| Editorial Responses to the attacks on comic books
The Overstreet Price Guide notes that several Marvel comics have anti-Wertham editorials.
However, the scope of Marvel's published defense against
the anti-comics attacks goes far beyond what's noted in the Guide.
It appears that in most comics for an eight-month period, Marvel included editorial material defending their publications
from Dr. Wertham and other critics. There were four different editorials from November, 1948 through June, 1949,
one of which responded to Dr. Wertham's
accusations directly and referred to him by name.
Many people have contributed information to this page. We'd particularly like to thank eBayers The Pillow Queen, Tom Raski (eBay ID: Bronze!), Dick Swan (eBay ID: BigGuysComics) and Adam Anderson (eBay ID: Blissard) who have all contributed multiple times to the information on this page.
Editorial #1
First, this editorial appeared in various Marvel books cover dated November, 1948 through January, 1949.
Splash page banner
Around January, 1949, Marvel started placing this on the splash page of their books, to assure parents of the wholesomeness of Marvel's products.
"Editorial Consultant: Jean Thompson, M.D., Psychiatrist, Child Guidance Bureau; Board of Education, New York City". This example comes from All True Crime #31, January, 1949.
Editorial #2
Between January and March, 1949, the following editorial appeared in many of Marvel's books.
Editorial #3
Between March and May, 1949, this editorial appeared in various Marvel books.
Editorial #4
Finally, from May through July, 1949, this editorial appeared in Marvel's books.
Follow-up ads
In October, 1949 (Casey Crime Photographer #2, Nellie #21, and likely others), this house ad touted Marvel's assertion their books were not harmful to kids.
| | | | | |
updated 12/9/2024-10/27/2025 v5
| Title | Nov., 1948 Dec., 1948 Jan., 1949 Feb., 1949 Mar., 1949 Apr., 1949 May, 1949 Jun., 1949 Jul., 1949 | Notes | | | | | | | | | |
| All True Crime | 30
This book contains no editorial.
31
This book contains no editorial.
32
Editorial #2
33
Editorial #3
34
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | |
| All Western Winners | 2 (Winter 1948)
3
Editorial #2
4
Editorial #3
Title continues as Western Winners
| Per GCD, issue #2 has one of the editorials that starts with "Hi, Friends." | | | | | | | | | |
| Amazing Mysteries | Title continued from Sub-Mariner comics, per Overstreet. (?)
32
33
Editorial #4
Per GCD, issue #32 contains one of the editorials that begins with "A letter to our readers and their parents", which is either #3 or #4. | | | | | | | | | |
| Annie Oakley | 4
Last issue
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Awful Oscar | Title continues from Oscar
11
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Best Western | Title continued from Terry Toons or Miss America Magazine?
58
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Blackstone the Magician | Last issue (4) was Sept, 1948, but title is mentioned on later editorial page.
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Blaze Carson | 2
Editorial #1
3
Editorial #2
4
Editorial #3
Note that the title skipped a month.
5
Editorial #4
| Per GCD, issue #4 contains one of the editorials that begins with "A letter to our readers and their parents", which is either Editorial #3 or #4. | | | | | | | | | |
| Blonde Phantom | 20
21
Editorial #1
22
Title continues as Lovers
| Issue #21 contains editorial #1. Per GCD, issue #21 contains one of the editorials that begins with "A letter to our readers and their parents", but that information is incorrect. Per Overstreet, #22 also contains an unspecified anti-Wertham editorial. | | | | | | | | | |
| Captain America | 69
70
71
72
73
Per Overstreet, issue #71 contains an unspecified anti-Wertham editorial. | | | | | | | | | |
| Cindy Comics | 32
Editorial #1
33
Editorial #2
34
Editorial #3
35
Editorial #4
| Per eBayer ThePillowQueen, issue 34 contains Editorial #3. | | | | | | | | | |
| Comedy Comics | 4
5
This book contains no editorial.
6
7
8
| | | | | | | | | |
| Complete Mystery Stories | 3
Editorial #1
4
Editorial #2
Title continues as True Complete Mystery.
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Crime Fighters | 4
5
Editorial #1
6
Editorial #2
7
Editorial #3
8
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | |
| Frankie and Lana | 12
Editorial #1
13
Editorial #2
14
Editorial #3
15
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Gay Comics | 35
36
37
Editorial #3
38
Editorial #4
| Per eBayer ThePillowQueen, #35 contains an editorial, but it's unclear which one. Per eBayer Doyman, issue #37 contains Editorial #3. Per eBayer Bronze!, issue #38 contains Editorial #4. | | | | | | | | | |
| Georgie Comics | 19
This book contains no editorial.
Title continues as Georgie and Judy
Title continued from Georgie and Judy
23
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | |
| Georgie and Judy | Title continued from Georgie Comics
20
Editorial #1
21
Editorial #2
22
Editorial #3
Title continues as Georgie Comics
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Hedy DeVine | 30
31
Editorial #2
32
33
| Per Overstreet, issue #32 contains an unspecified anti-Wertham editorial. | | | | | | | | | |
| Human Torch | 33
34
35
Last issue before 1954
| Per GCD, issue #35 contains an editorial about "Dr. Wertham's crusade," which strongly suggests that it is Editorial #2. | | | | | | | | | |
| Ideal | 3
This book contains no editorial.
4
Editorial #1
5
Editorial #2
Last issue
| Per GCD, issue #4 has one of the editorials that starts with "Hi, Friends." | | | | | | | | | |
| Jeanie | 22
This book contains no editorial.
23
This book contains no editorial.
24
Editorial #2
25
Editorial #3
26
Editorial #4
Many thanks to eBayer Adam Anderson (eBay ID: blissard) for providing the data for Jeanie #22, 23 and much more. Thanks to eBayer ThePillowQueen for the Jeanie #24 data. The data for Jeanie #26 comes from GCD. | | | | | | | | | |
| Joker Comics | 34
This book contains no editorial.
35
Editorial #1
36
Editorial #2
37
Editorial #3
38
Thanks to eBayer Adam Anderson (eBay ID: Bilssard) for the Joker #34 and #37 data. #38 does contain an editorial, likely #4, but that has not been confirmed yet. Per Dick Swan (eBay ID: BigGuysComics), issue #35 contains editorial #1. Per GCD, issue #38 contains either Editorial #3 or Editorial #4. | | | | | | | | | |
| Junior Miss | 31
This book contains no editorial.
32
This book contains no editorial.
33
Editorial #2
34
Editorial #3
35
Editorial #4
Thanks to eBayer Adam Anderson (eBay ID: Bilssard) for the Junior Miss #31 data. Dick Swan (eBay ID: BigGuysComics) contributed the Junior Miss #35 data. | | | | | | | | | |
| Justice Comics | 7
8
This was very unusal at the time. A monthly Marvel book.
9
Editorial #3
10
Editorial #3. This comic went monthly, so the same bimonthly editorial ran twice.
11
Editorial #4
12
Per GCD, issues #7 and #8 each contain an editorial that starts with "Hi, Friends." It's likely these are Editorials #1 and 2, respectively, but this has not been confirmed. Per GCD, issue #12 contains either Editorial #3 or #4. Per Overstreet, issue #8 has an unspecified anti-Wertham editorial. Series note: there were additional issues #7/#8/#9 in 1947-48. If you're looking for these, be sure you are getting the correct one. | | | | | | | | | |
| Kid Colt | 3
This book contains no editorial.
4
Editorial #2
Note that title skipped a month
5
Editorial #3
6
Per GCD, issue #6 contains one of the editorials that begins with "A letter to our readers and their parents", which is either Editorial #3 or #4. | | | | | | | | | |
| Krazy Komics | 2
This book contains no editorial.
Last issue
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Lana | 3
Editorial #1
4
Editorial #2
5
Editorial #3
6
Editorial #4
| Per Tom Raski (eBayer Bronze!), issue #6 contains editorial #4. Dick Swan (eBayer BigGuysComics) indicates that issues 3, 4, and 5 have editorial 1, 2 and 3, respectively. | | | | | | | | | |
| Lawbreakers Always Lose | 5
6
Editorial #2
7
Editorial #3
8
Editorial #4
| Per GCD, issue #5 contains one of the editorials that starts with "Hi, Friends." | | | | | | | | | |
| Li'l Willie | Title continued from Willie
20
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | |
| Little Aspirin | 1
Editorial #4
Many thanks to Big Guys Comics (ebay ID: BigGuysComics) who has provided, and continues to provide, lots of information regarding these editorials. | | | | | | | | | |
| Little Lenny | 1
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Little Lizzie | 1
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Lovers | Title continued from Blonde Phantom
23
Editorial #3
24
Editorial #4
Many thanks go out to Robert Menzies, who contributed information about Lovers #23 and 24, as well as many others. | | | | | | | | | |
| Margie | 44
Editorial #1
45
Editorial #2
46
Editorial #3
47
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Marvel Mystery Comics | 89
Editorial #1
90
91
92
| Per GCD, issue #90 contains one of the editorials that starts with "Hi, Friends." | | | | | | | | | |
| Millie the Model | 15
16
Editorial #2
17
Editorial #3
18
Editorial #4
| Per Dave Reynolds, issue #18 contains Editorial #4. | | | | | | | | | |
| Mitzi's Boy Friend | 5
Editorial #1
6
Editorial #2
7
Editorial #3
Title continues as Mitzi's Romances
| Thanks to eBayer Adam Anderson (eBay ID: Blissard) for the Mitzi's Boy Friend #6 data. | | | | | | | | | |
| Mitzi's Romances | Title continued from Mitzi's Boy Friend
8
Editorial #4
| Many thanks to eBayer BigGuysComics for the Mitzi's Romances info. | | | | | | | | | |
| My Own Romance | Title continues from My Romance
4
Editorial #3
Note that issues 5 and 6 are dated 1 month apart.
5
Editorial #3. The same editorial ran twice in a row.
6
7
Editorial #4
Per GCD, issue #6 contains an editorial that begins with "A letter to our readers and their parents", which is either #3 or #4. | | | | | | | | | |
| My Romance | 2
Editorial #1
3
Editorial #2
Title continues as My Own Romance
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Namora | 3
Last issue
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Nellie the Nurse | 16
Editorial #1
17
Editorial #2
18
Editorial #3
19
Editorial #4
| Many thanks to eBayer BigGuysComics for the Nellie the Nurse #18 and #19 info. | | | | | | | | | |
| Oscar | 8
Editorial #1
9
Editorial #2
10
Editorial #3
Title continues as Awful Oscar
| Per eBayer ThePillowQueen, issue #8 contains Editorial #1. Per eBayer BigGuysComics, issue #9 contains Editorial #2. | | | | | | | | | |
| Patsy Walker | 19
This book contains no editorial.
20
Editorial #1
21
Editorial #2
22
Editorial #3
23
Editorial #4
Per GCD, issues #22 and #23 each contain an editorial that begins with "A letter to our readers and their parents". This could be Editorial #3 or #4. | | | | | | | | | |
| Powerhouse Pepper | 5
This book contains no editorial.
Last issue
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Rusty | 19
This book contains no editorial.
Note title had a hiatus of several months.
20
21
Thank you to Robert Menzies for contributing the Rusty #19 information. Per GCD, issues #20 and #21 each contain an editorial that starts with "A letter to our readers and their parents." This could be Editorial #3 or #4. | | | | | | | | | |
| Sub-Mariner | 29
30
31
32
Overstreet says title continued as Amazing Mysteries #32.
Per GCD, issue #31 has an unspecified editorial. Per GCD, issue #32 has an editorial that starts with "A letter to our readers and their parents", which could be Editoral #3 or #4. | | | | | | | | | |
| Super Rabbit | 14
Last issue
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Sun-Girl | 3
Editorial #1
Last issue
| Thanks to Robert Menzies for contributing this information. | | | | | | | | | |
| Teen Comics | 28
This book contains no editorial.
29
Editorial #1
30
31
Editorial #3
32
Overstreet indicates that issue #30 contains an unspecified anti-Wertham editorial. Per GCD, issue #30 contains an editorial that starts with "Hi, Friends." Per GCD, issue #32 contains an editorial that starts with "A letter to our readers and their parents." | | | | | | | | | |
| Tessie the Typist | 19
20
Editorial #2
21
Editorial #3
22
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Tex Morgan | 3
Editorial #1
4
Editorial #2
5
Editorial #3
6
Editorial #4
| Thank you to Robert Menzies for contributing the information about Tex Morgan #3 and #4. | | | | | | | | | |
| Tex Taylor | 2
This book contains no editorial.
3
This book contains no editorial.
4
Editorial #2
5
Editorial #3
6
Editorial #4
We are grateful to Robert Menzies for contributing the information for Tex Taylor #5 and #6. | | | | | | | | | |
| True Complete Mystery | Title continues from Complete Mystery.
5
Editorial #3
6
Editorial #4
| Thanks to Robert Menzies for contributing the information about True Complete Mysteries #6. | | | | | | | | | |
| Two-Gun Kid | 5
Editorial #1
6
Editorial #2
7
Editorial #3
8
Editorial #4
| Per David T. Alexander, issue #5 contains Editorial #1. Overstreet suggests that #5 may be the first Marvel anti-Wertham editorial. However, Blaze Carson #2 and My Romance #2 seem to disprove that. Per GCD, issue #8 contains one of the editorials that starts with "A letter to our readers and their parents." | | | | | | | | | |
| Venus | 3
Editorial #1
Note the hiatus between issues 3 and 4.
4
Editorial #3
5
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Wacky Duck | Last issue was October, 1948
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Western Winners | Title continued from All Western Winners
5
Editorial #4
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Wild Western | 4
This book contains no editorial.
5
Editorial #1
6
Editorial #2
7
Editorial #3
8
Editorial #4
Per GCD, issue #5 contains one of the editorials that starts with "Hi, Friends." | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie | 17
Editorial #1
18
Editorial #2
19
Editorial #3
Title continues as Li'l Willie
| Per GCD, issue #19 contains one of the editorials that starts with "A letter to our readers and their parents." This is Editorial #3 or #4. | | | | | | | | | |
We'd appreciate any information you can contribute about the following:
All-Western Winners #2,
Amazing Mysteries #32,
Annie Oakely #4,
Blonde Phantom #20, 22,
Captain America #69, 70, 71, 72, 73,
Comedy #4, 6, 7, 8,
Crime Fighters #4,
Gay #35, 36,
Hedy #30, 32, 33,
Human Torch #33, 34, 35,
Joker Comics #38,
Justice #7, 8, 12,
Kid Colt #6,
Lawbreakers Always Lose #5,
Marvel Mystery Comics #90, 93, 92
Millie the Model #15,
My Own Romance #6,
Namora #3,
Rusty #20, 21,
Sub-Mariner #29, 30, 31, 32,
Super Rabbit #14,
Teen #30, 32,
Misc.
| Title | Issue | | |
| ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS | 13 |  Cannibalism story "The Feast of the Ghouls" cited by T.E. Murphy in June, 1954 Reader's Digest anti-comics article. | |
| CRIME DOES NOT PAY | 63 |  Issues 63, 64- Overstreet states possible use in SOTI. This information is incorrect, although #63 does contain Gleason's code of self-censorship. | |
| HAUNT OF FEAR | 27 | | Vault Keeper pictured reading SOTI. Contains EC's plea to readers, asking them to write to the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency. | |
| JO-JO COMICS | 15 |  Cited by Dr. Wertham in May 29, 1948 Saturday Review of Literature article.
Read it!
Overstreet erroneously lists the date as 5/47. | |
| JUNGLE COMICS | 104 |  In Camilla story, villain is Dr. Wertham | |
| MISTER MYSTERY | 3 |  Anti-Wertham editorial Read it! | |
| PANIC | 3 |  Senate Subcommittee parody | |
| SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES | 14 |  All 4 stories cited by T.E. Murphy in June, 1954 Reader's Digest anti-comics article; classic story "The Orphan" is singled out. | |
| SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES | 15 |  Possible use in T.E. Murphy article | |
| SPEED COMICS | 33 |
|
|
Colton Waugh's 1947 book, The Comics focused primarily on comic strips.
However, one chapter was devoted to comic books. In that chapter, here's what Waugh had to say about Alex Schomburg's cover to Speed Comics #33.
Take a typical comic-book cover of World War II days.
Scene, a Jap wireless shack, through whose open door is seen a vessel being dive-bombed and bursting into flames. Which
side is that ship on? It isn't obvious. In the foreground a Jap is sending a message under difficulties;
he screams, revealing hideous buck-teeth as he sends. A baseball bat swung by a tough youngster has smashed
him on the head in a white explosion. Another Jap, with bloody Samurai sword in one hand, spitting gun in the other, has
has also been socked by a noble, hooded male in brilliant blue. Meanwhile a blood-red blond man is smashing the power
plant with his gloved fists -- Hey! Look out! There's a green Jap splut-sputting him with a machine gun! Yes, but
see that blond, teen-age girl crouching on the pink table; she's got a blood-red ax; she's coming down on the Jap's
head, or is she? A hideous, shaven crook is leaning through a porthole aiming a blowgun at her -- Yeah,
but see that youngster in the blue business suit jabbing a bayoneted rifle at the whole group -- But another jap is
reaching at him! Ah, but a gorgeous superwoman with blood-red hair and highly stylized harlequin mask, through which
peer blood-white eyes is strangling the Jap with one of her delicate arms, as with the other, she -- oh, well.
The layout artist, on completing this page, probably looked hopelessly at it, figured it was a failure. He had used
up every inch of available screaming space, yet, there was no block of ice enclosing a glorious, frozen girl about
to be sawed in half by a ghoulish hellscientist done up in a whie coat and pince-nez. Probably the editor, looking at
this cover, said to himself, "That layout guy Prangle is slipping. We gotta get more action."
| |
| SPIRIT | 2/27/1949 | | Wertham appears in the story as Dr. Wolfgang Worry.
A middle school music teacher is driven insane by a crime comic he rescues from a bonfire. This was reprinted in the Spirit #5.
|
| STRANGE FANTASY | 10 |  Story "Bloody Mary" cited by T.E. Murphy in June, 1954 Reader's Digest anti-comics article. | |
| TALES FROM THE CRYPT | 40 |  Used in Senate hearings & in Hartford Courant | |
| VAULT OF HORROR | 36 |  "Pipe Dream" classic opium addict story. Story "Twin Bill" Cited by T.E. Murphy in June, 1954 Reader's Digest anti-comics article. | |
| WEIRD FANTASY | 13 |  EC's Anti-Wertham "Cosmic Correspondence" | |
| WEIRD MYSTERIES | 5 |  Anti-Wertham column. Read it! | |
| WEIRD MYSTERIES | 8 |  Story "I Killed Mary" cited by T.E. Murphy in June, 1954 Reader's Digest anti-comics article | |
|
|
More Anti-Comics Items
In the 1940's and 1950's, comics were under attack by books, articles, and radio talk shows.
Since then, there have been sporadic attacks on comics. One such attack was launched in the pages of
Seduction of the Innocent Revisited by John Fulce, published in 1990. Both SOTI and SOTI Revisited had authors with strong anti-comics opinions,
and both books cited numerous examples of comics the authors felt were harmful.
However, that's where the similiarities between the two books end. Whereas SOTI was written by a well-respected psychiatrist who had impeccable research and
psychiatric credentials, SOTI Revisited cites as its author's primary credentials the fact that he previously owned
a comic book store before becoming a religious crusader. The original Seduction of the Innocent had an enormous impact upon popular culture
and nearly killed the comic book industry, but SOTI Revisited had virtually no impact whatsoever on the industry. "Revisited" is mentioned here
largely because of its name, and not because the content or influence of the book warrants its inclusion.
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