10 Comic Book News Stories That Shocked The World‏

3. Green Arrow's Ward Is A Junkie!

The Comics Code Authority are responsible for a multitude of sins. The result of fifties hysteria over the supposed corrupting influence of comic books on young minds, the CCA seal of approval was mandatory for any legitimately published comic book, and their screening process lead to the censoring of everything from serious-minded explorations of cultural issues to the word "zombie". The edicts of the Comics Code stopped both DC and Marvel from addressing some of the biggest topics of the day, especially as the sixties gave way to the seventies, and the US became more politically engaged than ever. So the cover of Green Lantern/Green Arrow #85 was a shock on a number of levels. The first, and most immediate, was its revelation that Speedy - Green Arrow's trusty sidekick, who had been around since his mentor's debut in 1941 - was a heroin addict, and had been for a long time. That was some heady stuff to be covered in a comic book, let alone when it was happening to a character as established and seemingly innocent as Speedy. The second shock was just that: how come this was allowed in a comic book at all, especially on the cover? Aren't these for kids? It was stories like Snowbirds Don't Fly that lead to the slow decline of the Comics Code's grip on what comic books could and couldn't show. Marvel had already published a story of drug addiction without the Authority's seal, but Green Lantern/Green Arrow #85 did, showing that the censors had begun to mellow a little. The series in question continued to explore contemporary social issues (including a story where Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew were supervillains), but none were more shocking - nor unexpected - than this classic storyline.