Comics Code Authority
The Comics Code Authority was an industry-run regulatory body for mainstream comic book publishers.
History
Hysterical Origins
The CCA was created in 1954 as a way to avoid government regulation of the comic book industry, which back then was wrongly accused of encouraging juvenile delinquency. Scathing biased studies published by self-professed experts such as Dr. Fredric Wertham painted even mainstream comic book characters in a bad light.
Fearing government regulation of the industry, the Comics Magazine Association of America created the CCA, which was patterned after a similar self-regulatory body for motion pictures. The Authority would use a stamp to show that each issue was properly vetted by an independent body based on the content and the message it gave. Often that message would encourage respect for authority, respect for the government, and that criminals never profit from their activities. It also prohibited acts of violence, gore, zombies, salacious behavior, and displays of nudity.
Many mainstream publishers abided by the rules of the CCA and would not publish an issue that could not get their approval, although there were several exceptions.
Exceptions
In the early 1970's, Stan Lee and Marvel Comics were approached by the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to create a special issue of Spider-Man that dealt with drug abuse. Although Lee was eager to do the issue, the CCA rejected it because it would involve drugs, which was a clear violation of their standards, even though they were being encouraged to publish it by the Nixon Administration. Marvel went ahead with the issue but without the CCA stamp. Rival publisher DC Comics would follow suit with their own anti-drug subject.
Decline
Starting in 2001, mainstream publishers began abandoning the CCA for their own rating system, or abandoning the rating system entirely. In addition, publishers realized that graphic novels did not require CCA approval, so stories would be published as graphic novels that would not otherwise be published in mainstream comics, and to do so without any kind of advisory message.
The Comics Code Authority was officially discontinued in 2011 when the last of the publishers, Archie Comics, abandoned the practice.
Use in Fan-Made Comics
Creators of fan-made comics (as well as creators of faux comic covers) sometimes make the mistake of duplicating the official CCA stamp for their cover to give the illusion that their work is an official commercial publication. Since the official CCA stamp was an industry standard, and is currently owned by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, it could be argued that using that stamp in a fan-made publication is akin to committing fraud.
Members of the City of Comic Creators can use a special CCC stamp patterned after the original CCA counterpart. Other comic creators can come up with some other image in lieu of a CCA Stamp.
CCC members can also take part in the MMO Comic Index Content Ratings System, which is completely voluntary.
