The Abridged version:
- A local comic book author is spearheading an effort to modernize the city code and prevent book bans.
- The old city ordinance makes it illegal to sell minors comic books that depict violence.
- Local leaders will hold a hearing next week on a proposal to repeal the law and declare the third week in September “Sacramento Comic Book Week.”
For the last 76 years, it’s been illegal for kids to buy many comic books within the Sacramento city limits.
While this bygone and overlooked law isn’t enforced by authorities today, members of the Sacramento City Council are looking to permanently strike it from the books.
The 1949 law bans the sale of comic books to minors with a “prominently featured … account of crime.” Among those acts are arson, burglary, murder, torture, mayhem and assault with caustic chemicals, according to the city code.
The proposal will go before the City Council’s Law and Legislation Committee on Tuesday, and if passed, will head to the full council for final approval.
“This antiquated Ordinance, passed in 1949, essentially bans every comic book,
jeopardizing comic bookstores, libraries, and conventions across Sacramento,” states the request to repeal the law. The proposal was put forward by City Councilmembers Phil Pluckebaum and Caity Maple.
Cartoon from the Sacramento Union, published March 30, 1975. At the time, the newspaper could not find any instances of arrests or prosecutions connected to the ordinance. (Sacramento Union)
Old code grew from McCarthyism
Pluckebaum said that the old code reflects the moral panic around McCarthyism.
“We’ve definitely evolved as a society on what we think is appropriate,” Pluckebaum said. If you go into the library, there’s a whole section of graphic novels and comics.”
The idea was first put forward by Sacramento-based comic book artist Eben Burgoon, who circulated a petition on change.org earlier this year.
While the comic book ban has seldom been used in Sacramento history, Burgoon said the effort was proactive, to prevent being “used for harm.”
“There’s been a lot of moments in recent times where we’re seeing more book bans,” Burgoon said.
Over the years comic books have been blamed for delinquency in the same way heavy metal music or video games receive blame in more modern times, Burgoon said.
“Comic books really shine light on truth,” Burgoon said. “They’re stylish, they’re fantastical … they point out something about human truth. There’s no reason why we should have (this law) on the books.”
Comic books have storied history with censorship
A comic book publisher known for horror books, EC Comics, had its heyday around the same time the Sacramento ban went into law, said Kenneth Russell, owner of Big Brother Comics in Midtown Sacramento.
“Literally they were showing things that kids wanted to see, things like death and decapitations,” Russell said.
Rival publishers started the Comics Code Authority, which set censorship rules and took aim at the violent storytelling that EC Comics was known for. For decades, wholesalers would only handle code-approved comics, according to the Comic Book League Defense Fund.
Russell said he isn’t worried about any citations landing on his shop’s doorstep but welcomes the change to the city’s code.
“I wonder if they pulled that (law) up if I would get in trouble,” Russell said. “Or, I could get fined… that would suck.”
Big Brother Comics just celebrated its 20th year in business. While the shop has turned more toward board game sales, comics remain a cherished part of its business, Russell said.
Sacramento Comic Book Week celebrations in the works
Local leaders want to replace the old law with a celebration of comic books. The new proposal would declare the third week in September as “Sacramento Comic Book Week.”
“Officially declaring that it’ll be the third week of September could lead to all of these collaborations,” Burgoon said.
The new comic book week could feature pop-ups across the city, similar to other celebrations like Sacramento Poetry Week, Sacramento Beer Week or Sacramento Bacon Fest. The proposed festival could lead to collaborations with Terra Madre Americas and Latino Heritage Month, also held in September, Burgoon said.
Locals remain enthusiastic about the local comic book scene. In September, the 11th annual CrockerCon drew crowds of over 7,000 to its Comic-Con-inspired showcase, Burgoon said. SacAnime’s biannual celebration often draws bustling crowds and is beginning to outgrow its space at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, Pluckebaum said.
Felicia Alvarez is a reporter at Abridged covering accountability. She’s called Sacramento home since 2015 and has reported on government, health care and breaking news topics for both local and national news outlets.