Pages and Panels

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When it comes to graphic novels that address sociopolitical experiences, Maus has been one of the most highly discussed and debated publications over the past year. This graphic novel depicts the journey and life of the creator’s father during the holocaust. However, the deep darkness of the political and social climates at the time of the setting combined with nudity, mental health issues, adult language, and suicide have brought Maus to the forefront of the modern-day censorship issues.

Maus‘s origins were centered in the underground comix circuit during the 1970’s. During that time, there was a lot of change occurring in the comics industry. The Comics Code Authority was beginning to change and adapt, and the drama these changes created from the major publishers really reenforced the underground comix circuit. These underground ‘zines tackled the more adult issues of the time without seeking the approval of the Comics Code Authority. The code’s strict stance on obscenity and violence left the accurate representations of the horrors of war and the long-term affects it had on society nearly incapable of handing those subjects. The ‘Zines and their refusal to adhere to the code left these books almost impossible to find in a retailer, but instead passed through word of mouth and pulp printing, creating a near cult following.

_{Hilary Chute’s Why Comics? offers an excellent breakdown as to why these ‘zines and the comic format in general are so successful, as well as a discussion of Maus. If you’re looking for a non-comic academic read, it’s wonderful!}