Comics ‘Controversies’ or Not?

Some of you, I suspect, may have differing opinions about this blog item, posted earlier in the week by Jeaux Janovsky on Pulp Secret, about the five most "controversial moments" in comic book history.

If you've been around the industry for awhile, there's no lack of true controversy. As the comments to this "controversial" post readily attest, however, my blogging brother missed a few of them, sticking for the most part on the superhero-centric side.

Janovsky gets points for reminding us about the legal battle of Mike Diana, the first artist convicted for obscenity in America, and mentions about the Comics Code Authority loosening up after Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Spider-Man both featured prominent supporting characters taking heroin and LSD, respectively.

Unfortunately, The Seduction of the Innocent period of the mid 50s, when the Code was "voluntarily" established, got crowded off the list, in favor of 9-11 comics (not controversial) and Marvel's outing of a gay superhero (very temporarily controversial).

Here's five real comic controversies worth considering for future lists:

• • The resignation of Rick Veitch from DC Comics' Swamp Thing after the company refused to publish his pre-approved "come to Jesus" story. (This story does have a happy ending, however, and a reconciliation.)
• • Scott McCloud's series of books exploring and attempting to explain the world of comics.
• • Who really owns Superboy and Captain America?
• • A Bill of Rights for Comics Creators.
• • What is a graphic novel, and why do some still object to the term?