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cover of episode 'Lost Marvels No. 1: Tower of Shadows' restores a lost chapter of comic book history

'Lost Marvels No. 1: Tower of Shadows' restores a lost chapter of comic book history

2025/5/28
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Andrew Limbaugh
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Michael Dean
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Andrew Limbaugh: 我认为漫画书曾经也有类似于音乐CD上的家长咨询标签，比如漫画法规管理局。这个机构的建立与血腥暴力的恐怖漫画有关。现在，《失落的漫威第一期：阴影之塔》收集了一些漫画，这些漫画与超级英雄漫画的不同之处在于，它们不仅有血腥场面，而且对道德的看法也很复杂。 Michael Dean: 我认为20世纪50年代，恐怖漫画引发了一场道德恐慌，导致漫画法规管理局采取行动，禁止了“恐怖”一词和吸血鬼、狼人等形象。当时对漫画有很大的抵制，家长们抵制漫画，弗雷德里克·沃瑟姆的书将漫画视为青少年犯罪的原因。EC漫画以其恐怖内容而闻名。虽然有些故事感觉过时，但它们有点像旧的EC故事，其中的角色不是英雄，而是做坏事并罪有应得的糟糕角色。当我开始阅读《阴影之塔》时，我已经准备好不再看超级英雄漫画，因为我想要一些更复杂的东西。像尼尔·亚当斯、吉姆·斯特兰科这样的漫画巨匠出现在这个系列中，是因为这给了他们更多的自由来探索自己的艺术，他们可以创作自己的作品，而不局限于超级英雄战斗。

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The 1950s saw a surge in popularity of horror comics, featuring graphic violence and supernatural themes. This led to a moral panic, resulting in the Comics Code Authority banning certain content and creating a self-regulating body for the industry. The controversy also involved public boycotts, books like "Seduction of the Innocent," and Senate subcommittee hearings targeting publishers like EC Comics.
  • Moral panic over violent horror comics
  • Comics Code Authority's censorship
  • Public backlash and boycotts
  • Influence of Frederick Wertham's "Seduction of the Innocent"
  • Senate subcommittee hearings and EC Comics

Shownotes Transcript

In the 1950s, horror comic books – featuring at times gory depictions of violence – were rising in popularity. But these comics triggered a moral panic, ultimately leading to the Comics Code Authority's decision to outlaw werewolves, vampires and even the word "horror." Now, journalist Michael Dean is out with an anthology of these long-forgotten Marvel comics: Lost Marvels No. 1: Tower of Shadows, first published in 1969. In today's episode, Dean talks with NPR's Ayesha Rascoe about the horror ban, the perceived relationship between comics and juvenile delinquency, and how Tower of Shadows compares to its superhero siblings.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)