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Seduction of the Innocent, published in 1954 by psychiatrist Dr. Frederic Wertham was one of the most impactful events in comic book history, leading to censorship in comics and the establishment of the Comics Code Authority This category lists issues that were referenced in the book with Wertham's reasons for why comic books were damaging to the youth of America
127 Results
Low $100
Mid $400
High $1k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comic Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham felt these comics were preventing children from reading the actual novels
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comic Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham felt these comics were preventing children from reading the actual novels
Low $120
Mid $400
High $1.6k
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First comic book to feature a horror story throughout
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comic Code Authority
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Reason: Mr. Hyde beats a little girl to death with his cane
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[March 2022 - Eddie Izzard to play Dr. Nina Jekyll, who fears self-destruction from Mr. Hyde in reboot of classic horror production house, Hammer Studios]
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First comic book to feature a horror story throughout
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comic Code Authority
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Reason: Mr. Hyde beats a little girl to death with his cane
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[March 2022 - Eddie Izzard to play Dr. Nina Jekyll, who fears self-destruction from Mr. Hyde in reboot of classic horror production house, Hammer Studios]
Low $75
Mid $225
High $850
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a stereotypical character profile of African Americans that failed to capture the humanity of the source material
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a stereotypical character profile of African Americans that failed to capture the humanity of the source material
Low $65
Mid $200
High $725
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a woman wearing a skirt has one leg fastened to a chair and the other raised and tied to a box as a man approaches her with a hot poker
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a woman wearing a skirt has one leg fastened to a chair and the other raised and tied to a box as a man approaches her with a hot poker
Low $55
Mid $175
High $620
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent which led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: two criminals drain the blood of an unconscious woman into a jar
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent which led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: two criminals drain the blood of an unconscious woman into a jar
Low $25
Mid $75
High $235
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham writes, 'a man hanged from a tree, a Negro in chains, a girl about to be raped and massacred...is that what you want your children to think is the history of your United States'
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham writes, 'a man hanged from a tree, a Negro in chains, a girl about to be raped and massacred...is that what you want your children to think is the history of your United States'
Low $400
Mid $1.2k
High $4.5k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a woman is tied to a post and repeatedly lashed by a man whose love she denied
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a woman is tied to a post and repeatedly lashed by a man whose love she denied
Low $80
Mid $240
High $790
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham describes the first 8 pages of this comic as being gratuitously violent and a poor representation of the source material
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham describes the first 8 pages of this comic as being gratuitously violent and a poor representation of the source material
Low $60
Mid $175
High $660
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: panels of a blindfolded man, tied to a chair with his eyes gouged out
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: panels of a blindfolded man, tied to a chair with his eyes gouged out
Low $12
Mid $35
High $100
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: after witnessing the beating of an old man, a woman explains how she has become desensitized to witnessing the violence that used to disturb her
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: after witnessing the beating of an old man, a woman explains how she has become desensitized to witnessing the violence that used to disturb her
Low $15
Mid $55
High $150
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Biography of Harry S Truman
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: false account of history, Truman's inspiration to run for president incorrectly credited
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Biography of Harry S Truman
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: false account of history, Truman's inspiration to run for president incorrectly credited
Low $35
Mid $100
High $315
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham claims there is a hidden drawing of a nude female on a man’s shoulder (see image overlaid on cover, turned sideways)
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham claims there is a hidden drawing of a nude female on a man’s shoulder (see image overlaid on cover, turned sideways)
Low $1.6k
Mid $5.5k
High $16k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: commonly known as a 'Headlights Cover' referring to a woman's breasts
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: commonly known as a 'Headlights Cover' referring to a woman's breasts
Low $20
Mid $70
High $220
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: an honest politician is murdered by a man who says 'bullets are better than ballots,' to which the narrator replies, 'ah, the impulsive boy. He's absolutely fearless. Why can't everyone be like that?"
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: an honest politician is murdered by a man who says 'bullets are better than ballots,' to which the narrator replies, 'ah, the impulsive boy. He's absolutely fearless. Why can't everyone be like that?"
Low $120
Mid $400
High $1.2k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: an alien threatens to burn a woman's eyes out with an electric prong
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: an alien threatens to burn a woman's eyes out with an electric prong
Low $100
Mid $300
High $1.1k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
Low $160
Mid $550
High $1.6k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a girl nailed by the wrists to a tree with blood flowing from her wounds
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a girl nailed by the wrists to a tree with blood flowing from her wounds
Low $7.5k
Mid $24k
High $75k
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Cover art by Matt Baker
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham writes of the cover art, 'sexual stimulation by combining headlights with the sadist's dream of tying up a woman' -headlights a reference to her breasts
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📣 Runner-Up: New High [Previous High]
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5.0 sold for $30,000 [$3,585 in 2012] +737%
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Cover art by Matt Baker
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham writes of the cover art, 'sexual stimulation by combining headlights with the sadist's dream of tying up a woman' -headlights a reference to her breasts
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📣 Runner-Up: New High [Previous High]
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5.0 sold for $30,000 [$3,585 in 2012] +737%
Low $25
Mid $75
High $280
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham calls a map drawn by criminals 'a comic-book map for crime'
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham calls a map drawn by criminals 'a comic-book map for crime'
Low $25
Mid $270
High $225
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: the main character believes that those who disobey his orders deserve to be killed feels guilty after murdering a deaf man
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: the main character believes that those who disobey his orders deserve to be killed feels guilty after murdering a deaf man
Low $170
Mid $575
High $1.7k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a female character expresses that a gentleman does not hit a woman with a blackjack, he uses his fists
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a female character expresses that a gentleman does not hit a woman with a blackjack, he uses his fists
Low $18
Mid $55
High $180
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: provides instructions on how to steal from the blind
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: provides instructions on how to steal from the blind
Low $40
Mid $120
High $425
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a mother teaches her children to kill the police and a man chokes a high school girl to death because she denied him a kiss
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a mother teaches her children to kill the police and a man chokes a high school girl to death because she denied him a kiss
Low $210
Mid $675
High $2.3k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a man threatens to stab a woman in the eye with a syringe and criminals drag two men to their death on a gravel road, optimal for 'erasing faces'
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a man threatens to stab a woman in the eye with a syringe and criminals drag two men to their death on a gravel road, optimal for 'erasing faces'
Low $18
Mid $55
High $180
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: gratuitous violence
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Reprinted from True Crime Comics #2
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: gratuitous violence
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Reprinted from True Crime Comics #2
Low $50
Mid $200
High $500
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
Low $18
Mid $55
High $180
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham criticizes the publisher of this issue who displayed the comics code logo but did not adhere to the rule that no blood is to be shown
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham criticizes the publisher of this issue who displayed the comics code logo but did not adhere to the rule that no blood is to be shown
Low $55
Mid $160
High $600
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: criminals drain the blood of a woman, reprinted from Red Seal Comics #16
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: criminals drain the blood of a woman, reprinted from Red Seal Comics #16
Low $25
Mid $80
High $250
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: the most predominant word 'GUNS' is irresponsibly marketed to children
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: the most predominant word 'GUNS' is irresponsibly marketed to children
Low $20
Mid $60
High $190
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a criminal instructs his partner to punch a man in the eye using brass knuckles and to twist them upon impact
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a criminal instructs his partner to punch a man in the eye using brass knuckles and to twist them upon impact
Low $40
Mid $150
High $400
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
Low $80
Mid $250
High $885
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: violent women 'giving children an image of American womanhood'
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: violent women 'giving children an image of American womanhood'
Low $75
Mid $220
High $800
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a couple is shown with bullet holes in their heads and stab wounds in their chests
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a couple is shown with bullet holes in their heads and stab wounds in their chests
Low $18
Mid $55
High $165
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a poor representation of what Mark Twain's novel is about due to gratuitous violence including an eye gouge
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a poor representation of what Mark Twain's novel is about due to gratuitous violence including an eye gouge
Low $80
Mid $215
High $775
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Tegra sprays fiery radium dust on the exposed breasts of another woman
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Tegra sprays fiery radium dust on the exposed breasts of another woman
Low $50
Mid $135
High $510
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: erotic hanging
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: erotic hanging
Low $150
Mid $500
High $1.5k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: the cover 'has nothing to do with medicine and is unmistakably sadistic'
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: the cover 'has nothing to do with medicine and is unmistakably sadistic'
Low $45
Mid $140
High $525
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: specializes in highly accentuated and protruding breasts in practically every illustration
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: specializes in highly accentuated and protruding breasts in practically every illustration
Low $65
Mid $200
High $725
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a plot revolving around a man encouraging Americans to not 'let foreigners take our jobs,' suggesting the world is a violent and hateful place
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a plot revolving around a man encouraging Americans to not 'let foreigners take our jobs,' suggesting the world is a violent and hateful place
Low $12
Mid $40
High $125
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: two boys find a box with a man's amputated hands inside
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: two boys find a box with a man's amputated hands inside
Low $12
Mid $35
High $215
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham writes, 'this book is the usual parade of invitation to sadistic perversion, race hatred and violence for violence's sake'
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Wertham writes, 'this book is the usual parade of invitation to sadistic perversion, race hatred and violence for violence's sake'
Low $10
Mid $30
High $90
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Super Duck is poised, ready to beat a rabbit with a baseball bat
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Super Duck is poised, ready to beat a rabbit with a baseball bat
Low $55
Mid $170
High $600
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Injury-to-eye violence
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: Injury-to-eye violence
Low $110
Mid $330
High $1.2k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
-
Reason: a woman wearing a skirt has one leg fastened to a chair and the other, raised and tied to a box as a man approaches her with a hot poker
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Reprint of Dynamic Comics #17
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a woman wearing a skirt has one leg fastened to a chair and the other, raised and tied to a box as a man approaches her with a hot poker
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Reprint of Dynamic Comics #17
Low $90
Mid $270
High $1k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: cover art depicting women engaged in a gunfight with police
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: cover art depicting women engaged in a gunfight with police
Low $100
Mid $300
High $1.1k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: a policeman is shot in the mouth with a water pistol and advertisements for B-B guns
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
-
Reason: a policeman is shot in the mouth with a water pistol and advertisements for B-B guns
Low $175
Mid $525
High $1.9k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent which led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
-
Reason: a panel depicts the corpses of two men 'strung up by their wrists'
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent which led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
-
Reason: a panel depicts the corpses of two men 'strung up by their wrists'
Low $570
Mid $1.8k
High $5.7k
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: sexual innuendo of a woman speaking to a man saying, "ya ain't gonna shoot anybody with dat rod are ya?"
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: sexual innuendo of a woman speaking to a man saying, "ya ain't gonna shoot anybody with dat rod are ya?"
Low $12
Mid $40
High $110
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: inspires children to attack other children due to a story about a mother who orders and supervises the beating of slow-paying customers to her criminal enterprise
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: inspires children to attack other children due to a story about a mother who orders and supervises the beating of slow-paying customers to her criminal enterprise
Low $75
Mid $225
High $830
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Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
-
Reason: implication that the United States tests biological weapons on African natives
-
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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Reason: implication that the United States tests biological weapons on African natives
| Issue | Publisher | Low | Mid | High | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Classic Comics #10 | Gilberton | $100 | $400 | $1k |
|
|
Classic Comics #13 | Gilberton | $120 | $400 | $1.6k |
|
|
Classics Illustrated #15 | Gilberton | $75 | $225 | $850 |
|
|
Dynamic Comics #17 | Harry Chesler | $65 | $200 | $725 |
|
|
Red Seal Comics #16 | Harry Chesler | $55 | $175 | $620 |
|
|
Your United States | Lloyd Jacquet Studios | $25 | $75 | $235 |
|
|
Killers #1 | Magazine Enterprises | $400 | $1.2k | $4.5k |
|
|
Classics Illustrated #43 | Gilberton | $80 | $240 | $790 |
|
|
Classics Illustrated #44 | Gilberton | $60 | $175 | $660 |
|
|
Justice Traps the Guilty #13 | Prize | $12 | $35 | $100 |
|
|
The Story Of Harry S Truman #1 | Commercial Comics | $15 | $55 | $150 |
|
|
Jungle Comics #98 | Fiction House | $35 | $100 | $315 |
|
|
Blue Beetle #54 | Fox | $1.6k | $5.5k | $16k |
|
|
Wanted #12 | Orbit | $20 | $70 | $220 |
|
|
Planet Comics #53 | Fiction House | $120 | $400 | $1.2k |
|
|
Meet Corliss Archer #1 | Fox | $100 | $300 | $1.1k |
|
|
Zoot #14 | Fox | $160 | $550 | $1.6k |
|
|
Phantom Lady #17 | Fox | $7.5k | $24k | $75k |
|
|
Gang Busters #3 | DC | $25 | $75 | $280 |
|
|
Public Enemies #2 | D.S. | $25 | $270 | $225 |
|
|
Blue Beetle #56 | Fox | $170 | $575 | $1.7k |
|
|
Crime and Punishment #2 | Lev Gleason | $18 | $55 | $180 |
|
|
Underworld #2 | D.S. | $40 | $120 | $425 |
|
|
True Crime Comics #2 | Magazine Village | $210 | $675 | $2.3k |
|
|
Crime Does Not Pay #63 | Lev Gleason | $18 | $55 | $180 |
|
|
Meet Corliss Archer #2 | Fox | $50 | $200 | $500 |
|
|
Crime Does Not Pay #64 | Lev Gleason | $18 | $55 | $180 |
|
|
Authentic Police Cases #3 | St. John | $55 | $160 | $600 |
|
|
Guns of Fact and Fiction #13 | Magazine Enterprises | $25 | $80 | $250 |
|
|
Crime and Punishment #3 | Lev Gleason | $20 | $60 | $190 |
|
|
Meet Corliss Archer #3 | Fox | $40 | $150 | $400 |
|
|
Women Outlaws #1 | Fox | $80 | $250 | $885 |
|
|
Law Against Crime #3 | Essankay | $75 | $220 | $800 |
|
|
Classics Illustrated #50 | Gilberton | $18 | $55 | $165 |
|
|
Tegra Jungle Empress #1 | Fox | $80 | $215 | $775 |
|
|
Dagar Desert Hawk #19 | Fox | $50 | $135 | $510 |
|
|
Brenda Starr #4 | Four Star | $150 | $500 | $1.5k |
|
|
My Life (Corliss Archer) #4 | Fox | $45 | $140 | $525 |
|
|
Sensation Comics #81 | DC | $65 | $200 | $725 |
|
|
Tom Mix Western #9 | Fawcett | $12 | $40 | $125 |
|
|
Nightingale | Once Upon A Time | $12 | $35 | $215 |
|
|
Super Duck #22 | Archie | $10 | $30 | $90 |
|
|
Famous Crimes #3 | Fox | $55 | $170 | $600 |
|
|
Crime Reporter #2 | St. John | $110 | $330 | $1.2k |
|
|
Crimes By Women #3 | Fox | $90 | $270 | $1k |
|
|
Superman #55 | DC | $100 | $300 | $1.1k |
|
|
All Top Comics #14 | Fox | $175 | $525 | $1.9k |
|
|
Authentic Police Cases #6 | St. John | $570 | $1.8k | $5.7k |
|
|
Real Clue #9 | Hillman | $12 | $40 | $110 |
|
|
Rulah Jungle Goddess #21 | Fox | $75 | $225 | $830 |