View source for Comic Book Code Authority

== History ==

The [[Comic Book Code Authority]] (CBA) was a regulatory body that oversaw the content of American comic books from 1954 to 2011. Its creation was a response to public concern about the potential harmful effects of comic books on young readers, which was fueled by the publication of psychiatrist [[Fredric Wertham]]'s book ''[[Seduction of the Innocent]]''. 

[[Image:Detail-63658.jpg|thumb|center|An image of a comic book cover displaying the Comic Book Code Authority seal.|class=only_on_mobile]]
[[Image:Detail-63659.jpg|thumb|center|An image of a comic book cover displaying the Comic Book Code Authority seal.|class=only_on_desktop]]

The CBA was administered by the Comics Magazine Association of America (CMAA), a trade organization composed of comic book publishers. The CBA's guidelines, known as the [[Comics Code]], prohibited a wide range of content, including explicit violence, sexual innuendo, and disrespect for authority figures. The Code was revised several times over the years, gradually becoming less restrictive.

== Impact on the Comic Book Industry ==

The CBA had a significant impact on the comic book industry. Many publishers went out of business because they could not or would not comply with the Code. Those that remained had to significantly alter their content, leading to a period known as the [[Silver Age of Comic Books]], characterized by more light-hearted and fantastical stories.

However, the CBA also faced criticism for its censorship practices. Some creators felt that the Code stifled creativity and limited the range of stories that could be told. In the 1970s and 1980s, some publishers began to challenge the CBA's authority by publishing comics without its seal of approval. This led to the rise of the [[direct market]], a distribution system that bypassed newsstands and sold comics directly to specialty stores.

== Decline and Abolition ==

The CBA's influence began to wane in the late 20th century. In 2001, Marvel Comics withdrew from the CMAA and implemented its own ratings system. Other publishers followed suit, and by 2011, the CBA was effectively defunct. Its demise marked the end of a significant era in comic book history.

== Legacy ==

The CBA's legacy is a topic of debate among comic book scholars. Some view it as a necessary response to public concern about the content of comic books, while others see it as a form of censorship that stifled creativity. Regardless of one's view, there is no denying that the CBA had a profound impact on the comic book industry and its evolution.

== See Also ==

* [[History of American Comics]]
* [[Censorship in the United States]]
* [[Silver Age of Comic Books]]
* [[Direct Market]]

[[Category:Comic Book History]]
[[Category:Censorship]]
[[Category:American Cultural History]]