Set Description:
My interest in the “Seduction of the Innocent” (SOTI) stems from the role it played in killing the crime and horror comics of the early 1950s that in turn set the stage for the rebirth of superhero comics and the start of the silver age. The SOTI was a book published by psychiatrist Fredric Wertham in 1954. Wertham believed that comic books were a key cause of juvenile delinquency and used the SOTI to provide examples of how comic books contributed to behavioral problems in children. The book was part of a growing movement in the 1950s to censor comics. After the SOTI was published, the censorship movement culminated with Congressional hearings and the comic industry voluntarily creating the Comics Code Authority (CCA) in 1954. The CCA’s censorship essentially killed the crime, terror and horror comics that were prevalent in the early 1950s. In the wake of these changes, the comics industry responded by reintroducing superhero comics with a new twist. Instead of the authoritative fatherly figures of the 1940s, silver age superheroes were flawed and self-doubting. Marvel Comics in particular capitalized on this new genre of superhero by publishing highly imaginative stories with strong characterization.
Over the years, many comic books referenced in the SOTI have been identified but not noted in the Overstreet guide. The following is a summary of known SOTI books not recognized in the Overstreet guide:
1) Batman #53: SOTI reference text page 236 (Batman's charming breakfast scene from the story "A Hairpin, a Hoe, a Hacksaw, a Hole in the Ground!").
2) Batman #64: SOTI reference text page 191 (Bruce and Dick go out in dinner clothes dressed exactly alike).
3) Batman #67: SOTI reference text page 191 (Robin held captive with quote "Robin gets killed").
4) Captain Marvel Adventures #101: SOTI reference text page 88 (Captain Marvel pictures without his head).
5) Crime and Punishment #2: SOTI possible reference text page 161 (Cover with man stealing money box from blind man running newsstand).
6) Crime and Punishment #12: SOTI reference text pages 21-22 (Cover identification points as described by Wertham match this issue).
7) Crime and Punishment #16: SOTI reference text pages 98-99 (Police Captain "Don't let reformers kid you!" piece).
8) Crime Does Not Pay #76: SOTI reference text pages 98-99 (Police Captain "Don't let reformers kid you!" piece).
9) Diary Loves #31: SOTI reference text page 40 (stealing a very expensive gown - comes from the story "The Highest Bidder").
10) Doll Man #38: SOTI reference text page 388 ("His throat is as white...:" quote comes from the story "House of Vampires").
11) Famous Crimes #1: SOTI reference text page 234 ("fat slut" quote comes from "Clara Peete, the Beautiful Beast" story).
12) Famous Crimes #19: SOTI reference text page 96 (Lee Gillon comes from "The Whole Town Lied" story and "board full of spikes" comes from "Dutch Schultz..." story).
13) For a Night of Love #nn: SOTI reference text page 185 ("...mocking faithfulness" quote comes from inside cover).
14) Gang Busters #3: SOTI reference illustration #27 ("comic-book map for crime" panel illustration comes from Gang Busters #3).
15) Justice Comics #21: SOTI reference text page 160 ("But we better hurry or we'll be late for school...").
16) Kid Colt Outlaw #3: SOTI reference text page 112 ("Gouger" reference comes from "Gold and Guns at Roaring Gulch" story).
17) Mr. Risk #2: SOTI reference text page 144 (Misspelled comic book story "Psycopathic Lady").
18) Nyoka The Jungle Girl #26: SOTI reference text page 32 ("Satanic Dr. Zanzere" comes from "Flying Tiger" story).
19) Phantom Lady #16: SOTI reference text page 234 ("fat slut" quote comes from "Clara Peete, the Beautiful Beast" story).
20) Real Clue Crime Stories V3(#3) [#27]: SOTI reference text pages 23-24 (terrorized farmer description and quotes comes from "Tiger the True Story of Buck Neary" story).
21) Real Life Comics #58: SOTI reference text page 310 (Olympic games story with ladies thrown over the cliff comes from "Olympic Oddities" story).
22) Tex Morgan #9: SOTI reference text page 30 (Wertham provides western comic book cover identification keys that pin the book down to Tex Morgan #9).
23) T-Man #4: SOTI reference text page 284 (story description and quote "Boy, that's the sweetest sound on earth" comes from the story "T-Man and the Panama Peril!").
24) True Love Problems and Advice Illustrated #11: SOTI reference text pages 185-186 (Love comic book story titles and quotes).
25) Untamed Love #5: SOTI reference text page 40 and 42 (page 40 seducing a girl comes from "A Streak of Badness", page 42 stealing a dress and getting caught comes from "The Heart's Hunger")
26) Wanted Comics #29: SOTI reference text page 28 (Multiple quoted examples come from stories contained in Wanted Comics #29)
27) Western Outlaws and Sheriffs #63: SOTI reference text pages 159-160 (Western comic foul fighting story quotes and "Mossman" comes from "The Rio Killer" story).
28) Witches Tales #20: SOTI reference text page 389 (story quote "one man kills a wife with a poker" comes from the story "Shock!").
29) Wonder Woman #30: SOTI reference text page 193 (Wonder Woman princess character repeatedly referencing to "wicked men" comes from the story "The Secrets of the Limestone Caves")
30) Wonder Woman #44: SOTI reference text page 193 (Holiday girl quote "Honest, I'd give my last piece of candy in the world..." comes from the story "Chapter III: The Final Battle of the Sargasso Sea")
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