In an official joint statement from co-publishers Dan Didio and Jim Lee, DC Comics has announced its plans to abandon its use of the comics code authority seal to rate its books, replacing it instead with a rating system of their own similar to the one Marvel implemented on its books back in 2001 when THEY abandoned the code themselves.
Beginning in April 2011, DC’s new rating system will read as follows:
E — EVERYONE
Appropriate for readers of all ages. May contain cartoon violence and/or some comic mischief.
T — TEEN
Appropriate for readers age 12 and older. May contain mild violence, language and/or suggestive themes.
T+ – TEEN PLUS
Appropriate for readers age 16 and older. May contain moderate violence, mild profanity, graphic imagery and/or suggestive themes.
M — MATURE
Appropriate for readers age 18 and older. May contain intense violence, extensive profanity, nudity, sexual themes and other content suitable only for older readers.
They also noted that Vertigo books will not carry any of the new ratings as they are already clearly demarcated for mature readers.
Frankly, it’s about time. The comics code, at some point during its 56 year history, may have been useful, but if you ask most fans and creators they’ll admit that it was largely used as an impediment to the creative process at best and the outright vehicle of censorship within the comic book industry at worst. DC was one of the biggest companies to last this long with it and now that they’re kicking it to the curb, I’m wondering how much legitimacy that label will carry moving forward.
