Found SOTI Comic Books
SeductionOfTheInnocent.org Homepage     Editions of Seduction of the Innocent, comic books used in Seduction of the Innocent, and the 'Lost SOTI' books     Dr. Fredric Wertham biography, bibliography, and more     The Anti-Comic-Book crusade of the 1940's and 1950's     The Comics Code, which came about in response to the criticisms leveled by SOTI as well as additional public and legislative pressure     Links to sites that have additional related information.     Frequently Asked Questions
   
  Editions  
  Used in SOTI  
  Lost SOTI Comics  
  Wertham Missed It!  
  SOTI Bibliography  
  Errors  
  The Influence  
of SOTI  
   

   
  Comics Used in SOTI  
  Ads Used in SOTI  
  Other Items Used in SOTI  
  Reprints of SOTI Comics  
  Downloadable SOTI Comics  
   

 
SeductionOfTheInnocent.org, a site about comic book censorship and more
Mirror site at www.LostSOTI.org
 

 

One chapter of Seduction of the Innocent was titled "Bumps and Bulges". In it, Dr. Wertham described some of the advertising that he found in what he deemed to be "children's" comic books. Below are some examples:
SOTI Reference
Example of the ad Wertham was describing
From SOTI, page 209, A full-page advertisement illustrated with photos of muscular he-men says: From a SKINNY WEAKLING to a MIGHTY MAN! . . . I gained 53 lbs. of MIGHTY MUSCLE. 6 and a half inches on my CHEST; 3 inches on each ARM. You can do it in 10 minutes a day! Presently the same advertisement appeared (December,1953) in a super-endorsed comic book with a public service page of the National Social Welfare Assembly. Now "Skinny" gains "70 lbs." of mighty muscle, his chest grows "7 inches" and his arms "3 and a half inches each"!
This ad comes from Love Problems and Advice Illustrated #16.
This ad can be found in Love Problems and Advice Illustrated #16
On page 217 of SOTI, Dr. Wertham discusses what he describes as voyeur ads, including an ad for binoculars that indicates, Bring in distant people with amazing clarity and sharp detail . . . See without being seen . . . ($3.94)
This ad from My Own Romance #16 doesn't contain that exact text, but is likely an ad for the same product.
This ad can be found in Love Problems and Advice Illustrated #16
On page 217 of SOTI, you'll find the following, One is for a course for boys on getting along with girls: It's Easy to Win Her! Women are funny - Put psychology to work. No more clumsy mistakes for you . . Don't be a Faux pas!
This ad appears in Justice Traps the Guilty #25 and 31, among other places.
On page 210 of SOTI, Another ad advising you how to become "an all-around HE-MAN" says "Prove it to yourself in one night!"
This ad comes from Justice Traps the Guilty #31.

 
Do you have information to contribute?
Or would you like to join our TOTALLY SPAMLESS mailing list?
E-mail us!