I Can See Your House From Here - Archives
vol 2 number 1
Congressional hearings on the evils of a form of entertainment. Medical professionals commenting on the downward trends among youth, and pointing at pop culture as the cause. Parents scrambling to protect their young and innocent puppies from the horrors available for less than the price of a grass cutting.
Rock and roll? Movies? Television? Nope - think further back, almost 50 years, in fact, to 1954: Dr. Frederick Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent and the resultant Comics Code Authority. According to Wertham, "Hitler was a beginner compared to the comic industry," and since this is the US Government we're talking about here, a psychologist with half a box of crayons was given full credibility. The comic book industry - at the time focusing more on romance, science fiction, westerns, and horror than the super-heroes of today - was forced to create a self-regulating commission in order to avoid being shut down altogether. The result was a bunch of watered down stories, numbers of publishers closing up shop, and the near end of comic books.
Jump forward to today, and Marvel Comics' recent decision to abandon the Comics Code stamp altogether in favor of a self-regulating code. For reasons that I can't quite wrap my brain around, other companies have decried the move, although the announcement was greeted with rousing cries of apathy from the general public. Why the big fuss?
Frankly, I don't get it. I've always been aware of the little stamp that appeared on the covers of all the Marvel and DC books. You've probably seen it - go back and check back issues. Casual readers (and parents, most importantly), are probably not even aware of it. Of course, this is where the problem comes in.
Were the average parent to pick up a comic for their young child (and by young, I mean under 12, or of the mental / emotional age that parental guidance is still needed), would they notice if the Code stamp were not there? Would they even know what it stands for if they saw it? Somehow, I doubt it.
Which one doesn't have the stamp? That's right - Spawn #1, one of the all-time best-selling comics. And while there's nothing particularly adult about the comic (and that may be the understatement of the week on many levels), there are some concepts in there that parents might not want their kids reading about (say, the topic of the hero being a soldier of Hell….).
All that said, the stamp itself has become largely meaningless over the years, nothing more than a meaningless habit. For some examples, look at the provisions of the original Code:
"Policemen, judges, government officials and respected institutions shall never be presented in such a way as to create disrespect for established authority."
Personally, I can't name any comics with dirty cops. Oh, wait - yes I can. And then there was DC's Vigilante - who just happened to be a judge when he wasn't a costumed - er, vigilante. Order in the court, indeed.
"Nudity with meretricious purpose and salacious postures shall not be permitted in the advertising of any product; clothed figures shall never be permitted in the advertising of any product in such a way as to be offensive or contrary to good taste or morals."
Ahem.
"All characters shall be depicted in dress reasonably acceptable to society."
You hear that, Wonder Woman?
"Inclusion of stories dealing with evil shall be used or shall be published only where the intent is to illustrate a moral issue and in no case shall evil be presented alluringly nor
as to injure the sensibilities of the reader."
So - evil is not cool, right? Being rich and powerful like the Kingpin - nah. Being U.S. President, like Lex Luthor? What kid could possibly want to emulate that?
Oh, wait - my favorite:
"Females shall be drawn realistically without exaggeration of any physical qualities."
Heeheeheeheeheeheeee…
Marvel's proposition is to actually put the contents on the front of the book, which, frankly, makes a hell of a lot more sense to me. Parents can now more easily identify what they do and don't want their kids reading, or at least what things they need to talk to their kids about before the book gets sealed away in Mylar. Store owners can be forewarned as to which books need to be placed on higher shelves, out of the reach of the little ones.
And I'll finally know which titles will satisfy my lust for blood and graphic sex, feeding my fantasies and plans for the future. But don't worry - I plan on blaming it all on Archie - Comics Code and all.
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