The Comic Code Authority is DEAD.

[Cyberstrike]

http://www.comicmix.com/news/2011/01/21 ... he-lights/

DC and Archie have both announced that they will no longer deal with CCA.

[BruceReville]

I wonder if somehow if it could be spinned into a now "Out Of Print" and "Rare" collectible and charge crazy prices for comics that carry the seal to unsuspecting collectors.

[Chiclo]

Life is too short for the kind of bitter vitriol that author spews over the code. It was a relic of another time and is gradually being abandoned as the industry changes and evolves. You know what that says to me? It says that the code worked, it fulfilled its purpose and now we are moving on.

Even in the 70s, major publishers were getting around the code and publishing without the seal. There was a Spiderman issue - 94? - that dealt with drug use that was printed without the seal. The CCA is not some sort of McCarthy-ian shadow government that rules the comic book industry with terror. The CCA doesn't have jackbooted thugs or the honourable Dick Cheney to enforce their stamps.

I can't see the bitterness over a (now defunct) comic book self censorship standard.

[Cyberstrike]

Life is too short for the kind of bitter vitriol that author spews over the code. It was a relic of another time and is gradually being abandoned as the industry changes and evolves. You know what that says to me? It says that the code worked, it fulfilled its purpose and now we are moving on.

Even in the 70s, major publishers were getting around the code and publishing without the seal. There was a Spiderman issue - 94? - that dealt with drug use that was printed without the seal. The CCA is not some sort of McCarthy-ian shadow government that rules the comic book industry with terror. The CCA doesn't have jackbooted thugs or the honourable Dick Cheney to enforce their stamps.

I can't see the bitterness over a (now defunct) comic book self censorship standard.

Because the author, Mike Gold, has been an editor for Marvel and DC and has have to put up with the CCA's crap for years.

[dave]

Life is too short for the kind of bitter vitriol that author spews over the code. It was a relic of another time and is gradually being abandoned as the industry changes and evolves. You know what that says to me? It says that the code worked, it fulfilled its purpose and now we are moving on.

Even in the 70s, major publishers were getting around the code and publishing without the seal. There was a Spiderman issue - 94? - that dealt with drug use that was printed without the seal. The CCA is not some sort of McCarthy-ian shadow government that rules the comic book industry with terror. The CCA doesn't have jackbooted thugs or the honourable Dick Cheney to enforce their stamps.

I can't see the bitterness over a (now defunct) comic book self censorship standard.

[robb77]

Life is too short for the kind of bitter vitriol that author spews over the code. It was a relic of another time and is gradually being abandoned as the industry changes and evolves. You know what that says to me? It says that the code worked, it fulfilled its purpose and now we are moving on.

Even in the 70s, major publishers were getting around the code and publishing without the seal. There was a Spiderman issue - 94? - that dealt with drug use that was printed without the seal. The CCA is not some sort of McCarthy-ian shadow government that rules the comic book industry with terror. The CCA doesn't have jackbooted thugs or the honourable Dick Cheney to enforce their stamps.

I can't see the bitterness over a (now defunct) comic book self censorship standard.

[hulk181man]

Didn't Wertham and the code put EC out of business? Guess if I was running that very successful company 50-60 years ago I'd have been *SQUEE*. But otherwise you're correct, people need to get past their anger these days and work constructively. The code has long been obsolete.

[superman-prime]

darn

[sanman]

While I agree that the code outlived any possible usefulness, I hope DC will remain diligent in creating books that target different sensibilities and label accordingly.

I think Marvel has done a better job in classifying books with regard to appropriateness for different age groups—a much better system than simply adhering to Code standards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Rating_System

[Cyberstrike]

While I agree that the code outlived any possible usefulness, I hope DC will remain diligent in creating books that target different sensibilities and label accordingly.

I think Marvel has done a better job in classifying books with regard to appropriateness for different age groups—a much better system than simply adhering to Code standards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Rating_System

Rating systems never work, and anyone who thinks so is a fool.

[Heath]

While I agree that the code outlived any possible usefulness, I hope DC will remain diligent in creating books that target different sensibilities and label accordingly.

I think Marvel has done a better job in classifying books with regard to appropriateness for different age groups—a much better system than simply adhering to Code standards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Rating_System

Rating systems never work, and anyone who thinks so is a fool.

Rating systems aren't perfect, but they DO work. And anyone who doesn't think so probably doesn't have kids. As a parent, I use the ratings systems all the time - to determine which movies are appropriate for my kids, which video games I'm going to let my son play, etc. Of course, it also takes a little parental involvement and research and monitoring. Ratings are a tool for the involved parent. They're not the final word, but nor are they completely useless.

[ian_house]

Of course, it also takes a little parental involvement and research and monitoring.

That's mainly why they don't work.

They also have a major issue with differenciation.

[Heath]

Of course, it also takes a little parental involvement and research and monitoring.

That's mainly why they don't work.

They also have a major issue with differenciation.

That's not a failure on the ratings system. The system(s) work as they are designed. Any failure you see is not a failure of the system itself, but a failure of the system to be used properly. Blaming the ratings system would be like blaming a screw driver for not removing a screw when all I did was stare at the screw wishing it would come out.

[ian_house]

Of course, it also takes a little parental involvement and research and monitoring.

That's mainly why they don't work.

They also have a major issue with differenciation.

That's not a failure on the ratings system. The system(s) work as they are designed. Any failure you see is not a failure of the system itself, but a failure of the system to be used properly. Blaming the ratings system would be like blaming a screw driver for not removing a screw when all I did was stare at the screw wishing it would come out.

Yes it is. The rating system is a series of guidelines which allow a great deal of relaxation usually depending on artisic merit. This immediately makes the system ineffectual. Looking at comics isn't particularly helpful here as it is such a new system but if you look at cinema there is a LONG history of an idiotic rating system. Things like Clockwork Orange being banned because a censor cannot see artistic merit or big budget films receiving 12A or PG ratings despite containing content that would normally warrant a 15.

[xodacia81]

Of course, it also takes a little parental involvement and research and monitoring.

That's mainly why they don't work.

They also have a major issue with differenciation.

That's not a failure on the ratings system. The system(s) work as they are designed. Any failure you see is not a failure of the system itself, but a failure of the system to be used properly. Blaming the ratings system would be like blaming a screw driver for not removing a screw when all I did was stare at the screw wishing it would come out.

Yes it is. The rating system is a series of guidelines which allow a great deal of relaxation usually depending on artisic merit. This immediately makes the system ineffectual. Looking at comics isn't particularly helpful here as it is such a new system but if you look at cinema there is a LONG history of an idiotic rating system. Things like Clockwork Orange being banned because a censor cannot see artistic merit or big budget films receiving 12A or PG ratings despite containing content that would normally warrant a 15.

Good point except for the Clockwork Orange part. Kubrick himself had the film banned in the UK, after a series of murders and beatings that resembled events in the film. Otherwise, I agree with you

[Heath]

Yes it is. The rating system is a series of guidelines which allow a great deal of relaxation usually depending on artisic merit. This immediately makes the system ineffectual. Looking at comics isn't particularly helpful here as it is such a new system but if you look at cinema there is a LONG history of an idiotic rating system. Things like Clockwork Orange being banned because a censor cannot see artistic merit or big budget films receiving 12A or PG ratings despite containing content that would normally warrant a 15.

Oh, yeah... you're in Europe... that changes everything. Nothing works there.

[Cyberstrike]

While I agree that the code outlived any possible usefulness, I hope DC will remain diligent in creating books that target different sensibilities and label accordingly.

I think Marvel has done a better job in classifying books with regard to appropriateness for different age groups—a much better system than simply adhering to Code standards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Rating_System

Rating systems never work, and anyone who thinks so is a fool.

Rating systems aren't perfect, but they DO work. And anyone who doesn't think so probably doesn't have kids. As a parent, I use the ratings systems all the time - to determine which movies are appropriate for my kids, which video games I'm going to let my son play, etc. Of course, it also takes a little parental involvement and research and monitoring. Ratings are a tool for the involved parent. They're not the final word, but nor are they completely useless.

Kids can buy/play M-Rated games, see R-Rated and NC-17 movies, without you even knowing about it.

[xodacia81]

While I agree that the code outlived any possible usefulness, I hope DC will remain diligent in creating books that target different sensibilities and label accordingly.

I think Marvel has done a better job in classifying books with regard to appropriateness for different age groups—a much better system than simply adhering to Code standards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Rating_System

Rating systems never work, and anyone who thinks so is a fool.

Rating systems aren't perfect, but they DO work. And anyone who doesn't think so probably doesn't have kids. As a parent, I use the ratings systems all the time - to determine which movies are appropriate for my kids, which video games I'm going to let my son play, etc. Of course, it also takes a little parental involvement and research and monitoring. Ratings are a tool for the involved parent. They're not the final word, but nor are they completely useless.

Kids can buy/play M-Rated games, see R-Rated and NC-17 movies, without you even knowing about it.

The worst thing is not the access they have but rather how the ratings limit the places that certain films can be shown. By the Ratings Board giving Requiem for a Dream an NC-17, which the film makers rejected, releasing it into theatres as an Unrated film, they went from 3K screens as an R, to 800 or so screens as an NC-17 or Unrated. Why is this the example I cite? It is because the film could have done some good for kids, instead of "Supposedly" being restricted from view by them. It could work on a 12 or 13 year old, for drug use, the same way "Scared Straight" did, back in the day. Oh, and it's a damn fine film with one of the ten or 12 best performances ever, courtesy of the amazing Ellen Burstyn, playing the most astounding portrayal of lonliness I've ever seen on film.

[Heath]

Kids can buy/play M-Rated games, see R-Rated and NC-17 movies, without you even knowing about it.

They can also murder, rape, steal, drive dangerously too. I guess the legal system doesn't work either.

[Heath]

Like I said, the ratings systems aren't perfect. Yeah, they cause some problems. But they also do what they're designed to do - give people (especially parents) a rough idea of the age appropriateness of a movie/game/whatever.

It's imperfect. But perfection is impossible. Everybody being happy with the system is impossible.

It's the application and the results and the consequences (intended or otherwise) of the system that you don't like. Yeah, it sucks sometimes. But as a parent, I'm glad the ratings are there. And I'd rather the ratings be a product of those various industries rather than the government regulating content.

[xodacia81]

Like I said, the ratings systems aren't perfect. Yeah, they cause some problems. But they also do what they're designed to do - give people (especially parents) a rough idea of the age appropriateness of a movie/game/whatever.

It's imperfect. But perfection is impossible. Everybody being happy with the system is impossible.

It's the application and the results and the consequences (intended or otherwise) of the system that you don't like. Yeah, it sucks sometimes. But as a parent, I'm glad the ratings are there. And I'd rather the ratings be a product of those various industries rather than the government regulating content.

The problem with ratings systems have been the way that they have become a sort of shadow government within the industry they are a part of. I think that ratings serve a purpose, but they have issues including oversimplification. It isn't a perfect system. The only other thing that could happen would be to have each film, rather than be rated, get a detailed listing of content.

[Heath]

The only other thing that could happen would be to have each film, rather than be rated, get a detailed listing of content.

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/

Like that?

And, of course most ratings systems are oversimplifcations. They're designed for the masses. They are meant to give a general idea at one quick glance. That's how they are designed. That's how they work. If somebody wants more details, there are plenty of ways to get it.

[ian_house]

A very interesting article about social relevance in comics on Newsarama:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/2011-ho ... 11027.html

[steverino]

I've always thought the comics code was a good thing. It forced writers and artist to tell their stories within certain bounds and made them use their imaginations to the fullest extent without using cheap vulgarity and violence to draw in readers.

Sure there have been early stories published without it, very good stories, but even those stories were told within certain limits and only an element or 2 were against the code. The creators' mastery for storytelling made this possible.

IMO, the creators may be more handicapped without it.

[sanman]

To those who say that the rating system doesn’t work, I’d argue that no system is perfect. However, considering the range of content found in today’s comics, I think a reader has the right to know who the target audience is.

By way of example, what’s wrong with Marvel classifying books with more adult intent with the Max designation? Marvel has the right to publish while readers have the right to purchase despite my sensibilities—I do not want censorship!

However, considering what I view as a minefield of violence, strong language, and adult situations, why should I be considered a fool if I also agree that classification systems help me make better informed decision?

Granted, once I see the Max label I immediately pass over the book. Yet, how is this any different than expecting a food manufacturer to disclose the ingredients on a food label? I’m highly allergic to poultry. Without the disclosure, I would be taking health risks every time I ate.

Similarly, I believe that certain imagery, language, and situations bring me down—messes with my soul and spirit. I expect the publisher to take responsibility in its freedom of speech while respecting that I may not what to hear what is being said—avoiding material I find harmful.