The Ten-Cent Plague

The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America
Book • 2008
David Hajdu's 'The Ten-Cent Plague' delves into the moral panic surrounding comic books in the 1950s, exploring the societal fears that led to widespread censorship.

The book examines the rise of juvenile delinquency and how comics became a scapegoat for broader cultural anxieties.

Hajdu meticulously recounts the events, key figures, and publications that fueled the anti-comics movement.

He also discusses the impact of psychiatrist Fredric Wertham's 'Seduction of the Innocent' and the subsequent establishment of the Comics Code Authority.

By providing a comprehensive historical context, Hajdu reveals the complex interplay between media, public perception, and social control during this turbulent period.

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Dorian Lynskey
, referencing a quote from Stan Lee at the end of the book.
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