Hidden images in comic books

In Seduction of the Innocent, published in 1954, Fredric Wertham accused comic books of corrupting youth. One of the specific ways they did this, he alleged, was by concealing images of naked women in seemingly inoffensive panels. He helpfully reproduced one of these hidden images in his book.

The image in question originally appeared in Jungle Comics #98, Feb 1948.

via Legends & Rumors

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Posted By: Alex - Mon Apr 25, 2022
Category: Censorship, Bluenoses, Taboos, Prohibitions and Other Cultural No-No’s | Comics

Comments

I had a book at one time titled "Subliminal Seduction" about a claim of sexual innuendo in mainstream advertising. It was an overblown argument that Madison Avenue used heavy references of sex in illustrations for products. I finally concluded that people see what they want to see.

Posted by KDP on 04/26/22 at 08:40 AM

KDP, I recall that very same book. It seemed to me, perusing it's various illustrations of the word 'SEX" written on crackers and ice cubes that it had to be one person doing the subliminals because the "writing" was all in the same oddly scrawled handwriting...

Posted by Brewvet on 04/26/22 at 11:22 AM

The book "Seduction of the Innocent" is very valuable, and even shows up in some Comic Book Price Guides. I read a copy from a library, years ago. It is interesting. If you find a copy at a flea market or estate sale, etc. grab it. I think it is comic book collectors who will pay hundreds for it.

Posted by Patrick on 04/27/22 at 06:52 AM

I read Subliminal Seduction back when I was in college, too. I thought it was complete bs until I was browsing a magazine and found one of the ads oddly compelling. On further inspection of the ad, I noticed that there was an airbrushed "S E X" in the suit jacket of the man in the ad.

Now, this was 30+ years ago (mid '80s), and that's the only instance I can point to, so it's certainly not as common as Ancel Keys claims.

But it *does* happen.

Posted by Eric Brown on 04/27/22 at 10:40 AM

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