ST. LOUIS – Comic books have long been a staple of American pop culture and a unique way to engage young readers. But there was once a time when much of America, including St. Louis, viewed them as a potential threat.

In fact, 75 years ago on this date, St. Louis leaders took action to restrict comic book sales, fearing their potential negative influence on young minds.

On April 3, 1950, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance that made it a misdemeanor to sell “lurid comic books” or “crime comics” to anyone under 18 years old.

As described in Joe Sonderman’s 2024 book, “This Day in St. Louis History,” the ordinance was championed by Alderman Alfred F. Harris and backed by several civic organizations concerned that comic books could fuel juvenile delinquency.

The measure left many local comic book vendors in limbo, as it threatened to curb sales and restrict access to an increasingly popular medium. Anyone who violated the ordinance could face fines ranging from $50 to $500. However, newspapers were exempt from the ordinance and allowed to continue publishing comics.

For a time, during the mid-20th century, comic books were widely blamed for promoting juvenile delinquency, violence and immoral behavior, sparking nationwide efforts to censor or ban them.

However, not everyone believed these concerns were justified, including former St. Louis mayor Joseph Darst.

Less than three weeks after the ordinance was passed, on April 21, 1950, Darst vetoed the ordinance and reportedly called it one of “doubtful constitutionality,” according to Sonderman, citing St. Louis Post-Dispatch archives.

Today, St. Louis embraces its comic book culture with a thriving community of collectors and fans. Local shops, such as All American Collectibles, The Wizard’s Wagon and Apotheosis Comics and Lounge, offer a wide variety of comic books and continue to celebrate their impact on pop culture, making the days of government scrutiny a distant memory.

NOTE: The video attached to this story above is from a December 2022 Studio STL segment on St. Louis’ comic book scene.