Comic Book Guidelines, 1954

from Lapham's Quarterly, Spring 2010


1954: Washington, D.C.

GUIDELINES

1. Crimes shall never be presented in such a
way as to create sympathy with the criminal,
to promote distrust of the forces of law and
justice, or to inspire others with a desire to
imitate criminals.

2. In every instance, good shall triumph over
evil, and the criminal shall be punished for
his misdeeds.

3. The letters of the word "crime" on a
comics magazine cover shall never be
appreciably greater in dimension than the
other words contained in the title. The
word "crime" shall never appear alone
on the cover.

4. No comics magazine shall use the word
"horror" or "terror" in its title.

5. Scenes dealing with, or instruments asso-
ciated with, walking dead, torture, vampires
and vampirism, ghouls, cannibalism, and
werewolfism are prohibited.

6. Although slang and colloquialisms are
acceptable, excessive use should be discour-
aged, and wherever possible good grammar
shall be employed.

7. Females shall be drawn realistically with-
out exaggeration of any physical qualities.

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From the Code of the Comics Magazine Association
of America, Inc. The Comics Code Authority was
created in part from the public concern generated by
the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency
hearings that focused on the industry.