Comic books were booming in the 40s and 50s with kids ogling the lurid pages of "Chamber of Chills," "Tomb of Terror" and "My Secret Affair." These weren't just simple tales of noble superheroes. Many were dark and grisly, some even downright shocking.
The comics were a booming business -- millions of copies sold every week -- but they scared the daylights out of McCarthy-era America. People were outraged. The Senate investigated and the rules tightened. Soon there were comic-book burnings, Senate hearings, and a censorship crackdown.
Listen to an On Point conversation with David Hajdu, the author of a new book that looks at the 1950s comic-book scare and how it changed America.
Do you remember spending ten-cents for a comic book at your local candy store? What was your favorite? What is it about them that is so appealing? And what is today's counterpart to the 1950s comics – video games, movies?
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Comments: 6
I think these are great questions to ask ourselves. As a comic book creator, I can say I view the medium as an opportunity to play in America's mythological sandbox. Comic books are a distinctly American art form and, quite possibly, our most visible form of mythology. I mean, I can't go back and add a god to the Greek pantheon but, with comic books, I can read/create something new-- a new figure, a new tale -- I can add to our country's mythology.
As for a modern day counterpart... yes, videogames and movies can be viewed in a similar light. But comics CONTINUE to be the catalyst for even those outlets.