Seduction of the Innocent [Hardcover]

Frederic Wertham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2004

Result of 7 years of scientific investigation into the effects that comic books have on the minds and behavior of children who come in contact with them. His ideas on the harmful effects created by media-induced violence resonate with those who are concerned by the searing of our cultural fabric. Includes new Introduction by Wertham scholar, James E. Reibman, Ph.D.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: Main Road Books; Revised edition (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159683000X
• ISBN-13: 978-1596830004
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #521,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining Book for Comic Fans June 25, 2002

By Bobby Dillard

Format:Hardcover

This book is great to read but not for the reasons Mr. Wertham would like. In the 1950's, Wertham undertook a crusade to rid the world of comic books (yes, you read correctly) and chronicled his effort in this book. Wertham decided that comics (ALL comics) were destroyers of youth. To him, no comic book was benign. Superhero comics like Wonder Woman and Superman promoted white supremacy and homosexuality, Crime and Horror comics made kids into sadistic outlaws, etc. As a result of his book and efforts, comics were effectively neutered through the comics code. Granted some of the points Wertham made about the effects of graphic horror had on youngsters had merit, but most were far off the mark. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves comics and their history. It's also a great reference to find the most interesting comics of the 1950's.

57 of 67 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars I might argue the innocent are seduced into Wertham-bigotry December 3, 2003

By Brandon B. Alspaugh

Format:Hardcover

First of all, this book itself is a rather painful, pseudo-scientific read. Its impact on the comic industry has been well-covered, suffice to say it is responsible for the stagnation of the media for almost a half-century.

That said, Dr. Wertham has some interesting theories. He believes, for instance, not only that children can be corrupted by comics, but that this is the main reason for the existence thereof. He points to the similarities between the 'pornographic pottery' reputed to bring about the fall of ancient Rome as 'psychohistorical proof' (love that alliteration) that such things are bad.

Naturally, Batman and Robin was a thinly-veiled psychosexual tale of sodomy and child molestation, since they lived alone together, two isolated males. Similar comments about, oh, Jesus and his Apostles, or Holmes & Watson may be left with the receptionist. Similar sexual imagoes in Salvador Dali's art may be dismissed as 'that Dadaist thing'.

Dr. Wertham has a good deal to say on the effect of graphical violence on children, some of it borne out by later studies (although these studies were focused on cartoons, not still images, we can assume the same principles apply). However, the classic argument remains: you don't need to ban violence (or sex, or religious imagery, or which and what have you), just choose not to see it. Besides, there's far more raciness to be found in a Shakespeare play than your average EC comic of the time.

The problem herein is the classic 'post hoc, ergo propter hoc' fallacy: More kids are juvenile delinquents, and more kids are reading comics, therefore reading comics causes juvenile delinquency.

That said, I would love to be Dr. Wertham.... Put simply, the man could see genitalia no matter where he looked, EC comics or otherwise, which strikes me as a very useful gift. Imagine the benefits of being able to mentally construct your own pornography out of everyday items, even your breakfast cereal.

The book doesn't deserve reading on its own merits, but it is a fascinating artifact of just how nuts the McCarthy/HUAC made America in the 50s.

Oh, and for future reference, if you're going to criticize bad influences on children, old school assassin or not, you might consider correct grammar (a far greater plague on our nation's youth). 'Bleeded' is not a word. Read more ›

37 of 43 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must for Comics Fans May 27, 2000

By Jamie Jeffords

Format:Hardcover

This is the fabled book that single handedly watered down the comic book medium for going on half a century.

Wertham's ultra-puritanism and poor logic make it clear this was a man with an agenda. Granted, the arguments he made are still applied to the TV, movies, and music of today, but never, I would think, with such enthusiasm as Wertham displayed.

Most of the examples seem absurd today, even tame, but Seduction of the Innocent is a must read for anyone who wants to be well versed in the censorship tactics of those who want to control everything you see and hear. To make you just like them.

In an interesting twist, Wertham came to admire later publications of comics as fantastically created works of art. They were, of course, done by the same kids he was certained would be ruined forever by readig comics.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars interesting introspective illustration of comics August 4, 2000

By aaron gog zichterman

Format:Hardcover

Fredric Wertham illustrates and interesting (and laughable) perspective to the ideal of comic books from the perpective of a 1950's child pyschologist (that being Wertham himself). Wertham's absolutly skewed view of the secret and sudective world of comics brought the comics industry to its knees, when he published his atrosity that was meant to see the fall of the comic book industry only to see it grow and prosper after the repercussions of his book falter. The book represents the ludicurous veiws of a shallow man who wished to place the current childhood delinquincy of the times in relation to comics. Hilarious outtake on the perspective thinking of 1950's.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Wertham's work is humorous, but chilling. March 30, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is it...the book that almost single-handedly destroyed the comic book industry in the 1950s, and basically rendered it inert for several decades. Dr. Frederic Wertham presents page after page of so-called scientific evidence that links comics to the perceived juvenile delinquency problems of the era. The thing is, most of his studies read like: "Johnny shoplifts. He also reads comic books. Therefore, comic books cause Johnny to shoplift." Similar arguments would be made by critics against television, film and even classic literature throughout the rest of the century, but Wertham started the trend with this book.

A fascinating and necessary read, not just for comic fans, but free thinkers in general. Wertham's pro-censorship bent and McCarthyesque paranoia are always amusing, but also very frightening when one thinks about what could have happened to American society had his crusade ultimately succeeded.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars high rating not based on content June 13, 2005

By Milton G. Compton III

Format:Hardcover

this book is amazing, but not in the way wertham intended. it is amazing to see the utter absurdity by which he makes these claims. all of the reviews touting the scientific basis of the data are ridiculous, considering that Wertham was working backwards in the most unscientific way possible. it also interesting to note however the reviews blasting Wertham as "super puritanical" are also incorrect. wertham started out as a fairly accomplished scientist with something valid to say. he was very much involved in liberal causes, and opened a clinic in the middle of harlem giving inexpensive treatment to African-Americans in a time when such a thing was unheard of. he was the ultimate example of the slippery-slope well meaning guy taking the totally wrong tack. he was using censorship and all the tools of the current political right as a way of "protecting" those he felt were victims of violent media (the poor, less advantaged, under educated, minorities, etc). it's a fairly common condescending viewpoint taken by early liberals in this country. regardless, he was completely wrong. (read the book _Comic Book Nation_ for the details). and unlike most books hated by one group or another, i've actually read it!

also, anyone who worked for marvel and DC in the 50s and 60s has no right to blast this work. it's basically what made the "mainstream" comic industry of the past 40 years possible. truly innovative writers and publishers suffered (though EC did have Mad magazine, so how much they "suffered" may be suspect), allowing two dimensional kiddie fare to take the mainstage. comics "not just being for kids" would not really come back in to the public eye until the 70s (undergrounders like R. Crumb et al notwithstanding).