From: [aa 993] at [FreeNet.Carleton.CA] (Christopher L. Tumber)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc,rec.arts.comics.info
Subject: [OPINION] Ottawa Citizen On Comic Books: Wrong _Again_!
Date: Sun, 01 Sep 96 19:24:19 GMT

In Friday's review of The Crow: City of Angel's ("City of Angels lacks Lee
and mythic quality of 1994 film", The Ottawa Citizem, Friday, August 30,
1996, Page C9) Jay Stone, reacting to some depravity in the movie, asks:

"Remember when comic books were comic?"

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. That's because many still _are_. For example,
Donald Duck (et al) published by Gemstone, Animaniacs by DC, The Simpsons by
Bongo and Archie (et al) by Archie Comics.

Funny though, I thought Mr. Stone was reviewing a _movie_, not the comic
book upon which it is based. Has Mr. Stone even seen or read the comic book?
Surely he must have if he's comenting upon its content even though his
column gives no indication of this or that he is in fact a comic book
as well as movie reviewer. I'm sure Mr. Stone would not make the mistake
of assuming Hollywood's usage of any outside inspiration, be it comic book,
book, television or any other media would be 100% accurate...

Of course Mr. Stone is probably just sloppy from overwork (three reviews in
that edition!) and can be forgiven a clever quip at the expense of a sweeping
generalisation. However, since correcting The Citizen's misrepresentations of
the comic book medium is becoming something of a hobby (see Hilary Kemsley's
hatchet job, "New breed of comics unrelenting trash" from the July 16th
Citizen for the previous example of this newspaper's bias and ignorance)
even this offhand remark shall not pass unchallenged.

The conceit that comics are or once were the exclusive domain of humor or
children is patently _wrong_ and smacks of nostalgic revisionism. Humor and
children's comics have long been an important part of the medium, however,
just as film is not restricted to just _Carpool_ and _Alaska_ so too comics
are not now, nor have they _ever_ been exclusively funnybooks.

What follows is a brief historical survey of not funny and often not
for children comic books dating back to the dawn of the medium which are in
many cases every bit as "Over the top" as anything in City of Angels:


[Sources: The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, 26th Edition
          The Photo-Journal Guide To Comic Books Volume One and Two
          and the comics themselves.]


   Mystery Men 7 February, 1940, Fox Publications
    Cover: The Blue Beetle has just saved a bound women from a branding
           iron by shooting her assailant in the face.

   Crime Does Not Pay 22, July 1942, Lev Gleason Publications
    Cover: A knife is thrust through a hand (The first crime comic)

   Pep Comics 34, December 1942, MLJ Magazines
    Cover: A Nazi monster threatens a girl's face with a large hypodermic.
          (Yes, Archie's in this comic.)

   Human Torch 12, Summer 1943, Timely Comics
    Cover: Graphically depicts the Human Torch melting the arm of a
           Japanese soldier with his fiery touch. Bone is visible through
           the burn.

   Marvel Mystery Comics 51, January 1944, Timely Comics
    Cover: The Human Torch arrives just in time to save a hogtied Toro from
           being branded with a swastika.

   Suspense Comics 3, April 1944, Continental Magazines
    Cover: Hooded clansmen threaten to sacrifice a bound girl with a large
           knife.

   Phantom Lady 17, April 1948, Fox Features
    Cover: Phantom lady is bound with ropes and wearing a very provocative
           outfit while striking a classic cheesecake pose.

   Horrific 3, January 1953, Comic Media
    Cover: Man with bullet hole in forehead.

   Mister Mystery 12, July/August 1953, Media Publishers
    Cover: Close-up as red-hot poker approaches a man's eye.

   Tomb of Terror 15, May 1954, Harvey Publications
    Cover: Left side of man's face explodes graphicaly (Yes, this is the
           same publisher as Richie Rich).

   Creepy and Eerie begin publication in 1965 by Warren Magazines. Magazine
   sized horror comics in the EC tradition.

   Zap 1, by Robert Crumb is published in 1967 solidifying the underground
   comix. A scene celebrating sex, drugs and rock 'n roll.

   Green Lantern/Green Arrow 76-122, April 4, 1970-December 1979: Series
   deals with many relevant social issues including poverty, racism and drug
   abuse (heroin).

   Amazing Spider-Man 97-98, June-July 1971, Marvel Comics: Anti-Drug story,
   not approved by the Comic Code Authority.

   Adventure Comics 431-440, late 1974-early 1975, DC Comics: Extremely
   violent series of Spectre stories. Cover of 431 shows the Spectre causing
   a criminal's hands to melt. Later issues have the Spectre cutting criminals
   in two with giant scissors, turning criminals to glass so they fall and
   shatter, turning criminals into wood and sending them through a sawmill,
   etc..

   Heavy Metal Magazine begins publication in April 1977 with a decidedly
   European take on sex and violence.

   Cerebus 1, December 1977, Aardvark-Vanaheim. Beings run as simple sword
   and sorcery funny animals, but matures into a complex study of politics,
   sociology, psychology, etc.. Arguably the most successful Canadian comic
   ever, certainly the longest running.