The Ten-Cent Plague

May 12, 2008 on 4:37 pm | In 4 Stars |

The Ten-Cent Plague
By David Hajdu
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008)

Most of us already know of the crusade against comics waged by Fredric Wertham in the first half of the 20th century, but how many people know about Sterling North, Anthony Comstock, or Estes Kefauver? The sad truth is, Wertham was not alone.

Hajdu’s book follows the creation of EC Comics by Max Gaines, who today is credited as the man who invented comic books. The company published biblical stories and educational comics (hence: “EC”) until Gaines’ death and succession by his son, Bill Gaines, who steered the company into its legendary path with titles like Tales from the Crypt, Two-Fisted Tales, and Shock SuspenStories. Of course, as any casual comic historian knows, the story didn’t end there. The new line of books being published at EC earned the ire of politicians whose legislations were supported by church and parent groups fearing comics were too graphic and disturbing for children, pushing them into delinquencies and unruliness.

EC wasn’t the only publisher targeted by these social groups, even Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman were charged with promoting ideals of fascism, homosexuality and sexual dominance, respectively — but EC by far paid the greatest price.

As is evident throughout history, no form of youth culture has ever gone without attempts to censor or otherwise eliminate it. In the 1800s, even Grimm’s Fairy Tales were considered unsuitable for children, and of course music has always been a popular and misunderstood form of youth culture — from the swing-inspired Zoot Suit Riots of the 1940s to Elvis Presley’s gyrating hips in the 1950s. History has proven that comics are not alone in their persecution, and neither will they be the last.

Hajdu’s book pokes holes in the testimonies and “research” presented in the argument against comics, and the senate subcommittee hearing to follow. While I’d like to think that these attempts to censor comics were only successful because the 1950s was an age of innocence and wholesome American values not yet ready for this bold new medium, I know that just wasn’t the case. The 1950s wasn’t nearly as white bread as Nick-At-Nite would have you remember it — it’s ills either forgotten or suppressed in order to hold it up as a golden age of morality. Neither do I feel that this is no longer possible in our day and age. In fact, given the events of the past seven years, I think we’re in more danger today of acquiescing to will of the state in attempts to homogenize our culture and pour out from the melting pot into a single mold of moral conformity.

I neither agree with nor support such an effort, and I think Hajdu’s book offers a scholarly and entertaining telling of the dangers which can occur when adults clash with youth culture in attempts to “protect” children.

Even if you have no interest in comics whatsoever, Hajdu’s book is a must read for anyone who still doesn’t recognize the harm caused by censorship and attempts at legislating morality. This is a book about the freedoms of man, creativity and individuality … and a little about comics, too.

I’d give this book a complete four stars (my highest rating)!

FUN FACTS: Mad Magazine began at EC Comics and was the only publication they kept after shutting down their comic books division; moving Mad to the magazine stands to avoid adhering to the Comics Code — which EC themselves helped create.