Build For Tomorrow The Man Who Nearly Destroyed Comic Books
Jul 25, 2019
In the 1950s, a moral panic swept America, targeting comic books as a supposed catalyst for juvenile delinquency. The infamous psychologist Fredric Wertham spearheaded this movement, presenting sensational claims about sex, violence, and authoritarian themes in superhero narratives. His testimony before Congress transformed public perception, leading to the creation of the Comics Code Authority. Yet, flaws in his research surfaced, revealing a more complex story about censorship and the evolution of comic culture. The discussion emphasizes the importance of listening to youth perspectives.
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The Nudie Magazine Hearing Moment
- At a 1947 Postal Service hearing, Frederic(k) Wertham pulled out comic books and compared them unfavorably to a nudist magazine.
- That moment launched his public crusade and shifted national attention toward comics as harmful.
Gender Fears Drove Much Of The Critique
- Wertham argued female characters were portrayed either as abused prizes or as domineering 'superwomen' who subverted traditional motherhood.
- He used these portrayals to claim comics distorted gender roles and promoted homosexuality in characters like Wonder Woman.
Superheroes Framed As Fascist Symbols
- Wertham and others claimed superheroes symbolized fascist values by equating might with right and bypassing democratic institutions.
- That perspective reframed popular heroes as potential threats to democratic norms for some critics.