Have you actually read "Seduction of the innocent"?

[samurainoir]

Of relevant interest to this discussion around censorship, ratings and labeling is Steve Bissette recounting of the 1980's ratings controversy over at DC and the resultant impact and fallout.

SRBissette.com - SpiderBaby Archives: The DC/Marvel Ratings Debacles 1986-87, Part 1

It's quite an investment in time to plough through all 12 Parts, but I would be interested in what folks think about the hard stand many top creators took against DC in the 80's.

[TrueDave]

Interesting....that thread was started by the same person that started this one. How many times are we going to go to the same well? Nothing else to discuss?

No Mr. Man,

I didnt get the answer I was waiting on then and I havent so far.

Some people say they read it thought it was a dry read etc but having read the book and the stuff itself and imagining one of my old students reading it I gotta say no way.

Back then it was like a Movie theatre with no Rating System kids could and did walk into R rated films at 5 when thier parents thought they were enjoying g.

Plus it is one of the most signifigant occurences in American Comic history .

[thunderbolt]

Interesting....that thread was started by the same person that started this one. How many times are we going to go to the same well? Nothing else to discuss?

True Dave seems to have a prudish agenda of some sort.

[Brazoo]

But what Dr W. said about Crime EC comics was true. I imagined the word Comic replaced with TV or Videogames if it was written more recentlly.

It's hard for me not to compare a lot of the newer hoopla about video games to the old comics controversy as well - but I have the exact opposite opinion as you do. I've never heard anyone present evidence suggesting Wertham's theories were correct based on a decrease in violent behavior in children after the comics code was enacted - have you? I would expect that if there were even a shred of statistical evidence supporting Wertham's theories in hindsight it would be used to support arguments by the anti-video game folks too, wouldn't you?

The interesting thing to me, looking back on it now, is how little things have changed in the way the media reacts to this kind of populist crap-science. With nothing but conjecture, anecdotal theories and a PHD you can still get a pretty big steam roller moving through our culture if you create enough fear.

[The Toyroom]

Seduction of the Innocent: Has anyone else actually read it? - Mego Talk

Interesting....that thread was started by the same person that started this one. How many times are we going to go to the same well? Nothing else to discuss?

[thunderbolt]

Love the EC stuff and don't buy for one minute that it rotted kids minds or whatever. Its up to parents to police what the kids do, not Uncle Sam.

[madmarva]

Comic books not being sold in drug stores has little to do with the comics code seal and more to do with retailers not wanting to alot space to items (ie. comic books) that don't carry their weight in sales.

magazines and periodicals of all kinds are receiving less and less space in grocery, drug and convenience stores. Certainly the Direct Market did not help the situation, but it was coming.

I'm sure DC and Marvel and other publishers would have no problem putting the seal back on their comics and toning down the content a bit if stores like Wal-Mart and Walgreens and others would carry their comics. But the stores aren't interested because the general public is not interested enough.

Drug stores have no problem handling periodicals and novels with content more racy, outlandish, graphic and profane than that appears in most of the comics printed by marvel, DC, Image, Darkhouse and others. They just don't feel that comics will sell as well and they are probably right.

Before comics would appear in stores like they once did, the comic companies would have to begin selling them on a returnable basis like they once did through newstand distributors. But the distributors don't want to carry the comics anymore because they are too labor intensive with so many title and weekly distribution.

That boat has floated and it floated more than 20 years ago.

[samurainoir]

Seduction of the Innocent: Has anyone else actually read it? - Mego Talk

[TrueDave]

I did 5 years a go in a tiny town I was living in in PA.

In Cincy its in the archives dept. but I checked it out in PA and read it and I agree with it.

Some of the stuff about Superheroes was silly. Maybe intelligentlly debateable for fun.

But what Dr W. said about Crime EC comics was true. I imagined the word Comic replaced with TV or Videogames if it was written more recentlly.

And yes I've read every thing but MAD and Moon Girl and I think he was right about the SuspenStories. The horror titles yeah, the Crime titles Absolutely and the Shock titles YOU Gotta be Kidding Me!

I support the seal. I miss it. I did get to books I never should have read like Marshal Law anyway. I even got DeadWorld as a Middle schooler.

I just miss comics being in Drug Stores.