After the Comics Code Authority was enacted on October 26, 1954, comic book publishers were forced to comply with its strict guidelines (see the Code listed in the index under this blog's title) or have their titles refused by wholesalers and distributors who were quaking at the thought of additional harassment by various pressure groups. As a result, crime and horror comics -- and comic books in general -- were essentially "de-clawed" and the kind of books that were being published before the Code disappeared into history.
One of the surviving publishers was Farrell Comics Group. Formed in 1940 as Farrell Publications by Robert W. Farrell (aka Izzy Katz), it was reorganized into Farrell Comics Group in 1951. During this period, the company published the horror comics, FANTASTIC FEARS, HAUNTED THRILLS, STRANGE FANTASY and VOODOO (see more HERE) supplied by the Iger Shop.
After the Code, Farrell -- under its Ajax imprint -- attempted to produce a "horror" comic that would pass the guidelines. The first issue of MIDNIGHT went on sale with a cover date of April 1957. It was comprised of reprints from their earlier horror titles with the "offensive" content modified. The result was a lukewarm offering of "strange" stories with none of the terror, gore or bloodshed that readers were flocking to the stands to buy just a few years earlier. Consequently, enthusiasm quickly waned and it lasted for only eight issues until June 1958 when Farrell shuttered its doors.
Following issue #1 shown here are examples of the changes made to the stories to comply with the Code.
Before and After: The original page followed by the modified page.
