AOB 6 - Regulation

Before 1954, ANY comic or graphic novel could be published at will and without interference from busybody fusspots worried about the contents and from this period, comics such as 'Astonishing' were produced to cater for the darker audience.
But soon concerned parents and adults started calling for such profane and disgusting publications to be regulated as they were believed to have a detrimental effect on its readers, of which whom were proportionately under 18


From this concern came the CCA or Comics Code Authority as a regulatory body for the entire comics/graphic novels industry which is a self governing regulation, instead of government regulated.

The aim of this regulatory body was to prohibit:
- The depiction of authority figures (such as the Police, Judges, etc.) being seen as evil, dying as a result of or being harmed by criminal behavior.
- Depictions of gore, graphic violence, horror and murder.
- Depictions, references and hints of illicit sex acts, sexual perversion including seduction, rape, sadism, masochism were specifically censored and ruled out.
- Subject matter for the comic/graphic novel was closely regulated as crime was subject to many restrictions and horror/terror were strictly off limits.
- Language used in the comic titles were also carefully watched, words such as Terror, Crime and horror were outlawed.
- Mythical/fictional beasts (eg. Zombies, vampires, werewolves, ghosts) were subject to the ban as they went along with horror/terror and also extreme violence.
- Advertisments helped bring extra revenue for the publishers but the CCA banned ads for liquor, tobacco, fireworks, nude pin-ups and postcards as they all portrayed a positive view of adult products on children. Ads for objects such as knives were also banned as they could encourage violence.

These restrictions were all in place to not only protect the audience but also the population, as the comic content could effect somebody so severely they could re-enact the ultra-violence as seen in their comics.
Considering such regulation and censorship, many publishers decided to simply comply, others had to amend comic titles or just discontinue them.
William Gaines of EC comics believed the CCA regulations were specifically targeted to his comics as a measure to drive EC Comics out of business as their bestsellers 'Crime SuspenStories, The Vault of Horror, and The Crypt of Terror' ALL came under violation
meaning the company would lose money.

Even today comics/graphic novels are under regulations and censorship such as Watchmen by Alan Moore and DC Comics, The Punisher by Gerry Conway and Marvel Comics, and the world famous Batman by Bob Kane and DC Comics. All these comics soon could be facing a total ban due to changes in the Criminal Justice Act (2008) which comes into effect at the end of January 2009.

A hot topic in graphic novel regulation and censorship is 'Lost girls' by Alan Moore.

'Lost Girls' features 3 prominent yet fictional characters from 19th and 20th century publications. Alice from Alice in wonderland, Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz, and Wendy Darling from Peter Pan, describing their earliest sexual encounters. This recieved widespread controversy as it dealt with child sexuality, gratuitous sex, group sex acts, same sex relationships and sexual acts and also incestuous sex acts.

With the internet, people can see reviews written by civilians giving their view on the subject which can be considered a form of regulation as if something is given bad reviews, less and less people will take interest, an example below is shown of such a review.

AOB 5 - Ownership and Distribution

Comic book distribution had 2 models:

1) Old model - Independent Distribution

Stage 1. Artist or writer would approach a publisher

Stage 2. Publisher would produce the comic

Stage 3. The publisher would then pass on the comics to a periodical Distributor.

Stage 4. Shops such as Toy shops, News stands and Drugstores would then sell the comics
but any unsold comics would be returned to the publisher and the shops would
then be compensated

2) New model - Direct Market

Stage 1. Artist or writer would approach a publisher

Stage 2. Publisher would produce the comic

Stage 3. Instead of comics then going to an independent distributor, the publisher distributes the comics themselfs

Stage 4. Places like headshops, book shops and comic book shops would then sell the comics directly.

This model was a gamble, comics were sold faster and for a better price but unsold comics were non-returnable and the shops could potentially lose money. However though, the unsold at release comics would then become collectors items and they were what led onto the publishing of all the comics of a storyline in an annuls which then led to graphic novels.

If all thats confusing, just look below =]

Diamond comics is the largest comics distribution company in the USA and has exclusive deals with several of the leading comic publishers such as DC Comics, Image Comics and Marvel.

Fantagraphics is a publishing house of several of the alternative comics avalible, like Ghost world and Black hole. Diamond distributions was able to strike a deal with Fantagraphics in which all of Fantagraphics back catalog is readilly avalible to reorder, the consumers get a better price and shipping fee's.

DC Comics was founded originally in 1934 as National Allied Publications and publish comics such as Adventures of superman, Aquaman, Batman, The Flash, Justice League and more.


Vertigo(DC Comics) is the DC Comics range targeted towards the late teen/adult market and was established in 1993, producing such comics as V for Vendetta, A history of violence and House of Mystery.


Fantagraphics Books is a publisher of alternative (when compared to the typical 'Pow' 'Zoom' superhero story) comics/graphic novels and was established in 1976 and they do offer a broad range of material such as classic comic strip anthologies, magazines, graphic novels, and the adult-oriented Eros Comix seried.

Marvel comics were originally called Timely Publications when the company was set up in 1939. Stan lee is commonly regarded as the godfather of superhero comics, bringing us Superman, The Incredible Hulk, The Fantastic Four, X-men, Spiderman and many of marvels comics have been adapted into films.


Drawn and Quarterly is a Canadian publisher of Graphic novels and underground/alternative comics, making this company the Canadian equivalent of Fantagraphics. Established in 1991 and making comics such as Peepshow, Fallen angel, Berlin and Underwater.

Mmmmm, Ever heard of Webcomics?

There free to read, cheap and easy to produce (with the right know how) an generally a great way to enjoy comics. Online comics are an ideal way for an amateur artist to get their work seen because anybody can make a webcomic and perhaps if there good enough, you could get them published and make a sack full of cash.

Quite simply Webcomics are fantastic, often talking about sensitive subject matter or maybe non-mainstream material, such as political satire, giving the reader a brief chuckle while toiling away in their over-crowded office's. Some people even find comics boring and if thats true about you, maybe give a webcomic a try, you can find them by simply searching something like 'Online Comics' or maybe.......'Free Web Comic' in a search engine like Google.