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
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Beware #12
Youthful
•
1952
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in text on pg 388 of Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comic Code Authority
Referenced in text on pg 388 of Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comic Code Authority
Teenage Dope Slaves #1
Harvey
•
1952
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: adolescent drug use, brought to the attention of the public led to lurid publications devoted to the subject
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: adolescent drug use, brought to the attention of the public led to lurid publications devoted to the subject
Mr. Risk #2
Ace Magazines
•
1950
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham chides the writer of 'The Case of the Psycopathic Lady' for spelling psychopathic incorrectly
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham chides the writer of 'The Case of the Psycopathic Lady' for spelling psychopathic incorrectly
Gang Busters #3
DC
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham calls a map drawn by criminals 'a comic-book map for crime'
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham calls a map drawn by criminals 'a comic-book map for crime'
Diary Loves #31
Quality
•
1953
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a story about a woman stealing a dress
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a story about a woman stealing a dress
Famous Crimes #19
Fox
•
1950
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: lynching praised as an acceptable form of justice and in another story a man slaps a girl then threatens to slam a board full of spikes in her face
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: lynching praised as an acceptable form of justice and in another story a man slaps a girl then threatens to slam a board full of spikes in her face
World's Finest Comics #44
DC
•
1950
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham describes the relationship of Batman and Robin as homosexual describing a panel where Grayson sits beside Bruce Wayne who is lying down on a couch
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham describes the relationship of Batman and Robin as homosexual describing a panel where Grayson sits beside Bruce Wayne who is lying down on a couch
Wanted Comics #29
Orbit-Wanted
•
1950
•
Vol. 1
Reference in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the comics Code Authority
Reason: killing a policeman, a man shot in the stomach, a woman mugged then beaten to death with a hammer
Reference in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the comics Code Authority
Reason: killing a policeman, a man shot in the stomach, a woman mugged then beaten to death with a hammer
Classics Illustrated #55
Gilberton
•
1949
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham felt the adaptation did not capture the characterizations of the novel
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham felt the adaptation did not capture the characterizations of the novel
Your United States
Lloyd Jacquet Studios
•
1946
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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'
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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'
X-Mas Comics #6
Fawcett
•
1951
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: morbid fantasies - a story about humankind unable to use their legs (reprinted story from Captain Video #2)
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: morbid fantasies - a story about humankind unable to use their legs (reprinted story from Captain Video #2)
Wonder Woman #49
DC
•
1951
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham claims lesbian overtones between Wonder Woman and a child she adopts
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham claims lesbian overtones between Wonder Woman and a child she adopts
Women Outlaws #1
Fox
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: violent women 'giving children an image of American womanhood'
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: violent women 'giving children an image of American womanhood'
Western Adventures #3
Ace Magazines
•
1949
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: eye injury - a man throws gold dust in another man's eyes
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: eye injury - a man throws gold dust in another man's eyes
Weird Science #19
EC
•
1953
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority, a woman stabs her husband to death in his sleep after realizing he is an alien
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority, a woman stabs her husband to death in his sleep after realizing he is an alien
Weird Mysteries #7
Stanley Morse
•
1953
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a woman is shown wearing only a bra and in another panel, a woman bites into a man's neck, drawing blood
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a woman is shown wearing only a bra and in another panel, a woman bites into a man's neck, drawing blood
Weird Fantasy #16
EC
•
1950
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham condemns comics as being poorly written citing editorial comments from this issue, 'Greetings, humanoids! Drag over a cyclotron and crawl in! (if we'da known you were coming, we'da baked an isotope!)'
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham condemns comics as being poorly written citing editorial comments from this issue, 'Greetings, humanoids! Drag over a cyclotron and crawl in! (if we'da known you were coming, we'da baked an isotope!)'
Web of Evil #1
Quality
•
1952
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: the famous death scene in Shakespeare's Hamlet is rewritten
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: the famous death scene in Shakespeare's Hamlet is rewritten
True Crime Comics #1
Magazine Village
•
1949
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: gratuitous violence (reprinted from True Crime vol. 1 #2)
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: gratuitous violence (reprinted from True Crime vol. 1 #2)
Trapped
Harvey
•
1951
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: in response to the governor of New York praising this issue for illustrating the dangers of drug abuse, Wertham criticized his decision to veto The Crime-Comic Book Control Bill despite overwhelming support for it
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: in response to the governor of New York praising this issue for illustrating the dangers of drug abuse, Wertham criticized his decision to veto The Crime-Comic Book Control Bill despite overwhelming support for it
Top Secrets #7
Street and Smith
•
1949
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: instructional diagram of how to inflict the most damage on an individual
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: instructional diagram of how to inflict the most damage on an individual
Tom Mix Western #9
Fawcett
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: two boys find a box with a man's amputated hands inside
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: two boys find a box with a man's amputated hands inside
The Thing #9
Charlton
•
1953
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a man stomps on another man's face with cleats
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a man stomps on another man's face with cleats
Terrors of the Jungle #17
Star
•
1952
•
Vol. 1
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
Reprinted story from Rulah the Jungle Goddess #21
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
Reprinted story from Rulah the Jungle Goddess #21
Terrifying Tales #15
Star
•
1954
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: 'The First Americans' story, reprinted from Rulah, Jungle Goddess #22
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: 'The First Americans' story, reprinted from Rulah, Jungle Goddess #22
Tegra Jungle Empress #1
Fox
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Tegra sprays fiery radium dust on the exposed breasts of another woman
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Tegra sprays fiery radium dust on the exposed breasts of another woman
Superman #55
DC
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
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 also advertisements for B-B guns
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 also advertisements for B-B guns
Super Duck #22
Archie
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Super Duck is poised, ready to beat a rabbit with a baseball bat
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Super Duck is poised, ready to beat a rabbit with a baseball bat
Strange Worlds #2
Avon
•
1951
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: the hero slashes a giant across the eyes with a sword
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: the hero slashes a giant across the eyes with a sword
Strange Mysteries #10
Superior
•
1953
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: injury to eye
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: injury to eye
The Story of Harry S Truman #1
Commercial Comics
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Biography of Harry S Truman
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: false account of history, Truman's inspiration to run for president incorrectly credited
Biography of Harry S Truman
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: false account of history, Truman's inspiration to run for president incorrectly credited
Stories by Famous Authors Illustrated #6
Seaboard Publishing
•
1950
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: the adaptation used gratuitous violence to pique the interest of readers
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: the adaptation used gratuitous violence to pique the interest of readers
Spook #24
Star
•
1953
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: inspires sexual deviance, reprinted from Inside Crime #2
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: inspires sexual deviance, reprinted from Inside Crime #2
Shock Suspenstories #4
EC
•
1952
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a man is severely beaten by the police while the real killer, a high-ranking cop, gets away with murder
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a man is severely beaten by the police while the real killer, a high-ranking cop, gets away with murder
Sensation Comics #81
DC
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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
Reform School Girl
Realistic
•
1951
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: cover art shown with the caption - comic books are supposed to be like fairy tales=
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: cover art shown with the caption - comic books are supposed to be like fairy tales=
Phantom Lady #17
Fox
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Cover art by Matt Baker
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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
💰Top Sale: 9.6 sold for $456,000 in 2021
Cover art by Matt Baker
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
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
💰Top Sale: 9.6 sold for $456,000 in 2021
Perfect Crime #11
Cross
•
1951
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: provides instructions to rob a drugstore
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: provides instructions to rob a drugstore
Murder Incorporated #9
Fox
•
1949
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a female character expresses that a gentleman does not hit a woman with a blackjack, he uses his fists
Reprinted from Blue Beetle #56
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a female character expresses that a gentleman does not hit a woman with a blackjack, he uses his fists
Reprinted from Blue Beetle #56
Meet Corliss Archer #3
Fox
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
Meet Corliss Archer #2
Fox
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
Meet Corliss Archer #1
Fox
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts
Martin Kane #4
Fox
•
1950
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: teaches the revenue potential in becoming a criminal (reprinted from Murder Incorporated #8)
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: teaches the revenue potential in becoming a criminal (reprinted from Murder Incorporated #8)
Lawbreakers Always Lose #7
Marvel
•
1949
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham considers a panel of a killer bragging about murdering his own best friend just to make a buck is the philosophy of comic books
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham considers a panel of a killer bragging about murdering his own best friend just to make a buck is the philosophy of comic books
Law Against Crime #3
Essankay
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a couple is shown with bullet holes in their heads and stab wounds in their chests
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a couple is shown with bullet holes in their heads and stab wounds in their chests
Killers, The #1
Magazine Enterprises
•
1947
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a woman is tied to a post and repeatedly lashed by a man whose love she denied
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a woman is tied to a post and repeatedly lashed by a man whose love she denied
Kewpies #1
Eisner
•
1949
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: less of a condemnation of this issue and more of a critique on comics as a whole when a little girl being interviewed by Wertham mistakenly called this comic 'Corpsies'
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: less of a condemnation of this issue and more of a critique on comics as a whole when a little girl being interviewed by Wertham mistakenly called this comic 'Corpsies'
Jungle Comics #98
Fiction House
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham claims there is a hidden drawing of a nude female on a man’s shoulder
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: Wertham claims there is a hidden drawing of a nude female on a man’s shoulder
Journey Into Fear #15
Superior
•
1953
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: stories of bizarre acts of murder - a man kills his wife who is a werewolf
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: stories of bizarre acts of murder - a man kills his wife who is a werewolf
Inside Crime #2
Fox
•
1950
•
Vol. 1
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a woman with a whip talks about forcing a man "to come to me on his knees," inspiring sexual deviance
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a woman with a whip talks about forcing a man "to come to me on his knees," inspiring sexual deviance
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