Key Collector Comics

SOTI

Seduction of the Innocent, published in 1954 by psychiatrist Dr. Frederic Wertham was one of the most impactful events in comic book history, leading to censorship in comics and the establishment of the Comics Code Authority  This category lists issues that were referenced in the book with Wertham's reasons for why comic books were damaging to the youth of America

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Classic Comics #10

Gilberton ⋅ 1943

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Classic Comics #10
 
Low
$100
Mid
$400
High
$1k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comic Code Authority

Reason: Wertham felt these comics were preventing children from reading the actual novels

HRN stands for Highest Re-order issue Number on back cover - the lower the number the earlier the printing. Generally a first printing will have an HRN that matches the issue number on the front

Classic Comics #13

Gilberton ⋅ 1943

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Classic Comics #13
 
Low
$120
Mid
$400
High
$1.6k

Key Facts

First comic book to feature a horror story throughout

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comic Code Authority

Reason: Mr. Hyde beats a little girl to death with his cane

[March 2022 - Eddie Izzard to play Dr. Nina Jekyll, who fears self-destruction from Mr. Hyde in reboot of classic horror production house, Hammer Studios]

HRN stands for Highest Re-order issue Number on back cover - the lower the number the earlier the printing. Generally a first printing will have an HRN that matches the issue number on the front

Classics Illustrated #15 [HRN 53]

Gilberton ⋅ 1943

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Classics Illustrated #15 [HRN 53]
 
Low
$75
Mid
$225
High
$850

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a stereotypical character profile of African Americans that failed to capture the humanity of the source material

HRN stands for Highest Re-order issue Number on back cover - the lower the number the earlier the printing. Generally a first printing will have an HRN that matches the issue number on the front

Dynamic Comics #17

Chesler Dynamic ⋅ 1946

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Dynamic Comics #17
 
Low
$65
Mid
$200
High
$725

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a woman wearing a skirt has one leg fastened to a chair and the other raised and tied to a box as a man approaches her with a hot poker

Red Seal Comics #16

Chesler Dynamic ⋅ 1946

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Red Seal Comics #16
 
Low
$55
Mid
$175
High
$620

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent which led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: two criminals drain the blood of an unconscious woman into a jar

Your United States

Lloyd Jacquet Studios ⋅ 1946

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Your United States
 
Low
$25
Mid
$75
High
$235

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Wertham writes, 'a man hanged from a tree, a Negro in chains, a girl about to be raped and massacred...is that what you want your children to think is the history of your United States'

Killers, The #1

Magazine Enterprises ⋅ 1947

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Killers, The #1
 
Low
$400
Mid
$1.2k
High
$4.5k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a woman is tied to a post and repeatedly lashed by a man whose love she denied

Classics Illustrated #43

Gilberton ⋅ 1947

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Classics Illustrated #43
 
Low
$50
Mid
$150
High
$500

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Wertham describes the first eight pages of this comic as being gratuitously violent and a poor representation of the source material

HRN stands for Highest Re-order issue Number on back cover - the lower the number the earlier the printing. Generally a first printing will have an HRN that matches the issue number on the front

Classics Illustrated #44

Gilberton ⋅ 1947

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Classics Illustrated #44
 
Low
$60
Mid
$175
High
$660

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: panels of a blindfolded man, tied to a chair with his eyes gouged out

Justice Traps the Guilty #13

Prize ⋅ 1947

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Justice Traps the Guilty #13
 
Low
$12
Mid
$35
High
$100

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: after witnessing the beating of an old man, a woman explains how she has become desensitized to witnessing the violence that used to disturb her

The Story of Harry S Truman #1

Commercial Comics ⋅ 1948

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The Story of Harry S Truman #1
 
Low
$15
Mid
$55
High
$150

Key Facts

Biography of Harry S Truman

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: false account of history, Truman's inspiration to run for president incorrectly credited

Jungle Comics #98

Fiction House ⋅ 1948

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Jungle Comics #98
 
Low
$35
Mid
$100
High
$315

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Wertham claims there is a hidden drawing of a nude female on a man’s shoulder

Blue Beetle #54

Fox ⋅ 1948

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Blue Beetle #54
 
Low
$1.6k
Mid
$5.5k
High
$16k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: commonly known as a 'Headlights Cover' referring to a woman's breasts

Wanted Comics #12

Orbit-Wanted ⋅ 1948

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Wanted Comics #12
 
Low
$20
Mid
$70
High
$220

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: an honest politician is murdered by a man who says 'bullets are better than ballots,' to which the narrator replies, 'ah, the impulsive boy. He's absolutely fearless. Why can't everyone be like that?"

Zoot Comics #14

Fox ⋅ 1948

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Zoot Comics #14
 
Low
$180
Mid
$600
High
$1.8k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a girl nailed by the wrists to a tree with blood flowing from her wounds

Meet Corliss Archer #1

Fox ⋅ 1948

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Meet Corliss Archer #1
 
Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1.1k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts

Planet Comics #53

Fiction House ⋅ 1948

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Planet Comics #53
 
Low
$120
Mid
$400
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: an alien threatens to burn a woman's eyes out with an electric prong

Gang Busters #3

DC ⋅ 1948

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Gang Busters #3
 
Low
$25
Mid
$75
High
$280

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Wertham calls a map drawn by criminals 'a comic-book map for crime'

Phantom Lady #17

Fox ⋅ 1948

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Phantom Lady #17
 
Low
$7.5k
Mid
$24k
High
$75k

Key Facts

Cover art by Matt Baker

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Wertham writes of the cover art, 'sexual stimulation by combining headlights with the sadist's dream of tying up a woman' -headlights a reference to her breasts

Blue Beetle #56

Fox ⋅ 1948

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Blue Beetle #56
 
Low
$170
Mid
$575
High
$1.7k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a female character expresses that a gentleman does not hit a woman with a blackjack, he uses his fists

Crime and Punishment #2

Lev Gleason ⋅ 1948

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Crime and Punishment #2
 
Low
$18
Mid
$55
High
$180

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: provides instructions on how to steal from the blind

Public Enemies #2

D.S. ⋅ 1948

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Public Enemies #2
 
Low
$25
Mid
$270
High
$225

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: the main character believes that those who disobey his orders deserve to be killed feels guilty after murdering a deaf man

Underworld #2

D.S. ⋅ 1948

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Underworld #2
 
Low
$120
Mid
$400
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a mother teaches her children to kill the police and a man chokes a high school girl to death because she denied him a kiss

True Crime Comics #2

Magazine Village ⋅ 1948

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True Crime Comics #2
 
Low
$210
Mid
$675
High
$2.3k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a man threatens to stab a woman in the eye with a syringe and criminals drag two men to their death on a gravel road, optimal for 'erasing faces'

Crime Does Not Pay #63

Lev Gleason ⋅ 1948

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Crime Does Not Pay #63
 
Low
$18
Mid
$55
High
$180

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: gratuitous violence

Reprinted from True Crime Comics #2

Meet Corliss Archer #2

Fox ⋅ 1948

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Meet Corliss Archer #2
 
Low
$50
Mid
$200
High
$500

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts

Authentic Police Cases #3

St. John ⋅ 1948

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Authentic Police Cases #3
 
Low
$55
Mid
$160
High
$600

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: criminals drain the blood of a woman, reprinted from Red Seal Comics #16

Guns of Fact and Fiction #13

Magazine Enterprises ⋅ 1948

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Guns of Fact and Fiction #13
 
Low
$25
Mid
$80
High
$250

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: the most predominant word 'GUNS' is irresponsibly marketed to children

Crime and Punishment #3

Lev Gleason ⋅ 1948

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Crime and Punishment #3
 
Low
$20
Mid
$60
High
$190

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a criminal instructs his partner to punch a man in the eye using brass knuckles and to twist them upon impact

Crime Does Not Pay #64

Lev Gleason ⋅ 1948

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Crime Does Not Pay #64
 
Low
$18
Mid
$55
High
$180

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Wertham criticizes the publisher of this issue who displayed the comics code logo but did not adhere to the rule that no blood is to be shown

Meet Corliss Archer #3

Fox ⋅ 1948

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Meet Corliss Archer #3
 
Low
$40
Mid
$150
High
$400

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Wertham said, ‘adolescent boys call these Headlight Comics’ referring to the depiction of breasts

Women Outlaws #1

Fox ⋅ 1948

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Women Outlaws #1
 
Low
$150
Mid
$500
High
$1.5k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: violent women 'giving children an image of American womanhood'

Classics Illustrated #50

Gilberton ⋅ 1948

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Classics Illustrated #50
 
Low
$18
Mid
$55
High
$165

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a poor representation of what Mark Twain's novel is about due to gratuitous violence including an eye gouge

Dagar Desert Hawk #19

Fox ⋅ 1948

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Dagar Desert Hawk #19
 
Low
$80
Mid
$250
High
$875

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: erotic hanging

Tegra Jungle Empress #1

Fox ⋅ 1948

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Tegra Jungle Empress #1
 
Low
$80
Mid
$215
High
$775

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Tegra sprays fiery radium dust on the exposed breasts of another woman

Law Against Crime #3

Essankay ⋅ 1948

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Law Against Crime #3
 
Low
$120
Mid
$400
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a couple is shown with bullet holes in their heads and stab wounds in their chests

Brenda Starr Comics #4

Four Star ⋅ 1948

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Brenda Starr Comics #4
 
Low
$150
Mid
$500
High
$1.5k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: the cover 'has nothing to do with medicine and is unmistakably sadistic'

My Life (Corliss Archer) #4

Fox ⋅ 1948

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My Life (Corliss Archer) #4
 
Low
$45
Mid
$140
High
$525

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: specializes in highly accentuated and protruding breasts in practically every illustration

Sensation Comics #81

DC ⋅ 1948

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Sensation Comics #81
 
Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a plot revolving around a man encouraging Americans to not 'let foreigners take our jobs,' suggesting the world is a violent and hateful place

Tom Mix Western #9

Fawcett ⋅ 1948

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Tom Mix Western #9
 
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$125

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: two boys find a box with a man's amputated hands inside

Nightingale

Once Upon A Time ⋅ 1948

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Nightingale
 
Low
$12
Mid
$35
High
$215

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Wertham writes, 'this book is the usual parade of invitation to sadistic perversion, race hatred and violence for violence's sake'

Famous Crimes #3

Fox ⋅ 1948

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Famous Crimes #3
 
Low
$55
Mid
$170
High
$600

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: excessive violence/electric chair panels

Crime Reporter #2

St. John ⋅ 1948

View Details
Crime Reporter #2
 
Low
$110
Mid
$330
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a woman wearing a skirt has one leg fastened to a chair and the other, raised and tied to a box as a man approaches her with a hot poker

Reprint of Dynamic Comics #17

Super Duck #22

Archie ⋅ 1948

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Super Duck #22
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$90

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: Super Duck is poised, ready to beat a rabbit with a baseball bat

Crimes By Women #3

Fox ⋅ 1948

View Details
Crimes By Women #3
 
Low
$300
Mid
$1k
High
$3k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: cover art depicting women engaged in a gunfight with police

All Top Comics #14

Fox ⋅ 1948

View Details
All Top Comics #14
 
Low
$175
Mid
$525
High
$1.9k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent which led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a panel depicts the corpses of two men 'strung up by their wrists'

Authentic Police Cases #6

St. John ⋅ 1948

View Details
Authentic Police Cases #6
 
Low
$570
Mid
$1.8k
High
$5.7k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: sexual innuendo of a woman speaking to a man saying, "ya ain't gonna shoot anybody with dat rod are ya?"

Real Clue #9

Hillman ⋅ 1948

View Details
Real Clue #9
 
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$110

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: inspires children to attack other children due to a story about a mother who orders and supervises the beating of slow-paying customers to her criminal enterprise

Superman #55

DC ⋅ 1948

View Details
Superman #55
 
Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1.1k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a policeman is shot in the mouth with a water pistol and also advertisements for B-B guns

Rulah Jungle Goddess #21

Fox ⋅ 1948

View Details
Rulah Jungle Goddess #21
 
Low
$130
Mid
$450
High
$1.3k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: implication that the United States tests biological weapons on African natives

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