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| 1754:
Benjamin Franklin creates the first cartoon published in an
American newspaper: a severed snake, representing the states,
with the legend "Join, or Die." |
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1791:
The First Amendment is passed in Congress. |
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1792:
The Alien and Sedition Acts, regulating the activities of
foreigners and the political speech of citizens, are adopted
by Congress. Newspaper publishers reign in their writers and
cartoonists for fear of fines and incarceration. |
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| 1865 Federal
obscenity law passed regulating the shipping of merchandise
via the mails |
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1865: In response
to mass mailings of "adult" illustrated novels to troops in
the Civil War, Congress passes a federal obscenity law regulating
the shipping of merchandise via the mails. |
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1868: The Hicklin
Test. The US adopts its first definition of obscenity,
borrowed from the English trial Regina v. Hicklin. "A work
is obscene if any portion of the material has a tendency to
corrupt those whose minds are open to such influences . .
.," that is, children. |
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1873: Anthony
Comstock forms the New York Society for the Suppression of
Vice and is given a license by the government to inspect the
mails for obscenity. Among his targets are pen-and-ink "dirty
pictures" and "dime novels," both forerunners of the comic
book. |
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| 1897: R.F.
Outcault's "The Yellow Kid," often considered the first comic
strip, debuts in "The New York World." |
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1897: Advances
in printing make political cartoons powerful. Politicians
propose legislation to regulate them. New York (1897), California
(1899), Pennsylvania (1913), and Indiana (1913) all pass anti-cartoon
legislation. |
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1899 Anti-cartoon
legislation passed in California |
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1903: The
regulation of the cartoon comes to a head when artist Walt
McDougall challenges Pennsylvania's law forbidding the depiction
of political figures as animals. His drawings of Governor
Pennypacker as a tree, a beer mug, and a variety of tubers
lead to the law's repeal. |
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| 1910: George
Herriman's "Krazy Kat" debuts. |
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1913 Anti-cartoon
legislation passed in Indiana |
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1915: Anthony
Comstock retires, having burned by his own account more than
"sixty train cars" of books, photos, and illustrations. |
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1917: The
Espionage Act is passed and the socialist publication The
Masses is charged with endangering the efficiency of the US
draft because of its political cartoons. Unable to operate
through the mail, The Masses soon folds. |
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| 1922: "Comic
Monthly" reprints newspaper comic strips in magazine form. |
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| 1928: The
animated short "Steamboat Willie" introduces Mickey Mouse
to the world. |
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| 1929: "The
Funnies" #1, the first 4-color comic newsstand publication,
debuts. |
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| 1931: Inspired
by Elliot Ness' crusade against gangland, Chester Gould introduces
"Plainclothes Tracy" in the Chicago Tribune. The lead character's
name is soon changed to "Dick." |
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| 1933: "Funnies
on Parade" reprints Sunday strips in color in a 32-page, 7.5"
by 10" book. |
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| 1934: Alex
Raymond's sci-fi serial "Flash Gordon" and Milton Caniff's
adventure strip "Terry and the Pirates" begin. |
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| 1935: "New
Fun Comics" #1 prints original (non-reprint) comic strips. |
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1954 Roth
v. United States |
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Senate Judiciary
Subcommittee Juvenile Delinquency/Comic Book Hearings |
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1958 Adams
v. Hinckel |
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1959 Katzev
v. County of Los Angeles |
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1960 Police
Commissioner of Baltimore v. Siegel |
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1667 California
v. Tierney |
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1968 Wisconsin
v. Voshart |
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1972 Feldshnider
v. Georgia |
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1973 Miller
v. California |
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New York v. Kirkpatrick |
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1974 Gordon
v. Walkely |
| 1978: Will
Eisner's "A Contract with God," the first modern graphic novel,
published. |
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| 1986: Frank
Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" redefines the superhero
and ushers in an era of often dark and violent comics. |
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1989 Illinois
v. Correa |
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1991 Pinellas
County v. Diana |
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1992 Amazing
Tales incident |
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1994 Lee v.
Georgia |
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1995 ACLU
v. Reno (CDA case) |
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Planet Comics in
Oklahoma City raided by police. |
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1996 Mavrides
beats California BOE |
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1997 Planet
Comics defendants pleade guilty to avoid trial.
-Supreme Court decides not to hear Mike
Dana case. |
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2000 Kieron
Dwyer Sued by Starbucks |
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2003 Kraft
settles with Stu Helm |
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DC
Comics Prevails in Winter Bros. Case |
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Supreme
Court Denies Castillo Appeal |
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