Designed for Delinquency
1955 US Senate Report
COMIC DETAILS
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Comic Description: |
Universal
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Grade:
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6.0
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Page Quality:
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CREAM TO OFF-WHITE
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Certification #: |
0240106011
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Owner:
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GAM
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SET DETAILS
Owner's Description
In 1954 and 1955 the U.S. Senate convened hearings and issued a report on comic books and juvenile delinquency. Noteworthy participants in the hearings included Fredric Wertham, author of the book “Seduction of the Innocent” and William Gaines, publisher of EC Comics.
Panic #1 is one of the comics cited in the testimony given by William Gaines. During questioning by Senator Kefauver Gaines was asked why he maintained 5 different corporations to publish comic magazines. Kefauver asserts the reason is to isolate comic publications in order to protect them should one get into trouble and he uses Panic #1 to illustrate this point:
Senator Kefauver: How many corporations do you have?
Mr. Gaines: Well, I don’t really know. I inherited stock in five corporations which were formed by my father before his death. In those days he started a corporation, I believe, for every magazine. I have not adhered to that. I have just kept the original five and published about two magazines in each corporation.
Senator Kefauver: Do you not think the trouble might have been if one magazine got in trouble that the corporation would not adversely affect the others?
Mr. Gaines: Oh, hardly.
Senator Kefauver: You did get one magazine banned by the attorney general of Massachusetts, did you not?
Mr. Gaines: The attorney general of Massachusetts reneged and claims he has not banned it. I still don’t know what the story was.
Senator Kefauver: Anyway, he said he was going to prosecute you if you sent the magazine over there any more.
Mr. Gaines: He thereafter, I understand, said – he never said he would prosecute.
Senator Kefauver: That is the word you got though, that he was going to prosecute you?
Mr. Gaines: Yes.
Senator Kefauver: When was that?
Mr. Gaines: Just before Christmas.
Senator Kefauver: Which magazine was that?
Mr. Gaines: That was for Panic No. 1.
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