Comic Book Apocalypse!

There was a time when censorship in comic books was almost non-existent. 

Most comic books during the Golden Age (the late 1930s to about the mid-1950s) were pretty self-governing and censoring and were primarily aimed at young boy readers.

However as comic books became more popular (and lucrative) publishers began pushing the boundaries of taste, graphic images and themes.

Perhaps the greatest creative force behind the more graphic and shocking titles was EC Comics.

EC was well-known for its bloody and gory horror titles, shocking crime comic books and cutting edge science fiction and fantasy titles. Other publishers soon followed EC’s example.

While verbiage was mostly obscenity free many of the images depicted decapitated bodies, horrific and gory blood fests, unsettling graphics and in-your-face sexual innuendos, violence, witchcraft and other themes best left to more mature minds.

Dr. Fredric Wertham in his book: Seduction Of The Innocent, capitilized on the graphic nature of some comic books tying their contents to juvenile delinquency, criminals and crime in general.

In fact his conclusions led to a congressional meeting resulting in the formation of the Comic Code Authority that dictated struck guidelines as to what was acceptable in comic books.

The result? Many comic book publishers ceased publication and mathose that survived watered down and diluted their titles so that any horror, despicable act or questioning of authority was affectedly terminated.

In Comic Book Apocalypse! The Death Of Pre-Code Comics And Why It Happened, 1940-1945, written by David J. Hogan, with a foreword by Maggie Thompson and published by Schiffer Publishing, the entire history of the various ‘questionable’ comic book titles is examined, accompanied by full-color cover and interior art are shown in this oversize hardbound book.

Learn how the Comic Book Authority came about, why it was formed, the key figures of its opposition, the main title ‘culprits and much more.

It was a turbulent and transforming time when kids who loved comics suddenly found their hobby censored, suspect and deemed a threat to society.

Violence! Horror! Torture, And More! It’s A...Comic Book Apocalypse!

Genesis 6:11

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.