Editing Comics Code Authority (section)

=== "Judgment Day" ===
In one early confrontation between a comic-book publisher and the code authorities, [[EC Comics]]' [[William Gaines]] reprinted the story "[[EC Comics#"Judgment Day"|Judgment Day]]", from the pre-code ''[[Weird Fantasy]]'' #18 (April 1953), in ''[[Incredible Science Fiction]]'' #33 (February 1956).<ref name="Newfangles">[[Maggie Thompson|Thompson, Don & Maggie]], "Crack in the Code", ''Newfangles'' #44, February 1971</ref> The reprint was a replacement for the Code-rejected story "An Eye for an Eye", drawn by [[Angelo Torres]],<ref name=gcdisf>{{cite web|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/12592/#106097|title=GCD :: Issue :: Incredible Science Fiction #33|work=comics.org}}</ref> though "Judgment Day" was itself also objected to because of the central character being [[Black people|black]], despite there being nothing in the Code prohibiting a black protagonist.<ref name="Newfangles"/> The story, by writer [[Al Feldstein]] and artist [[Joe Orlando]],<ref name=gcdisf/> was an allegory against [[racism|racial prejudice]], a point that was necessarily nullified if the lead character was not black.<ref name="Newfangles"/> After an order by code administrator Charles Murphy to change the final panel, which depicted a black astronaut, Gaines engaged in a heated dispute with Murphy.<ref>Diehl, Digby (1996). ''Tales from the Crypt: The Official Archives'', St. Martin's Press (New York) p.85</ref> 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 the severe restrictions placed upon his comics by the CCA, and with his "[[List of EC Comics publications#New Direction|New Direction]]" titles floundering, Gaines quit publishing comic books to concentrate on ''[[Mad (magazine)|Mad]]''.<ref name="Newfangles"/>