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Article CommentaryAnalysis and Commentary

Comic Books, Dr. Wertham, and the Villains of Forensic Psychiatry

Ryan Chaloner Winton Hall and Susan Hatters Friedman
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online October 2020, JAAPL.200041-20; DOI: https://doi.org/10.29158/JAAPL.200041-20
Ryan Chaloner Winton Hall
Dr. Hall is Associate Professor, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL. Dr. Hatters Friedman is the Phillip J. Resnick Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH. Dr. Hatters Friedman is involved in the editorial leadership of The Journal; however, she did not participate in any aspect of this article's review and acceptance.
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Susan Hatters Friedman
Dr. Hall is Associate Professor, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL. Dr. Hatters Friedman is the Phillip J. Resnick Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH. Dr. Hatters Friedman is involved in the editorial leadership of The Journal; however, she did not participate in any aspect of this article's review and acceptance.
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    Table 1

    Examples of Prohibitions in the Comics Code2

    A1. Crimes shall never be presented in such a way as to create sympathy for the criminal, to promote distrust of the forces of law and justice, or to inspire others with a desire to imitate criminals.
    A2. No comics shall explicitly present the unique details and methods of a crime.
    A3. Policemen, judges, government officials, and respected institutions shall never be presented in such a way as to create disrespect for established authority.
    A5. Criminals shall not be presented so as to be rendered glamorous or to occupy a position which creates the desire for emulation.
    A7. Scenes of excessive violence shall be prohibited. Scenes of brutal torture, excessive and unnecessary knife and gun play, physical agony, gory and gruesome crime shall be eliminated.
    B1. No comic magazine shall use the word horror or terror in its title.
    B3. All lurid, unsavory, gruesome illustrations shall be eliminated.
    B4. Inclusion of stories dealing with evil shall be used or shall be published only where the intent is to illustrate a moral issue and in no case shall evil be presented alluringly, nor so as to injure the sensibilities of the reader.
    C. All elements or techniques not specifically mentioned herein, but which are contrary to the spirt and intent of the Code, and are considered violations of good taste or decency shall be prohibited.
    Costume 3. All characters shall be depicted in dress reasonably acceptable to society.
    Costume 4. Females shall be drawn realistically without exaggeration of any physical qualities. Marriage and sex 2. Illicit sex relations are neither to be hinted at nor portrayed. Violent love scenes as well as sexual abnormalities are unacceptable.
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    Table 2

    Villainous Forensic Psychiatrists and Psychologists from the Batman Universe

    CharacterBackgroundFirst Appearance
    Hugo StrangePsychologist (?) but trained in psychiatry, chemistry, and biology. May be why he likes to make “monster men.”Detective Comics #36 (February 1940); created by Bob Krane and Bill Finger; although he predates some of Wertham's most notable activities, with time the character evolved from “mad scientist” to “mad psychiatrist.”
    Scarecrow, a.k.a. Jonathan CranePsychologist (?), made a fear toxin and commits crimes to fund research.World's Finest Comics #3 (September 1941); created by Bob Krane, Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson.
    Mad Hatter, a.k.a. Jervis TetchNeuroscientist who utilizes mind-control technology and is fascinated with Alice in Wonderland.Batman #49 (October 1948); created by Bill Finger and Lew Sayre Schwartz.
    Dr. Hurt, a.k.a. Simon Hurt, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne (not the one who is Batman)Psychiatrist (?), devil worshipper granted long life, who wants to destroy the Wayne family name.Batman #156 (June 1963); created by Sheldon Moldoff, Charles Paris, and Grant Morrison.
    Anders Overbeck (TV), a.k.a. Red Hood (variant)Psychiatrist who took the identity of existing villain Red Hood.Batman TV show (January 1967), The Contaminated Cowl; created by Bill Finger, Lew Sayre Schwartz, and Charles Hoffman (Bill Finger, one of the original comic book creators, was also actively involved in the original TV show).
    Amadeus ArkhamPsychiatrist, original founder of Arkham Asylum who later became a patient of Arkham Asylum.Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (1989); created by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean.
    Jeremiah Arkham, a.k.a. Black Mask (variant)Psychiatrist, director of Arkham Asylum and relative of Amadeus Arkham, who often blames Batman for stopping patients' rehabilitation.Batman: Shadow of the Bat (June 1992); created by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle.
    Harley Quinn (TV), a.k.a. Harleen QuinzelPsychiatrist, fell in love with the Joker and became evil; due to popularity, at times is more of an anti-hero.Batman the Animated Series: the Joker's Favor (1992); created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm.
    Spellbinder (TV), a.k.a. Ira BillingsSchool psychologist, hypnotized students to steal; in other story lines, he is a psychiatrist.Spellbound (May 1, 1999); created by Robert Goodman.
    Charles NigaffPsychologist, works at Arkham Asylum, convinced children to use the steroid Venom.Batman: Orphans #1 (February 2011); created by Eddie Berganza and Carlo Barberi.
    Merrymaker, a.k.a. Bryon MeridethTherapist to those obsessed with the Joker.Detective Comics #16 (March 2013); created by John Layman and Jason Fabok.
    Harlequin (TV), a.k.a. Holly Quinn (on TV, predates Harley Quinn on TV, postdates Harley Quinn in comics)Psychiatrist, worked at Arkham Asylum with the Red Hood.Batman TV show (1966), Batman '66 #3 (November 2013); created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm.
    Bethanie RavencroftPsychologist, affiliated with the League of Assassins; like Harley Quinn, was introduced in a children's TV cartoon.Beware the Batman TV show (July 20, 2013), Secrets; created by Mitch Watson.
    Dr. Double X, a.k.a. Simon EcksPsychiatrist, worked at Arkham Asylum, gained the ability to mentally project energy.Batman Eternal #16 (September 2014); created by Dave Wood and Sheldon Moldoff.
    Miss Peabody, a.k.a. Ethel Peabody (TV)Doctor, worked with Dr. Hugo Strange on Gotham TV show.Gotham TV show (November 30, 2015), Rise of the Villains: Worse Than a Crime; created by Bruno Heller.
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Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online: 53 (1)
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
Vol. 53, Issue 1
1 Mar 2025
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Comic Books, Dr. Wertham, and the Villains of Forensic Psychiatry
Ryan Chaloner Winton Hall, Susan Hatters Friedman
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Oct 2020, JAAPL.200041-20; DOI: 10.29158/JAAPL.200041-20

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Comic Books, Dr. Wertham, and the Villains of Forensic Psychiatry
Ryan Chaloner Winton Hall, Susan Hatters Friedman
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Oct 2020, JAAPL.200041-20; DOI: 10.29158/JAAPL.200041-20
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Keywords

  • comics
  • Fredric Wertham
  • forensic psychiatry
  • moral panic
  • popular culture
  • stigma

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