Comics Code Authority becomes an artifact

The Comics Code Authority was created in 1954 after public and congressional concern over violence in comics. Think of it as an early MPAA rating – making sure every comic publisher who wanted to sell a comic with the stamp of approval had to refrain from certain content.

Newsarama reports that Archie Comics and DC comics have announced they are replacing the CCA with their own rating system. Mavel dropped it a decade ago.

Pellerito told Newsarama the decision to drop the Code from all Archie comics was actually made a while ago, and the organization hasn’t submitted comics for approval for “a year or more.” However, they did not plan to announce the change until DC went public with its decision, which prompted an inquiry from Newsarama.

DC and Archie were one of the last remaining comic publishers still submitting their work for seal approval. Without them, the Authority is pretty much defunct.