Wesley Dodds: The Sandman challenges the established Comics Code Authority with a renegade U.S. military general villain, subverting the traditional portrayal of the military in superhero stories.
The Golden Age Sandman's latest villain is a subversion of the old Comics Code, mirroring the controversy that led to the creation of the Code itself. As Wesley Dodds confronts the demons of his past, he must navigate the treacherous waters of his past in order to defeat his nemesis.
Wesley Dodds: The Sandman boldly defies the Comics Code Authority's stringent moral guidelines by introducing a deadly nerve agent into Sandman's sleeping gas, thwarting a plot by a renegade U.S. military general to steal Wesley Dodds's formula.
The Comics Code Authority was established in 1954 as a result of the moral panic sparked by Frederic D. Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent. This panic blamed comic books for contributing to juvenile delinquency in America, leading to government regulation over the industry. To address this concern, leading comic publishers formed the Comics Magazine Association of America (CMAA) to establish the Comics Code. This code set strict guidelines for content depicted in comic books, aiming to create wholesome and appropriate materials for young readers.
Wesley Dodds' Sandman's fight within the U.S. military reveals a conspiracy and undermines the status quo. The Code, which previously portrayed figures of authority with respect, now portrays them in a negative light, highlighting the hypocrisy and abuse of power within the military. The new Sandman storyline challenges the traditional portrayal of authority and emphasizes the dangers of institutionalizing power structures.Ultimately, the Comics Code served as more than a safeguard for children by perpetuating outdated and problematic notions of a problematic past. As the decades passed following its inception, the Code restrictions were gradually loosened, ultimately ceasing to exist in 2011 with the last few publishers dropping the Comics Code seal from their comics. The creators of the Wesley Dodds: The Sandman series deserve recognition for weaving a complex commentary on comics history and the Comics Code Authority into an enthralling superhero story. Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5 is now available from DC Comics.