But, it most definitely was a hurdle prior to that, stunting the evolution of comics when it was implemented. Sure, monster and horror comics starting making a resurgance in the 70s . . . 20 years after they had all been squashed by the Code. It’s both staggering and sad to imagine where these genres, and by extension other genres, would have been had the Code not throttled back their growth. Would we have had to wait until the 80s to see comics of the same caliber as DKR or Watchmen?

The explosion of independent comics was by far a larger rebellion against the mainstream in general, than anything done internally by the mainstream publishers against the Code. One could argue I suppose that the Code was the seed that inspired the creation of early independent comics, but this movement seemed just as if not more inspired by wanting to experiment in other genres other than superheroes.

Presuming that the Code still had any impact at all on publishers, its presence was probably more guilty of instilling complacency more than its absence will be. This last vestige of having to “hold back” is now gone, and if anything that should inspire pushing the envelope more, not less.

…we got Marvel horror/monster comics from Marvel in the 1970s when the code relaxed.

…we got Joker and Kobra from DC around the same time (villains allowed comics, as the code eased)

…we got Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns in the 1980s (oh, sans code….)

…ditto on Vertigo with Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, Sandman, Preacher, Madame Xanadu…

…hmmm, without the code, what will comics rebel against? If they aren’t breaking the code, will comics become complacent?