For the romantic and reactionary part in us

Lovelorn CoverI have just found a must-read for those devoted to true love, romance, marriage and the connected fortunes. The Golden Age Romance Comics Archive collects comics published in the 1950s and 60s covering the mentioned themes from a somewhat naturally outdated perspective. They have pretty straight forward titles like I Loved, Lovelorn or Romantic Marriage enabling the reader to choose the right issue for the moment. Best of all, the magazines are accompanied by colorful covers that get into the midst of the tragic dilemma created by armor‘s intentions. But also the comic itself is often printed in color so that the pleasure provoked by the cover will hold during the reading.
The archive also has a Very Brief History of Romance Comics giving some historical insight. Interestingly, in 1954 the comic trade in the U.S. has agreed on a Comics Code that has led to practical censoring. This codex has set up actual censoring guidelines pointed out on another page including:

1. Crimes shall never be presented in such a way as to create sympathy for the criminal, to promote distrust of the forces of law and justice, or to inspire others with a desire to imitate criminals.
2. No comics shall explicitly present the unique details and methods of a crime.
3. Policemen, judges, government officials, and respected institutions shall never be presented in such a way as to create disrespect for established authority.
4. If crime is depicted it shall be as a sordid and unpleasant activity.
5. Criminals shall not be presented so as to be rendered glamorous or to occupy a position which creates the desire for emulation.
6. In every instance good shall triumph over evil and the criminal punished for his misdeeds.

While I’m reading through those, I’m wondering whether hollywood had or still has similiar guidelines.


About this entry