Are there specific guidelines for the Comics Code Authority?

[Russkafin]

I was reading the latest issue of "Superman/Batman," and I was surprised to see a panel where Batman's throat is slit open and Superman is shot in the head with a kryptonite bullet. Granted, the characters were alive again a page later (it was part of an alternate reality collapsing in on itself), but I still thought it was surprisingly graphic. The issue also ended with Batman shooting Joe Chill in the head and killing him.

I don't have a problem with this type of violence, personally, but it occured to me that if a parent bought an issue like this for their child they would probably be pretty surprised by it. And yes, the issue does bear the "Approved By The Comics Code Authority" stamp on the cover.

My question is, are there any specific guidelines that the Comics Code uses when approving a comic book? I know back in the day when it was created there was a list of things like "no vampires," "you can't use the word 'Horror' in the title," etc., which was mainly to shut down EC's line of horror comic books. But, those rules don't hold much relevance today. How exactly does the CCA judge a book by today's standards?

I don't really understand why DC clings to this antiquated system... I much prefer Marvel's self-imposed ratings sytem, which seems more appropriate and relavant today (though I confess I still dont know exactly what "PSR" stands for... is it Parental Supervision Reccomended? Something along those lines, maybe?)

[Beyond Batman]

I've often wondered about this too, why DC clings to that ancient "authority code." Considering how the content in comics has changed considerably, you'd think a new system would've been adopted by now, and that guidelines would be a bit more defined. In my opinion, I think the stamp is still their, more so for tradition than for an approval rating. I'm just happy comics today haven't suffered the politics of censorship, and I hope it continues that way.

[Shawn Hopkins]

From reading the books that get approved, it is hard to tell what the code prohibits now. I think it's obsolete myself, and I prefer Marvel's rating system. Even though it has flaws you can get an idea of what you're getting with a Max book, for instance.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

There's a good article about the history and development of the CCA guidelines at this page (http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/comics/cca.html). It also includes a link to the original 1954 (!) language.

As far as I can tell, the last time the CCA guidelines were updated was 1971, and the text can be found here (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8580/cca2.html).

These days, I suspect there's a lot more leeway about what gets and doesn't get CCA approval. There's also been a general raising of tolerance for violence in society -- movies that would have gotten an R a 10-20 years ago get a PG-13 today, for instance.

If they showed naked people, on the other hand, you can bet your bottom dollar that there would be no CCA seal.

-- Ed/Ace