Voices Unmasked: Comic Books in the 1970s and the Fight Against Censorship
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
History
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. David Pizzo; Dr. Eleanor Rivera; Dr. Brian Clardy
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation - Murray State Access only
Abstract/Description
Voices Unmasked: Comic Books in the 1970s and the Fight Against Censorship
Anthony J. Aubrey
Murray State University History Department
November 3, 2025
Abstract:
Until recently, a form of media that has often been overlooked by scholarly historians is comic books. Comic books are often viewed as a form of trivial entertainment; however, their benefits to historical research can be rich and extremely rewarding when considering the unique window they offer into the social, political, and cultural attitudes of the time period in which they were produced. Comic books of the 1970s are no exception. Still reeling from the effects of a moral panic that occurred in the late 1940s and into the 1950s, during which the comic book industry was effectively pressured into self-censorship in a Senate hearing, comic books leading up to the 1970s were published under strict regulations. Under these guidelines, developed by the Comics Code Authority (CCA), comic book writers and artists were often not allowed to publish the stories that they wanted to convey. Negative portrayals of government and law enforcement officials were not allowed, black characters were often excluded, portraying women as independent protagonists was greatly discouraged, and any depiction of LGBTQ characters was strictly forbidden. It was in the 1970s, however, that comic book writers and artists began to boldly and directly challenge the regulations that were laid out by the CCA decades prior. The creation of characters like Black Panther and Storm, as well as stories dealing with topics such as racism, sexism, drug use, political corruption, and homosexuality, all began to take shape during the 1970s. As the research will show, 1970s comic books gradually dismantled the CCA’s regulations by producing characters and stories that not only defied the CCA but ultimately paved the way for more influential 1980s comic books such as Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, V for Vendetta, and others. Simply put, 1970s comic books laid the groundwork for comic book writers and artists in the 1980s to prominently feature themes like LGBTQ, feminism, racism, and even political commentary on rising political figures such as Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.
Fall Scholars Week 2025
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Other Scholars Week Event
Murray State History Department
Voices Unmasked: Comic Books in the 1970s and the Fight Against Censorship
Voices Unmasked: Comic Books in the 1970s and the Fight Against Censorship
Anthony J. Aubrey
Murray State University History Department
November 3, 2025
Abstract:
Until recently, a form of media that has often been overlooked by scholarly historians is comic books. Comic books are often viewed as a form of trivial entertainment; however, their benefits to historical research can be rich and extremely rewarding when considering the unique window they offer into the social, political, and cultural attitudes of the time period in which they were produced. Comic books of the 1970s are no exception. Still reeling from the effects of a moral panic that occurred in the late 1940s and into the 1950s, during which the comic book industry was effectively pressured into self-censorship in a Senate hearing, comic books leading up to the 1970s were published under strict regulations. Under these guidelines, developed by the Comics Code Authority (CCA), comic book writers and artists were often not allowed to publish the stories that they wanted to convey. Negative portrayals of government and law enforcement officials were not allowed, black characters were often excluded, portraying women as independent protagonists was greatly discouraged, and any depiction of LGBTQ characters was strictly forbidden. It was in the 1970s, however, that comic book writers and artists began to boldly and directly challenge the regulations that were laid out by the CCA decades prior. The creation of characters like Black Panther and Storm, as well as stories dealing with topics such as racism, sexism, drug use, political corruption, and homosexuality, all began to take shape during the 1970s. As the research will show, 1970s comic books gradually dismantled the CCA’s regulations by producing characters and stories that not only defied the CCA but ultimately paved the way for more influential 1980s comic books such as Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, V for Vendetta, and others. Simply put, 1970s comic books laid the groundwork for comic book writers and artists in the 1980s to prominently feature themes like LGBTQ, feminism, racism, and even political commentary on rising political figures such as Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.