Comics 101 - What is the Comics Code Authority?

The Comics Code Authority is a self-regulatory body that governs content in comic books.

In 1954, psychologist Frederic Wertham published Seduction of the Innocent,  a scathing book discussing how the media in general and comic books in particular corrupt young minds. The book was such a sensation that it catapulted Wertham into celebrity, and the US Congress convened the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency to address the issues brought up in the book. The primary target for both Wertham and the Senate was EC Comics' horror and crime titles. EC had established a strong niche for itself in the industry for publishing what would be considered "mature" titles today. But since comic books at the time were considered solely as children's entertainment, Wertham considered EC Comics as especially dangerous for children.

In a proactive move, EC Comics publisher William Gaines gathered together the other comic book publishers and suggested they create their own governing body to regulate content, in order to not be officially censored by the government. In an ironic twist, the body that was formed, the Comics Code Authority, created guidelines that were so strictly enforced that EC Comics was not able to publish the kinds of comics they specialized in. Gaines and EC Comics were all but forced out of the comic book business. Their final title, MAD, switched to a magazine format to bypass the restrictions of the Comics Code Authority. It has been in continuous publication since 1952.