CBR: WC11: Life After the Comics Code

[CBR News]

Charles Brownstein and the CBLDF hosted a panel of professionals at Wondercon to speak about the end of the Comics Code Authority and how it affected comics recently and in the past.


Full article here.

[educatexan]

I'm probably the only one with this opinion, but:

I've never understood the repetitive use of profanity in comics. I don't understand how it contributes to a meaningful story.

Example: several DC titles in the recent past threw in some very strong profanity. Those instances added nothing of value to the story. In fact, for me, they served as a speed bump which actually interrupted the story.

[dupont2005]

Ending the comics code may have lead to low brow writers and editors over using swear words, but that's not all the code was about and not all the end of the code brought. Maus won a Pulitzer prize and I doubt it could have passed the code. Comics are what creators and publishers make them now, not what a censorship committee makes them. I think that is a good thing, even when the comics are bad.

[pogofan]

Wow, that article was hard to follow! I can't make heads or tails of the paragraph that starts "Levitz believes the code's impact...", for example. I realize that the subject of the panel was complex, and that the writer is a volunteer working quickly to get the story out. But I'd encourage him or her to take more time with future articles to make the flow intelligible, and not just rely on the quotes to explain themselves out of context.

[G. Wayne]

11th paragraph.

urging the panelists to be mindful of their as some audience members might be under the age of 18

Mindful of their whatnow?

[Sijo]

Wow, I'm surprised there were ANY pro-Code comments at all. I think the only one I ever heard was by (supposedly) John Byrne, claiming that its restrictions forced writers to be more creative since they couldn't fall back on using things like sex or gore to sell. A feeling I agree with, though the Code was certainly too restrictive and many good comics would not have passed its muster.

So, we don't need the Code- we just need self-censorship that is *honest* with itself and doesn't go "the title isn't selling. Kill off one of the characters. Very messily."

[dupont2005]

So, we don't need the Code- we just need self-censorship that is *honest* with itself and doesn't go "the title isn't selling. Kill off one of the characters. Very messily."

No, what you need to do is when a publisher uses sex, violence, and death to boost sales, quit buying that book. FOREVER. If you don't like the way the book is heading, the universe is heading, the publisher is heading, quit giving them your money. Quit buying out of character loyalty or the possibility of investment and start buying out of enjoyment of the content. We don't need censorship to make your comics more suitable for you. If the comic isn't up to your standards, buy another one and allow those who enjoy that comic continue to enjoy it.

[Alex A Sanchez]

I agree with point above me.


This looks like it would have been a great panel, I wish I could have been there.