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[Spike Spiegel]

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/01/20/from-the-co-publishers/

As of January 2011, DC Comics titles will no longer carry the Comics Code Authority Seal of Approval. In 2011, DC Comics will employ a rating system consistent with that of the rest of the industry, as well as with our digital releases, which already utilize a rating system. As for our Vertigo comic books, they will not utilize the rating system, because they will continue to be labeled as “For Mature Readers”.

Beginning with our April 2011 titles, all DC comic book covers will utilize the following rating system:

E – EVERYONE

Appropriate for readers of all ages. May contain cartoon violence and/or some comic mischief.

T – TEEN

Appropriate for readers age 12 and older. May contain mild violence, language and/or suggestive themes.

T+ - TEEN PLUS

Appropriate for readers age 16 and older. May contain moderate violence, mild profanity, graphic imagery and/or suggestive themes.

M – MATURE

Appropriate for readers age 18 and older. May contain intense violence, extensive profanity, nudity, sexual themes and other content suitable only for older readers.

-Jim (Lee) and Dan (Didio)

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/01/comics-a-m-archie-drops-comics-code-marking-end-of-era/
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/archie-drops-CCA-in-february-110121.html

Next month, Archie Comics will no longer carry the Comics Code Authority seal of approval.

"We're officially dropping it with books on sale in February," Archie Comics President Mike Pellerito told Newsarama Friday afternoon.

The Archie news comes after DC Comics announced yesterday that it would be replacing the Comics Code approval with its own rating system.

The Comics Code Authority was established in 1954 in response to a public outcry over violence in comics, including Congressional hearings about the bad influence the industry had on American kids. After the creation of the CCA "seal," major outlets wouldn't carry a comic unless it had the Code on the front.

The seal became the standard in the comics publishing industry for decades. But that changed in 2001, when Marvel Comics stopped using the CCA and implemented its own ratings system in response to one of its comics being denied approval.

But Pellerito said Archie's decision has nothing to do with content, and there will be no editorial change when the code leaves the front of the Archie books.

"The code never affected us editorially the way I think it did other companies," he said. "You know, we aren't about to start stuffing bodies into refrigerators or anything. We have to answer to Archie fans."

Wikipedia Entry: Comics Code Authority
Wikipedia Entry: US Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency
Wikipedia Entry: Fredric Wertham and Seduction of the Innocent


The original code:

* Crimes shall never be presented in such a way as to create sympathy for the criminal, to promote distrust of the forces of law and justice, or to inspire others with a desire to imitate criminals.
* If crime is depicted it shall be as a sordid and unpleasant activity.
* Criminals shall not be presented so as to be rendered glamorous or to occupy a position which creates a desire for emulation.
* In every instance good shall triumph over evil and the criminal punished for his misdeeds.
* Scenes of excessive violence shall be prohibited. Scenes of brutal torture, excessive and unnecessary knife and gunplay, physical agony, gory and gruesome crime shall be eliminated.
* No comic magazine shall use the word horror or terror in its title.
* All scenes of horror, excessive bloodshed, gory or gruesome crimes, depravity, lust, sadism, masochism shall not be permitted.
* All lurid, unsavory, gruesome illustrations shall be eliminated.
* Inclusion of stories dealing with evil shall be used or shall be published only where the intent is to illustrate a moral issue and in no case shall evil be presented alluringly, nor so as to injure the sensibilities of the reader.
* Scenes dealing with, or instruments associated with walking dead, torture, vampires and vampirism, ghouls, cannibalism, and werewolfism are prohibited.
* Profanity, obscenity, smut, vulgarity, or words or symbols which have acquired undesirable meanings are forbidden.
* Nudity in any form is prohibited, as is indecent or undue exposure.
* Suggestive and salacious illustration or suggestive posture is unacceptable.
* Females shall be drawn realistically without exaggeration of any physical qualities.
* Illicit sex relations are neither to be hinted at nor portrayed. Violent love scenes as well as sexual abnormalities are unacceptable.
* Seduction and rape shall never be shown or suggested.
* Sex perversion or any inference to same is strictly forbidden.
* Nudity with meretricious purpose and salacious postures shall not be permitted in the advertising of any product; clothed figures shall never be presented in such a way as to be offensive or contrary to good taste or morals.

An archaic dinosaur, the product of a bygone era and one that nobody bothered paying attention to anymore, is finally lain to rest. Between this and the news that Wizard Magazine is ending publication, 2011 is already shaping up as a great year for comics.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Stop stealing my lines, Spike.

(We put the strip up like literally hours before Archie dropped it too.)

 

[explodet]

Can't wait to see what titles published under the Archie MAX label.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

good, now we get to see more ass 'N' Titties?

 

[Sill4]

Can't wait to see what titles published under the Archie MAX label.

Best Betty and Veronica story EVAR.

 

[GDJustin]

I don't really follow comics - why is Wizard ceasing publication a good thing for comics? I liked the mag quite a bit when I was in middle school. That and InQuest. Man... thinking about InQuest takes me back.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

The code never affected us editorially the way I think it did other companies," he said. "You know, we aren't about to start stuffing bodies into refrigerators or anything. We have to answer to Archie fans."

my god, 15 years later and people still bring that up. I do wonder what was the point of killing Alex?

 

[EviLore]

Insane that it was still being used until 2011. I wouldn't want that "seal of approval" anywhere near my products, with its disgusting bigoted history.

 

[Diablos]

Doh. 1950's criteria already posted. My take: That's a lot of rules, and I'm pretty sure most of them have been broken, thus rendering the CCA kinda useless.

 

[besada]

Good to see the back of it at long last. Suck it, Wertham.

 

[dream]

Can't wait to see what titles published under the Archie MAX label.

Garth Ennis edition!

 

[Spike Spiegel]

I don't really follow comics - why is Wizard ceasing publication a good thing for comics? I liked the mag quite a bit when I was in middle school. That and InQuest. Man... thinking about InQuest takes me back.

Given the advent and proliferation of online news sources and the immediacy of comics, as a monthly magazine it was all but useless. As a price guide, even worse. Plus it was notorious for treating its employees like garbage, after luring them in with a chance to work "inside" the industry.

Didn't a GAF member used to work there? MC Safety?

EDIT: Yep, he did.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211308

 

[adamsappel]

They will rue the day!

 

[Megadragon15]

In honor of the CCA dying, someone should post the cover for Crime SuspenStories #22.

 

[Dyno]

Sarah Palin should be the new censor board. The comics could have a "Palin Approved" seal with her winking and giving the thumbs up.

IN THIS ISSUE: Immigrant Robot Obama VS. The Human Torch! The Black One Dies!