Seduction of the Innocent: More Anti-Comics Items

Seduction of the Innocent: More Anti-Comics Items

SeductionOfTheInnocent.org Homepage     Editions of Seduction of the Innocent, comic books used in Seduction of the Innocent, and the 'Lost SOTI' books     Dr. Fredric Wertham biography, bibliography, and more     The Anti-Comic-Book crusade of the 1940's and 1950's     The Comics Code, which came about in response to the criticisms leveled by SOTI as well as additional public and legislative pressure     Links to sites that have additional related information.     Frequently Asked Questions
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Editorial Responses to the attacks on comic books

The Overstreet Price Guide notes that several Marvel comics have anti-Wertham editorials. However, the scope of Marvel's published defense against the anti-comics attacks goes far beyond what's noted in the Guide. It appears that in most comics for an eight-month period, Marvel included editorial material defending their publications from Dr. Wertham and other critics. There were four different editorials from November, 1948 through June, 1949, one of which responded to Dr. Wertham's accusations directly and referred to him by name.

Many people have contributed information to this page. We'd particularly like to thank eBayers The Pillow Queen, Tom Raski (eBay ID: Bronze!), Dick Swan (eBay ID: BigGuysComics) and Adam Anderson (eBay ID: Blissard) who have all contributed multiple times to the information on this page.

Editorial #1
First, this editorial appeared in various Marvel books cover dated November, 1948 through January, 1949.
Splash page banner
Around January, 1949, Marvel started placing this on the splash page of their books, to assure parents of the wholesomeness of Marvel's products. "Editorial Consultant: Jean Thompson, M.D., Psychiatrist, Child Guidance Bureau; Board of Education, New York City". This example comes from All True Crime #31, January, 1949.
Editorial #2
Between January and March, 1949, the following editorial appeared in many of Marvel's books.
Editorial #3
Between March and May, 1949, this editorial appeared in various Marvel books.
Editorial #4
Finally, from May through July, 1949, this editorial appeared in Marvel's books.
Follow-up ads
In October, 1949 (Casey Crime Photographer #2, Nellie #21, and likely others), this house ad touted Marvel's assertion their books were not harmful to kids.
updated 12/9/2024- 11/4/2025 v6
Title
  Nov., 1948
  Dec., 1948
  Jan., 1949
  Feb., 1949
  Mar., 1949
  Apr., 1949
  May, 1949
  Jun., 1949
  Jul., 1949
  Notes
All True Crime
  30
This book contains no editorial.

 
  31
This book contains no editorial.

 
  32
Editorial #2

 
  33
Editorial #3

 
  34
Editorial #4

 
All Western Winners
 
  2 (Winter 1948)
Editorial #1

 
  3
Editorial #2

 
  4
Editorial #3

  Title continues as Western Winners
 
 
  Thanks to Robert Menzies for contributing the All Western Winners #2 information.
Amazing Mysteries
 
 
 
 
 
  Title continued from Sub-Mariner comics, per Overstreet. (?)
  32
Editorial #3

 
  33
Editorial #4

  Thanks to Robert Menzies for contributing the infornation about Amazing Mysteries #32.
Annie Oakley
  4


  Last issue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Awful Oscar
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Title continues from Oscar
  11
Editorial #4

 
 
Best Western
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Title continued from Terry Toons or Miss America Magazine?
  58
Editorial #4

 
 
Blackstone the Magician
  Last issue (4) was Sept, 1948, but title is mentioned on later editorial page.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Blaze Carson
  2
Editorial #1

 
  3
Editorial #2

 
  4
Editorial #3

 
  Note that the title skipped a month.
  5
Editorial #4

 
 
Blonde Phantom
  20
This book contains no editorial.

 
  21
Editorial #1

 
  22
Editorial #2

  Title continues as Lovers
 
 
 
  Thanks to Robert Menzies for contributing the Blonde Phantom #21 and 22 data. These books are also available at the Internet Archive.
Captain America
  69


 
  70


 
  71
Editorial #2

 
  72
Editorial #3

 
  73
Editorial #4

  Many thanks to Sam Papale for contributing all of our Captain America data.
Cindy Comics
 
  32
Editorial #1

 
  33
Editorial #2

 
  34
Editorial #3

 
  35
Editorial #4

 
  Per eBayer ThePillowQueen, issue 34 contains Editorial #3.
Comedy Comics
  4


 
  5
This book contains no editorial.

 
  6
Editorial #2

 
  7


 
  8


 
Complete Mystery Stories
 
  3
Editorial #1

 
  4
Editorial #2

  Title continues as True Complete Mystery.
 
 
 
 
 
Crime Fighters
  4


 
  5
Editorial #1

 
  6
Editorial #2

 
  7
Editorial #3

 
  8
Editorial #4

 
Frankie and Lana
 
  12
Editorial #1

 
  13
Editorial #2

 
  14
Editorial #3

 
  15
Editorial #4

 
 
Gay Comics
 
  35


 
  36


 
  37
Editorial #3

 
  38
Editorial #4

 
  Per eBayer ThePillowQueen, #35 contains an editorial, but it's unclear which one. Per eBayer Doyman, issue #37 contains Editorial #3. Per eBayer Bronze!, issue #38 contains Editorial #4.
Georgie Comics
  19
This book contains no editorial.

  Title continues as Georgie and Judy
 
 
 
 
 
  Title continued from Georgie and Judy
  23
Editorial #4

 
Georgie and Judy
 
  Title continued from Georgie Comics
  20
Editorial #1

 
  21
Editorial #2

 
  22
Editorial #3

  Title continues as Georgie Comics
 
 
Hedy DeVine
 
  30


 
  31
Editorial #2

 
  32


 
  33


 
  Per Overstreet, issue #32 contains an unspecified anti-Wertham editorial.
Human Torch
  33


 
  34


 
  35


  Last issue before 1954
 
 
 
  Per GCD, issue #35 contains an editorial about "Dr. Wertham's crusade," which strongly suggests that it is Editorial #2.
Ideal
  3
This book contains no editorial.

 
  4
Editorial #1

 
  5
Editorial #2

  Last issue
 
 
 
 
Jeanie
  22
This book contains no editorial.

 
  23
This book contains no editorial.

 
  24
Editorial #2

 
  25
Editorial #3

 
  26
Editorial #4

  Many thanks to eBayer Adam Anderson (eBay ID: blissard) for providing the data for Jeanie #22, 23 and much more. Thanks to eBayer ThePillowQueen for the Jeanie #24 data. The data for Jeanie #26 comes from GCD.
Joker Comics
  34
This book contains no editorial.

 
  35
Editorial #1

 
  36
Editorial #2

 
  37
Editorial #3

 
  38


  Thanks to eBayer Adam Anderson (eBay ID: Bilssard) for the Joker #34 and #37 data. #38 does contain an editorial, likely #4, but that has not been confirmed yet. Per Dick Swan (eBay ID: BigGuysComics), issue #35 contains editorial #1. Per GCD, issue #38 contains either Editorial #3 or Editorial #4.
Junior Miss
  31
This book contains no editorial.

 
  32
This book contains no editorial.

 
  33
Editorial #2

 
  34
Editorial #3

 
  35
Editorial #4

  Thanks to eBayer Adam Anderson (eBay ID: Bilssard) for the Junior Miss #31 data. Dick Swan (eBay ID: BigGuysComics) contributed the Junior Miss #35 data.
Justice Comics
 
  7


 
  8


  This was very unusal at the time. A monthly Marvel book.
  9
Editorial #3

  10
Editorial #3. This comic went monthly, so the same bimonthly editorial ran twice.

  11
Editorial #4

  12


  Per GCD, issues #7 and #8 each contain an editorial that starts with "Hi, Friends." It's likely these are Editorials #1 and 2, respectively, but this has not been confirmed. Per GCD, issue #12 contains either Editorial #3 or #4. Per Overstreet, issue #8 has an unspecified anti-Wertham editorial. Series note: there were additional issues #7/#8/#9 in 1947-48. If you're looking for these, be sure you are getting the correct one.
Kid Colt
 
  3
This book contains no editorial.

 
  4
Editorial #2

 
  Note that title skipped a month
  5
Editorial #3

 
  6


  Per GCD, issue #6 contains one of the editorials that begins with "A letter to our readers and their parents", which is either Editorial #3 or #4.
Krazy Komics
  2
This book contains no editorial.

  Last issue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lana
 
  3
Editorial #1

 
  4
Editorial #2

 
  5
Editorial #3

 
  6
Editorial #4

 
  Per Tom Raski (eBayer Bronze!), issue #6 contains editorial #4. Dick Swan (eBayer BigGuysComics) indicates that issues 3, 4, and 5 have editorial 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
Lawbreakers Always Lose
 
  5


 
  6
Editorial #2

 
  7
Editorial #3

 
  8
Editorial #4

 
  Per GCD, issue #5 contains one of the editorials that starts with "Hi, Friends."
Li'l Willie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Title continued from Willie
  20
Editorial #4

 
Little Aspirin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  1
Editorial #4

  Many thanks to Big Guys Comics (ebay ID: BigGuysComics) who has provided, and continues to provide, lots of information regarding these editorials.
Little Lenny
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  1
Editorial #4

 
 
Little Lizzie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  1
Editorial #4

 
 
Lovers
 
 
 
 
 
  Title continued from Blonde Phantom
  23
Editorial #3

 
  24
Editorial #4

  Many thanks go out to Robert Menzies, who contributed information about Lovers #23 and 24, as well as many others.
Margie
 
  44
Editorial #1

 
  45
Editorial #2

 
  46
Editorial #3

 
  47
Editorial #4

 
 
Marvel Mystery Comics
 
  89
Editorial #1

 
  90


 
  91


 
  92


 
  Per GCD, issue #90 contains one of the editorials that starts with "Hi, Friends."
Millie the Model
 
  15


 
  16
Editorial #2

 
  17
Editorial #3

 
  18
Editorial #4

 
  Per Dave Reynolds, issue #18 contains Editorial #4.
Mitzi's Boy Friend
 
  5
Editorial #1

 
  6
Editorial #2

 
  7
Editorial #3

  Title continues as Mitzi's Romances
 
 
  Thanks to eBayer Adam Anderson (eBay ID: Blissard) for the Mitzi's Boy Friend #6 data.
Mitzi's Romances
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Title continued from Mitzi's Boy Friend
  8
Editorial #4

 
  Many thanks to eBayer BigGuysComics for the Mitzi's Romances info.
My Own Romance
 
 
 
  Title continues from My Romance
  4
Editorial #3

  Note that issues 5 and 6 are dated 1 month apart.
  5
Editorial #3. The same editorial ran twice in a row.

  6


  7
Editorial #4

  Per GCD, issue #6 contains an editorial that begins with "A letter to our readers and their parents", which is either #3 or #4.
My Romance
  2
Editorial #1

 
  3
Editorial #2

  Title continues as My Own Romance
 
 
 
 
 
 
Namora
 
  3


  Last issue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nellie the Nurse
 
  16
Editorial #1

 
  17
Editorial #2

 
  18
Editorial #3

 
  19
Editorial #4

 
  Many thanks to eBayer BigGuysComics for the Nellie the Nurse #18 and #19 info.
Oscar
 
  8
Editorial #1

 
  9
Editorial #2

 
  10
Editorial #3

  Title continues as Awful Oscar
 
 
  Per eBayer ThePillowQueen, issue #8 contains Editorial #1. Per eBayer BigGuysComics, issue #9 contains Editorial #2.
Patsy Walker
  19
This book contains no editorial.

 
  20
Editorial #1

 
  21
Editorial #2

 
  22
Editorial #3

 
  23
Editorial #4

 
Powerhouse Pepper
  5
This book contains no editorial.

  Last issue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rusty
  19
This book contains no editorial.

 
 
 
  Note title had a hiatus of several months.
 
  20


 
  21


  Thank you to Robert Menzies for contributing the Rusty #19 information. Per GCD, issues #20 and #21 each contain an editorial that starts with "A letter to our readers and their parents." This could be Editorial #3 or #4.
Sub-Mariner
 
  29


 
  30


 
  31


 
  32


  Overstreet says title continued as Amazing Mysteries #32.
  Per GCD, issue #31 has an unspecified editorial. Per GCD, issue #32 has an editorial that starts with "A letter to our readers and their parents", which could be Editoral #3 or #4.
Super Rabbit
  14


  Last issue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sun-Girl
 
  3
Editorial #1

  Last issue
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Thanks to Robert Menzies for contributing this information.
Teen Comics
  28
This book contains no editorial.

 
  29
Editorial #1

 
  30


 
  31
Editorial #3

 
  32


  Overstreet indicates that issue #30 contains an unspecified anti-Wertham editorial. Per GCD, issue #30 contains an editorial that starts with "Hi, Friends." Per GCD, issue #32 contains an editorial that starts with "A letter to our readers and their parents."
Tessie the Typist
 
  19


 
  20
Editorial #2

 
  21
Editorial #3

 
  22
Editorial #4

 
 
Tex Morgan
 
  3
Editorial #1

 
  4
Editorial #2

 
  5
Editorial #3

 
  6
Editorial #4

 
  Thank you to Robert Menzies for contributing the information about Tex Morgan #3 and #4.
Tex Taylor
  2
This book contains no editorial.

 
  3
This book contains no editorial.

 
  4
Editorial #2

 
  5
Editorial #3

 
  6
Editorial #4

  We are grateful to Robert Menzies for contributing the information for Tex Taylor #5 and #6.
True Complete Mystery
 
 
 
 
  Title continues from Complete Mystery.
  5
Editorial #3

 
  6
Editorial #4

 
  Thanks to Robert Menzies for contributing the information about True Complete Mysteries #6.
Two-Gun Kid
 
  5
Editorial #1

 
  6
Editorial #2

 
  7
Editorial #3

 
  8
Editorial #4

 
  Per David T. Alexander, issue #5 contains Editorial #1. Overstreet suggests that #5 may be the first Marvel anti-Wertham editorial. However, Blaze Carson #2 and My Romance #2 seem to disprove that. Per GCD, issue #8 contains one of the editorials that starts with "A letter to our readers and their parents."
Venus
 
  3
Editorial #1

 
  Note the hiatus between issues 3 and 4.
 
  4
Editorial #3

 
  5
Editorial #4

 
 
Wacky Duck
  Last issue was October, 1948
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Western Winners
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Title continued from All Western Winners
  5
Editorial #4

 
 
Wild Western
  4
This book contains no editorial.

 
  5
Editorial #1

 
  6
Editorial #2

 
  7
Editorial #3

 
  8
Editorial #4

 
Willie
 
  17
Editorial #1

 
  18
Editorial #2

 
  19
Editorial #3

  Title continues as Li'l Willie
 
 
 
We'd appreciate any information you can contribute about the following: Annie Oakely #4, Blonde Phantom #20, 22, Captain America #69, 70, Comedy #4, 6, 7, 8, Gay #35, 36, Hedy #30, 32, 33, Human Torch #33, 34, 35, Joker Comics #38, Justice #7, 8, 12, Kid Colt #6, Lawbreakers Always Lose #5, Marvel Mystery Comics #90, 93, 92 Millie the Model #15, My Own Romance #6, Namora #3, Rusty #20, 21, Sub-Mariner #29, 30, 31, 32, Super Rabbit #14, Teen #30, 32,

Misc.
Title Issue    
  ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS 13
  Cannibalism story "The Feast of the Ghouls" cited by T.E. Murphy in June, 1954 Reader's Digest anti-comics article.
  CRIME DOES NOT PAY 63
  Issues 63, 64- Overstreet states possible use in SOTI. This information is incorrect, although #63 does contain Gleason's code of self-censorship.
  HAUNT OF FEAR 27
  Vault Keeper pictured reading SOTI. Contains EC's plea to readers, asking them to write to the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency.
  JO-JO COMICS 15
  Cited by Dr. Wertham in May 29, 1948 Saturday Review of Literature article.
Read it!
Overstreet erroneously lists the date as 5/47.
  JUNGLE COMICS 104
  In Camilla story, villain is Dr. Wertham
  MISTER MYSTERY 3
  Anti-Wertham editorial Read it!
  PANIC 3
  Senate Subcommittee parody
  SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES 14
  All 4 stories cited by T.E. Murphy in June, 1954 Reader's Digest anti-comics article; classic story "The Orphan" is singled out.
  SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES 15
  Possible use in T.E. Murphy article
  SPEED COMICS 33
  Colton Waugh's 1947 book, The Comics focused primarily on comic strips.
However, one chapter was devoted to comic books. In that chapter, here's what Waugh had to say about Alex Schomburg's cover to Speed Comics #33.

Take a typical comic-book cover of World War II days.

Scene, a Jap wireless shack, through whose open door is seen a vessel being dive-bombed and bursting into flames. Which side is that ship on? It isn't obvious. In the foreground a Jap is sending a message under difficulties; he screams, revealing hideous buck-teeth as he sends. A baseball bat swung by a tough youngster has smashed him on the head in a white explosion. Another Jap, with bloody Samurai sword in one hand, spitting gun in the other, has has also been socked by a noble, hooded male in brilliant blue. Meanwhile a blood-red blond man is smashing the power plant with his gloved fists -- Hey! Look out! There's a green Jap splut-sputting him with a machine gun! Yes, but see that blond, teen-age girl crouching on the pink table; she's got a blood-red ax; she's coming down on the Jap's head, or is she? A hideous, shaven crook is leaning through a porthole aiming a blowgun at her -- Yeah, but see that youngster in the blue business suit jabbing a bayoneted rifle at the whole group -- But another jap is reaching at him! Ah, but a gorgeous superwoman with blood-red hair and highly stylized harlequin mask, through which peer blood-white eyes is strangling the Jap with one of her delicate arms, as with the other, she -- oh, well.

The layout artist, on completing this page, probably looked hopelessly at it, figured it was a failure. He had used up every inch of available screaming space, yet, there was no block of ice enclosing a glorious, frozen girl about to be sawed in half by a ghoulish hellscientist done up in a whie coat and pince-nez. Probably the editor, looking at this cover, said to himself, "That layout guy Prangle is slipping. We gotta get more action."

  SPIRIT   2/27/1949   Wertham appears in the story as Dr. Wolfgang Worry. A middle school music teacher is driven insane by a crime comic he rescues from a bonfire. This was reprinted in the Spirit #5.
  STRANGE FANTASY 10
  Story "Bloody Mary" cited by T.E. Murphy in June, 1954 Reader's Digest anti-comics article.
  TALES FROM THE CRYPT 40
  Used in Senate hearings & in Hartford Courant
  VAULT OF HORROR 36
  "Pipe Dream" classic opium addict story. Story "Twin Bill" Cited by T.E. Murphy in June, 1954 Reader's Digest anti-comics article.
  WEIRD FANTASY 13
  EC's Anti-Wertham "Cosmic Correspondence"
  WEIRD MYSTERIES 5
  Anti-Wertham column. Read it!
  WEIRD MYSTERIES 8
  Story "I Killed Mary" cited by T.E. Murphy in June, 1954 Reader's Digest anti-comics article

More Anti-Comics Items

In the 1940's and 1950's, comics were under attack by books, articles, and radio talk shows.

Since then, there have been sporadic attacks on comics. One such attack was launched in the pages of Seduction of the Innocent Revisited by John Fulce, published in 1990. Both SOTI and SOTI Revisited had authors with strong anti-comics opinions, and both books cited numerous examples of comics the authors felt were harmful. However, that's where the similiarities between the two books end. Whereas SOTI was written by a well-respected psychiatrist who had impeccable research and psychiatric credentials, SOTI Revisited cites as its author's primary credentials the fact that he previously owned a comic book store before becoming a religious crusader. The original Seduction of the Innocent had an enormous impact upon popular culture and nearly killed the comic book industry, but SOTI Revisited had virtually no impact whatsoever on the industry. "Revisited" is mentioned here largely because of its name, and not because the content or influence of the book warrants its inclusion.
 

 
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