still enough money to keep the industry alive, but the question is for how much longer. As for the comic code, who really cares.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I grew up with the undergrounds, so the Code always seemed like a bunch of jerkwads to me. Dropping it is kind of symbolic anyhoo; they haven't had any real authority since the 70's.

>Sadly it appears the time for drastic change in the comic book industry is very near.

Don't feel sad! It was one of them huge declines and drastic restructurings that LED to the beloved books of your childhood! Unless you're, like, 60 or so.

Don C.

[Adam West]

My only memory of the this was when Stan Lee decided to drop the code in a couple of Spider-man issues (somewhere near 100) when he had a storyline dealing with drugs.

[Blitzkid]

I never thought DC would let go,I found that I was reading more DC comics in the last few years and was finally giving them respect,as I was always more a marvel zombie.

Knowing they avenged EC comics in a way,reading more DC books than ever(I think I'm a convert)
Bongo comics is also out. The CCA is DE-funct.

The CCA was definitley outdated and deserved to be dumped nuff said.

-Nick

[Surfsup]

It was just another relic of the 50s, I'm surprised it's lasted this long. The code now is way out of touch with todays society, we have the likes of political correctness these days to keep us company.

[samurainoir]

Look what long lost original art just happened to turn up just as the code ends it's run...

[saildog]

^
ICONIC!!!!

I always loved Gaines' exchange with Kefauver over that cover.

Senator KEFAUVER: Here is your May 22 issue. This seems to be a man with a bloody ax holding a woman's head up which has been severed from her body. Do you think that is in good taste?

Mr. GAINES: Yes, sir; I do, for the cover of a horror comic. A cover in bad taste, for example, might be defined as holding the head a little higher so that the neck could be seen dripping blood from it and moving the body over a little further so that the neck of the body could be seen to be bloody.

Senator KEFAUVER: You have blood coming out of her mouth.

Mr. GAINES: A little.



Testimony of William Gaines

[Cmonster]

^ I do ludat cova.

SC