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50-503: In 1959, during a revival of the popularity of superhero comics in America, DC Comics' editor Julius Schwartz decided to reinvent the 1940s superhero character Green Lantern as a science fiction hero. Schwartz's new conception of Green Lantern had a different name ( Hal Jordan ), costume, and origin story, and no connection to the original Green Lantern. Whereas the Green Lantern of the 1940s

100-570: A "zuvembie". DC comics published their own zombie story in Swamp Thing #16 (May 1975), where the deceased rise from their graves, while a soul-devouring demon appears in Swamp Thing #15 (April 1975). Around this time, the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare approached Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Stan Lee to do a story about drug abuse. Lee agreed and wrote

150-424: A panel of industry professionals. The inaugural recipient was science-fiction and fantasy Grand Master Ray Bradbury . Additional awards, presented by Schwartz each year, included Forrest J. Ackerman , Yoshitaka Amano , Alice Cooper , Will Eisner , Harlan Ellison, Neil Gaiman , Carmine Infantino , Anne McCaffrey , Peter David , Jim Steranko , and Micky Dolenz . In addition to his induction into both of

200-508: A previous marriage) died from the same illness. Schwartz died at the age of 88, after being hospitalized for pneumonia . He was survived by his son-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He remained a " goodwill ambassador " for DC Comics and an Editor Emeritus up until his death. In 1998, Dragon*Con chairman Ed Kramer established the Julie Award, bestowed for universal achievement spanning multiple genres and selected each year by

250-830: A small town outside Bucharest , Romania . Julius and his parents resided at 817 Cauldwell Avenue in the Bronx . He graduated at age seventeen from Theodore Roosevelt High School in The Bronx. In 1932, Schwartz co-published (with Mort Weisinger and Forrest J. Ackerman ) Time Traveller , one of the first science fiction fanzines . Schwartz and Weisinger also founded the Solar Sales Service literary agency (1934–1944) where Schwartz represented such writers as Alfred Bester , Stanley G. Weinbaum , Robert Bloch , Ray Bradbury , and H. P. Lovecraft , including some of Bradbury's first published work and Lovecraft's last. Schwartz helped organize

300-590: A story arc involving Green Arrow's teen sidekick Speedy as a heroin addict. A cover line read, "DC attacks youth's greatest problem... Drugs!" Through the 80s and 90s there was a break away from the Comics Code Authority. In 1984 the Comics Code Authority denied Swamp Thing issue #29 the seal of approval, DC decided to continue publishing the title without it. Some subsequent DC series including Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns , both of which premiered in 1986, would launch without ever having had

350-470: A three-part Spider-Man story, portraying drug use as dangerous and unglamorous. While the Code did not specifically forbid depictions of drugs, a general clause prohibited "All elements or techniques not specifically mentioned herein, but which are contrary to the spirit and intent of the code, and are considered violations of good taste or decency". The CCA had approved at least one previous story involving drugs,

400-552: A widespread public concern over graphic violence and horror imagery in comic books. It named New York magistrate Charles F. Murphy (1920–1992), a specialist in juvenile delinquency , to head the organization and devise a self-policing "code of ethics and standards" for the industry. He established the Comics Code Authority (CCA), basing its code upon the largely unenforced code drafted by the Association of Comics Magazine Publishers in 1948, which in turn had been modeled loosely after

450-410: A writer's credit on the first page of the story; that led to DC beginning to credit creators in its supernatural-mystery anthologies. The Code was revised a number of times during 1971, initially on January 28, to allow for, among other things, the sometimes "sympathetic depiction of criminal behavior... [and] corruption among public officials" ("as long as it is portrayed as exceptional and the culprit

500-728: Is featured in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Smallville Season 11 digital comic based on the TV series . The Green Lantern Corps appear in Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #6. The Green Lantern Corps are reinterpreted as the Avant Guard in The Refrigerator Monologues . The following writers have been involved in the ongoing Green Lantern Corps series: This listing

550-481: Is for the "core" series or limited series to feature the Green Lantern Corps in their various incarnations over the years: Some of the stories have been collected into trade paperbacks and hardcover : Julius Schwartz Julius " Julie " Schwartz ( / ʃ w ɔːr t s / SHWORTS ; June 19, 1915 – February 8, 2004) was an American comic book editor , and a science fiction agent . He

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600-498: Is punished") as well as permitting some criminal activities to kill law-enforcement officers and the "suggestion but not portrayal of seduction." The clause "suggestive posture is unacceptable" was removed. Also newly allowed were "vampires, ghouls and werewolves... when handled in the classic tradition such as Frankenstein , Dracula , and other high calibre literary works written by Edgar Allan Poe , Saki , Conan Doyle and other respected authors whose works are read in schools around

650-511: The 1940 Hollywood Production Code , also known as the "Hays Code". Before the CCA was adopted, some cities already had organized public burnings and bans on comic books. The city councils of Oklahoma City , Oklahoma , and Houston , Texas , passed ordinances banning crime and horror comics, although an attempt by Los Angeles County , California , was deemed unconstitutional by the courts. In his introduction to Archie Americana Series Best of

700-719: The Batman with a series of stories reestablishing the character's dark, brooding nature. Schwartz edited Detective Comics until issue #481 (Dec. 1978/Jan. 1979) and Batman until issue #309 (March 1979). From 1971 to 1986 Schwartz was the editor of the Superman titles, helping to modernize the settings of the books and move them away from "gimmick" stories to stories with more of a character-driven nature. This included an attempt to scale back Superman's powers while removing kryptonite as an overused plot device. This proved short-lived, with Schwartz bowing to pressure to restore both elements in

750-626: The Bold #34 (February–March 1961); and the Atom in Showcase #34 (Sept-Oct. 1961). A character Schwartz created himself, Adam Strange , debuted in Showcase #17 (Nov–Dec. 1958), and was unusual in that he used his wits and scientific knowledge, rather than superpowers, to solve problems. Schwartz first thought the concept of the Justice League of America as an updating of the Justice Society and

800-566: The CCA Seal of approval, and the DC Vertigo imprint in 1993 covered areas including horror and did not launch with CCA approval. A late adopter of the code was Now Comics , which began displaying the Code seal on titles released in early 1989. The CCA rejected an issue of the Marvel Comics series X-Force , requiring changes to be made in 2001. Instead, Marvel stopped submitting its comics to

850-432: The CCA's argument for denying approval was deemed counterproductive. "That was the only big issue that we had" with the Code, Lee recalled in a 1998 interview: I could understand them; they were like lawyers, people who take things literally and technically. The Code mentioned that you mustn't mention drugs and, according to their rules, they were right. So I didn't even get mad at them then. I said, 'Screw it' and just took

900-534: The CCA. Bongo Comics discontinued using the Code without any announcements regarding its abandonment in 2010. The CMAA, at some point in the 2000s, was managed by the trade-organization management firm the Kellen Company, which ceased its involvement in 2009. In 2010, some publishers, including Archie, placed the seal on their comics without submitting them to the CMAA. Archie Comics President Mike Pellerito said that

950-461: The Code seal off for those three issues. Then we went back to the Code again. I never thought about the Code when I was writing a story, because basically I never wanted to do anything that was to my mind too violent or too sexy. I was aware that young people were reading these books, and had there not been a Code, I don't think that I would have done the stories any differently. Lee and Marvel drew criticism from DC head Carmine Infantino "for defying

1000-492: The Comics Code Authority by agreeing to handle only those comics with the seal." Publisher William Gaines believed that clauses forbidding the words "crime", "horror", and "terror" in comic book titles had been deliberately aimed at his own best-selling titles Crime SuspenStories , The Vault of Horror , and Tales from the Crypt . Wertham dismissed the code as an inadequate half-measure. Comics analyst Scott McCloud , on

1050-477: The Fifties , editor Victor Gorelick reminisced about the code, writing, "My first assignment, as a new art assistant, was to remove cleavages and lift up low cut blouses on Katy Keene ." He also wrote of Archie artist Harry Lucey that, "His sometimes suggestive storytelling–and he was one of the best–almost cost him his job. When his pencilled stories came in, the characters were dressed on one page only. A woman who

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1100-522: The United States . The code was voluntary, as there was no law requiring its use, although some advertisers and retailers looked to it for reassurance. Some publishers including Dell , Western , and Classics Illustrated , never used it. Its code, commonly called "the Comics Code", lasted until the early 21st century. The CC formation followed a moral panic centered around a series of Senate hearings and

1150-527: The book's host introduces the story "The Stuff that Dreams are Made of" as one told to him by "a wandering wolfman". (All-capitals comics lettering made no distinction between "wolfman" and "Wolfman".) The CCA rejected the story and flagged the "wolfman" reference as a violation. Fellow writer Gerry Conway explained to the CCA that the story's author was in fact named Wolfman; he asked whether it would still be in violation if that were clearly expressed. The CCA agreed that it would not be, as long as Wolfman received

1200-416: The code did not affect his company the way that it did others as "we aren't about to start stuffing bodies into refrigerators ." DC Comics announced on January 20, 2011, that it would discontinue participation adopting a rating system similar to Marvel's. The company noted that it submitted comics for approval through December 2010, but would not say to whom they were submitted. A day later, Archie Comics ,

1250-618: The code", stating that DC will not "do any drug stories unless the code is changed". As a result of publicity surrounding the Department of Health, Education and Welfare's sanctioning of the storyline, however, the CCA revised the Code to permit the depiction of "narcotics or drug addiction" if presented "as a vicious habit". DC itself then broached the topic in the Code-approved Green Lantern / Green Arrow #85 (Sept. 1971), with writer Denny O'Neil and artist Neal Adams beginning

1300-434: The comic-book industry's halls of fame, Schwartz received a great deal of other recognition over the course of his career, including: Schwartz has appeared as himself in a number of comics: Nick Cardy on the popular but apocryphal anecdote , told by Schwartz, about Carmine Infantino firing Cardy over not following a cover layout, only to rehire him moments later when Schwartz praised the errant cover art: [A]t one of

1350-717: The company's first attempt at reviving superheroes: an updated version of the Flash that would appear in Showcase #4 (October 1956). The eventual success of the new, science-fiction oriented Flash heralded the wholesale return of superheroes and the beginning of what fans and historians call the Silver Age of Comic Books . Schwartz also worked with writers John Broome and Gardner Fox and revived other superheroes such as Green Lantern in Showcase #22 (October 1959); Hawkman in The Brave and

1400-485: The conventions ... I said, "You know, Carmine, Julie Schwartz wrote something in [his autobiography] that I don't remember at all and it doesn't sound like you at all." And I told him the incident ... and he said, "That's crazy. You know I always loved your work. Gee, you were one of the best artists in the business. The guy's crazy." So I said, "Okay, come on." We went over to Julie Schwartz's table and we told him what our problem was. And Carmine and I said, "We don't remember

1450-575: The depiction of narcotics being used, regardless of the context, whereas the Deadman story had depicted only a wholesale business transaction. Confident that the original government request would give him credibility, and with the approval of his publisher Martin Goodman , Lee ran the story in The Amazing Spider-Man #96–98 (May–July 1971), without CCA approval. The storyline was well received, and

1500-501: The early 2000s, publishers bypassed the CCA and Marvel Comics abandoned it in 2001. By 2010, only three major publishers still adhered to it: DC Comics , Archie Comics , and Bongo Comics . Bongo broke with the CCA in 2010. DC and Archie followed in January 2011, rendering the code defunct . The Comics Magazine Association of America (CMAA) was formed in September 1954 in response to

1550-559: The first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939. In 1944, while looking for work, he was encouraged by his client, Alfred Bester, who was writing " Green Lantern " at the time, to apply as an editor at All-American Publications , a subsidiary of DC Comics via editor-in-chief Sheldon Mayer, replacing Dorothy Roubicek . In 1956, after the formation of the Comics Code Authority , Schwartz worked along with writer Robert Kanigher and artists Carmine Infantino and Joe Kubert on

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1600-678: The idea was then developed by Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky . The new team debuted in The Brave and the Bold #28 (February/March 1960), and received its own title in October 1960. It became one of the most successful series of the Silver Age. Schwartz oversaw the introduction of the Elongated Man in The Flash #112 (May 1960) by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino. In 1964, Schwartz

1650-497: The incident." So Julie said, "Well, it's a good story, anyway." [laughs] And that was it. He let it go at that. [laughs] He just made it up. As editor unless noted: Comics Code Authority The Comics Code Authority ( CCA ) was formed in 1954 by the Comics Magazine Association of America as an alternative to government regulation. The CCA enabled comic publishers to self-regulate the content of comic books in

1700-472: The lead character was not black. After an order by code administrator Judge Charles Murphy to change the final panel, which depicted a black astronaut, Gaines engaged in a heated dispute with Murphy. He threatened to inform the press of Murphy's objection to the story if they did not give the issue the Code Seal, causing Murphy to reverse his initial decision and allow the story to run. Soon after, however, facing

1750-500: The only other publisher still participating in the Code, announced it also was discontinuing it, rendering the Code defunct. The vast majority of advertisers had ceased making decisions on the basis of the CCA stamp over the past few years, according to a January 24, 2011 Newsarama report. Most new publishers to emerge during this time did not join the CCA, regardless of whether their content conformed to its standards. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund announced that it would acquire

1800-537: The other hand, later commented that it was as if, in drawing up the code, "the list of requirements a film needs to receive a G rating was doubled, and there were no other acceptable ratings!" In one early confrontation between a comic-book publisher and the code authorities, EC Comics ' William Gaines reprinted the story " Judgment Day ", from the pre-code Weird Fantasy #18 (April 1953), in Incredible Science Fiction #33 (February 1956). The reprint

1850-551: The premiere of Deadman in Strange Adventures #205 (Oct. 1967), which clearly depicted the title character fighting opium smugglers (as well as the name "Deadman" being classed as a violation that was eventually allowed). However, Code administrator Leonard Darvin "was ill" at the time of the Spider-Man story, and acting administrator John L. Goldwater (publisher of Archie Comics ) refused to grant Code approval because of

1900-400: The producers of many TV shows aimed at children. Some publishers thrived under these restrictions, while others adapted by cancelling titles and focusing on code-approved content; still others went out of business. In practice, the negative effect of not having CCA approval was lack of distribution by the comic book wholesalers, who, as one historian observed, "served as the enforcement arm of

1950-480: The publication of psychiatrist Fredric Wertham 's book Seduction of the Innocent . Members submitted comics to the CCA, which screened them for adherence to its code, then authorized the use of their seal on the cover if the book was found to be in compliance. At the height of its influence, it was a de facto censor for the entire U.S. comic book industry, with most comics requiring a seal to be published. By

2000-684: The script, sometimes rewriting extensively. Schwartz retired from DC in 1986 after 42 years at the company, but continued to be active in comics and science fiction fandom until shortly before his death. As a coda to his career as a comic book editor, Schwartz edited seven releases in the DC Graphic Novel line adapted from classic science fiction works by Harlan Ellison , Robert Silverberg , Bradbury, and others. In 2000 he published his autobiography , Man of Two Worlds: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics , co-authored with Brian Thomsen . He

2050-406: The severe restrictions placed upon his comics by the CCA, and with his " New Direction " titles floundering, Gaines quit publishing comic books to concentrate on Mad . The following shows the complete Code as it stood in 1954: Writer Marv Wolfman 's name was briefly a point of contention between DC Comics and the CCA. In the supernatural-mystery anthology House of Secrets #83 (Jan. 1970),

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2100-474: The show), pitched an initial concept for a female hero and Schwartz, Gardner Fox, and Carmine Infantino introduced Barbara Gordon as a new version of Batgirl in a story titled "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!" in Detective Comics #359 (January 1967). He helped writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams come to prominence at DC Comics. The duo, under the direction of Schwartz, would revitalize

2150-425: The titles. Schwartz oversaw the launch of DC Comics Presents in 1978 and edited it throughout its 97 issue run. As an editor, Schwartz was heavily involved in the writing of the stories published in his magazines. He worked out the plot with the writer in story conferences. The writer would then break down the plot into a panel-by-panel continuity, and write the dialogue and captions. Schwartz would in turn polish

2200-460: The world". Zombies, lacking the requisite "literary" background, remained taboo. To get around this restriction, Marvel in the mid-1970s called the apparently deceased, mind-controlled followers of various Haitian supervillains " zuvembies ". This practice carried over to Marvel's superhero line: in The Avengers , when the reanimated superhero Wonder Man returns from the dead, he is referred to as

2250-415: Was a lone vigilante who only had adventures on Earth, the new Green Lantern was but one of a group of interstellar lawmen who all called themselves Green Lanterns. The group is first mentioned in Showcase #22 (1960) when a dying Green Lantern passes on his ring to Hal Jordan. Over the years, writers have introduced a large cast of Green Lanterns in both supporting and starring roles. The Green Lantern Corps

2300-403: Was a popular guest at comics and science fiction conventions , often attending 10–12 conventions a year. In 1952, Schwartz married Jean Ordwein who had been his secretary. She died in 1986 from emphysema . Schwartz's relationship with Jean had been particularly close, and he never remarried or dated following her death. Not many years later, Schwartz's stepdaughter Jeanne (Jean's daughter from

2350-476: Was a replacement for the Code-rejected story "An Eye for an Eye", drawn by Angelo Torres , though "Judgment Day" was itself also objected to because of the central character being black , despite there being nothing in the Code which prohibited a black protagonist. The story, by writer Al Feldstein and artist Joe Orlando , was an allegory against racial prejudice , a point which was necessarily nullified if

2400-458: Was an inker, a woman, Terry Szenics, later had to draw clothes on the characters on the remaining pages." Although the CCA had no official control over the comics publishers, most distributors refused to carry comics which did not carry the seal. However, two major publishers of comics– Dell Comics and Gold Key Comics –did not display the seal, because their output was subject to a higher authority: their licensors which included Walt Disney and

2450-547: Was born in The Bronx , New York. He is best known as a longtime editor at DC Comics , where at various times he was primary editor over the company's flagship superheroes , Superman and Batman . He was inducted into the comics industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1997. Born on June 19, 1915, to Romanian-Jewish parents Joseph and Bertha who emigrated from

2500-595: Was made responsible for reviving the faded Batman titles. Under his editorial instructions, Broome and Infantino jettisoned the sillier aspects that had crept into the series such as Ace the Bathound and Bat-Mite and gave the character a "New Look" that premiered in Detective Comics #327 (May 1964). During the rise in popularity of the Batman comics thanks to the Batman TV Series , William Dozier (producer of

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