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nikkibd4033's review against another edition
3.0
At the end of this book, there's a list of names of people who stopped working in the comics industry (whether by choice or not) by the time Fredric Wertham had his way. It's the most gut-wrenching part of the entire book. Because you realize the Wertham really destroy lives. It's not just a bunch of silly books he stopped from getting printed. He was an anti-constitutional tyrant and he really fucked with people's livelihoods and their art.
So fuck him. Culture wars are stupid.
So fuck him. Culture wars are stupid.
bhalpin's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It certainly focuses more on the great comic book scare and only really hints at how it changed America, but I found the whole thing riveting, especially because it's so familiar--the emotional outcry against comics was impervious to logic and evidence, pretty much like the emotional outcry against--well, pick your pop culture target: metal, video games, horror movies, etc. etc. Essential for anyone who likes comic books, recommended for anyone who likes freedom of expression.
expendablemudge's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 4* of five
Just read it. It's sixteen kinds of fascinating and a few more kinds of awesome.
Seriously. Just go get one and read it! Quit looking at reviews! Too much good stuff in here that anyone alive in this horrifying over-religioned right wing fucking nightmare country we've allowed to develop in our beloved USA should know about! Censorship and fear-mongering and lying sack-of-shit conservatives are not new developments...just more common than ever.
ETA This encouragement brought to you by someone who has never liked comic books even when they're called "graphic novels" and got all pretentious and stuff. It's still an excellent read, and a hugely important subject.
Just read it. It's sixteen kinds of fascinating and a few more kinds of awesome.
Seriously. Just go get one and read it! Quit looking at reviews! Too much good stuff in here that anyone alive in this horrifying over-religioned right wing fucking nightmare country we've allowed to develop in our beloved USA should know about! Censorship and fear-mongering and lying sack-of-shit conservatives are not new developments...just more common than ever.
ETA This encouragement brought to you by someone who has never liked comic books even when they're called "graphic novels" and got all pretentious and stuff. It's still an excellent read, and a hugely important subject.
benedward's review against another edition
5.0
"I think Hitler was a beginner compared to the comic-book industry!" - Frank Wertham
His solution to these terrible Hitlerian books? Burn them. Wertham wouldn't be the first or last famous psychiatrist to fail to notice his own hypocrisy.
The Ten Cent Plague is an excellent and detailed account of a period of madness, and censorship that gripped America during the late 40s and 50s.
I'd actually recommend everyone read about this period of time. Outside of comic book circles the extreme censorship that took down an industry loved by millions seems to have been mostly forgotten. Reputations were destroyed. Livelihoods were taken away. All in the name of protecting the children who promptly turned right around and consumed their objectionable material from television instead.
It's amazing what people will do to save the children from the corrupting influence of media. Imagine what they could do if they decided to fund schools, daycares, rec centers, mentorship programs, or God forbid just spend a little time with them...
His solution to these terrible Hitlerian books? Burn them. Wertham wouldn't be the first or last famous psychiatrist to fail to notice his own hypocrisy.
The Ten Cent Plague is an excellent and detailed account of a period of madness, and censorship that gripped America during the late 40s and 50s.
I'd actually recommend everyone read about this period of time. Outside of comic book circles the extreme censorship that took down an industry loved by millions seems to have been mostly forgotten. Reputations were destroyed. Livelihoods were taken away. All in the name of protecting the children who promptly turned right around and consumed their objectionable material from television instead.
It's amazing what people will do to save the children from the corrupting influence of media. Imagine what they could do if they decided to fund schools, daycares, rec centers, mentorship programs, or God forbid just spend a little time with them...
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