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Author: Wertham, Fredric
Title: Untitled Post-Code Anti-Comics Leaflet (LORNA, THE JUNGLE GIRL) * Fredric Wertham File Copy
Place Published:
Publisher:No publisher stated
Date Published: 1955
Description:

Single-sided leaflet, black and white, illustrated with the front cover of Atlas's "Lorna, the Jungle Girl" #12. Very Good condition, 1/2" dogeared tear to bottom edge, several small nicks, toning and pinprick to bottom edge. Provenance: From the Collection of Thommy Burns, author of numerous essays for Fantagraphics's EC Artists' Library series. Mr. Burns obtained this item from the files of Dr. Fredric Wertham's Lafargue Mental Health Clinic in Harlem.

Dr. Wertham was displeased with the Comics Code Authority, the comic book industry's self-regulatory agency, which he considered to be a smokescreen rather than a real remedy to the alleged comic book menace. It's unknown how this rare broadside critical of the newly-implemented Code was circulated; perhaps Wertham distributed them in his Harlem clinic?

The majority of Wertham's case studies in Seduction of the Innocent concerned black kids, a fact Wertham concealed in his book so as not to alienate the Karens whose support he needed in order for his crusade to go mainstream. Wertham's critique of racially-charged imagery was central to his anti-comics campaign, and these concerns are front and center on this flier, the text of which reads in full: "Typical comic book with 'Czar' Murphy's new seal (March 1955): colored howling savages about to attack a sexy white girl in a bathing-suit and a handsome white man. / This shows that the new 'association' with the new 'code' and its new 'czar' contains the same corruption with sexiness, violence and race prejudice. Don't let yourself be fooled by the new seal!" Was Wertham really as incensed by this fairly innocuous Atlas cover as he seemed to be, or was he trying hard to remain relevant in the new post-Code reality?

EC ace Thommy Burns says: "This very rare one-sided leaflet comes from Dr. Fredric Wertham's own files. It is unknown whether or not Wertham produced these himself, but he certainly had them on hand at his clinic. Wertham was a known opponent of the Comics Code, because it wasn't strict enough for him, as this bit of propaganda illustrates. Lorna The Jungle Girl #12 is displayed and critiqued with text that sounds an awful lot like Wertham himself wrote it. Whatever the case, this is an odd piece of comic censorship material from Wertham's personal collection."

Consignments welcome for PBA's Fall 2022 Comic Book sale. Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age and Silver Age comics, original art, vintage comic-related photos and ephemera sought. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.

A limited edition of 100 softcover and 6 hardcover catalogues are available. 140 pages, fully illustrated. Fun reference, great keepsake. Softcovers $40, dust-jacketed hardcover with limitation plate $200. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Consignments welcome for PBA's Fall 2022 Comic Book sale. Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age and Silver Age comics, original art, vintage comic-related photos and ephemera sought. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.