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thegoodmariner's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes you read a book that feels like it was written specifically for you. This was one for me. It mixes classic pulp crime storytelling (my love) with an insider's knowledge of comic book history (my job). I effing loved it. You might to, but I wasn't written for you, was it?
psteve's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable story about a murder set in the comic industry in the early 1950s. Collins mixes in the Kefauver hearings about the supposed corruption, or as the title says, seduction of the innocent (children, supposedly) in the lurid comic industry of the time. The politics and milieu seem very true, and well-researched (the acknowledgements page is detailed about this). The murder, which doesn't happen until half way through the book, is a clever locked-room scenario that fits in with the scene and the characters. A very nice touch are chapter-opening illustrations that are of the style of the comics the book is about.
miloblue's review against another edition
4.0
This was a cool hard-boiled pulpy mystery based on the real life attempt at suppressing comics books in the early 1950s. It was a quick and sort of trashy read, but very enjoyable.
plaidbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Pulpy and entertaining murder mystery set against the backdrop of the 1950s comic book censorship push and Dr. Frederick Wertham's original Seduction of the Innocent book, which posited a link between juvenile delinquency and comic book reading. This is an especially fun read if you know enough about the actual events to recognize the situations and can identify the real people involved from their slightly-name-altered counterparts. That's not necessary, though, because protagonist/narrator Jack Starr will tell you all you need to know about the comics world of the time. Also, ridiculously detailed descriptions of what everyone is wearing.
I've read very little of Collins' prose work before now. I'll have to fix that.
I've read very little of Collins' prose work before now. I'll have to fix that.
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