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Dr. Werthless

Author Harold Schechter, Eric Powell
Illustrated by Eric Powell
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Hardcover
$29.99 US
Dark Horse Comics | Albatross Funnybooks
On sale Jul 01, 2025 | 200 Pages | 9781506744360
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He Studied Murder And Nearly Killed the Comics Industry!

From the team behind the award-winning “Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?” comes a nonfiction graphic novel examining Dr. Fredric Wertham, of one of the most polarizing figures in pop culture history.

Wertham wrote Seduction of the Innocent (1954), asserting that comic books were a cause of juvenile delinquency. His testimony before Congress about the supposed dangers of comics helped lead to the creation of the Comics Code Authority, and to Wertham being reviled by comic book fans as a witch-hunting zealot who stirred up a panic among parents for his own self-promoting purposes.

Wertham was also a renowned psychiatrist who, among other accomplishments, opened a clinic in Harlem for disadvantaged African-American patients and played an important role in the desegregation of the nation's schools.

Believing that murder could be abolished through a proper understanding of the mental and social roots of criminal violence, he took a genuinely humane approach to some of the most notorious homicidal maniacs of his time, while simultaneously exploiting their stories for his own commercial ends.

Acclaimed true crime author, Harold Schechter, and multiple Eisner award-winning cartoonist, Eric Powell, present a graphic novel that takes an unbiased look at this flawed and complex man, whose obsessive dream of freeing the world from violence nearly murdered the comics industry.


“A compelling biography that challenges readers to reconsider their assumptions and poses provocative questions about censorship and the influence of popular culture...a rich, layered portrait of a man commonly viewed as a villain. ”—Library Journal

“Dr. Werthless is an indispensable look at American history and the battle against censorship.” —David Walker (Bitter Root, The Black Panther Party: a Graphic Novel History)
Harold Schechter View titles by Harold Schechter
Eric Powell is a writer and artist who has contributed work on such comics titles as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Hellboy: Weird Tales, Star Wars: Tales, The Incredible Hulk, Black Panther, The Avengers, The Hood, MAD magazine, Devil Dinosaur, Swamp Thing, She-Hulk, The Simpsons, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, Action Comics, and Creepy.

Although he had been eking out a meager living in the comics field since 1995, Eric didn't find true success until he launched his critically acclaimed dark comedy series The Goon. The Goon was subsequently picked up by Dark Horse Comics and boasts a die-hard cult following.

Recently, Eric has been working in collaboration with acclaimed director David Fincher, Blur Studio, and Dark Horse Entertainment to bring The Goon to life on the big screen as an animated feature film.

The author lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Awards: International Horror Guild: 2004 Best Illustrated Narrative, Will Eisner Comic Industry Award: 2004 Best Single Issue (The Goon #1), Will Eisner Comic Industry Award: 2005 Best Humor Publication, Will Eisner Comic Industry Award: 2005 Best Continuing Series, Will Eisner Comic Industry Award: 2008 Best Writer/Artist—Humor, Will Eisner Comic Industry Award: 2008 Best Painter or Multimedia Artist. View titles by Eric Powell

About

He Studied Murder And Nearly Killed the Comics Industry!

From the team behind the award-winning “Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?” comes a nonfiction graphic novel examining Dr. Fredric Wertham, of one of the most polarizing figures in pop culture history.

Wertham wrote Seduction of the Innocent (1954), asserting that comic books were a cause of juvenile delinquency. His testimony before Congress about the supposed dangers of comics helped lead to the creation of the Comics Code Authority, and to Wertham being reviled by comic book fans as a witch-hunting zealot who stirred up a panic among parents for his own self-promoting purposes.

Wertham was also a renowned psychiatrist who, among other accomplishments, opened a clinic in Harlem for disadvantaged African-American patients and played an important role in the desegregation of the nation's schools.

Believing that murder could be abolished through a proper understanding of the mental and social roots of criminal violence, he took a genuinely humane approach to some of the most notorious homicidal maniacs of his time, while simultaneously exploiting their stories for his own commercial ends.

Acclaimed true crime author, Harold Schechter, and multiple Eisner award-winning cartoonist, Eric Powell, present a graphic novel that takes an unbiased look at this flawed and complex man, whose obsessive dream of freeing the world from violence nearly murdered the comics industry.


“A compelling biography that challenges readers to reconsider their assumptions and poses provocative questions about censorship and the influence of popular culture...a rich, layered portrait of a man commonly viewed as a villain. ”—Library Journal

“Dr. Werthless is an indispensable look at American history and the battle against censorship.” —David Walker (Bitter Root, The Black Panther Party: a Graphic Novel History)

Author

Harold Schechter View titles by Harold Schechter
Eric Powell is a writer and artist who has contributed work on such comics titles as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Hellboy: Weird Tales, Star Wars: Tales, The Incredible Hulk, Black Panther, The Avengers, The Hood, MAD magazine, Devil Dinosaur, Swamp Thing, She-Hulk, The Simpsons, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, Action Comics, and Creepy.

Although he had been eking out a meager living in the comics field since 1995, Eric didn't find true success until he launched his critically acclaimed dark comedy series The Goon. The Goon was subsequently picked up by Dark Horse Comics and boasts a die-hard cult following.

Recently, Eric has been working in collaboration with acclaimed director David Fincher, Blur Studio, and Dark Horse Entertainment to bring The Goon to life on the big screen as an animated feature film.

The author lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Awards: International Horror Guild: 2004 Best Illustrated Narrative, Will Eisner Comic Industry Award: 2004 Best Single Issue (The Goon #1), Will Eisner Comic Industry Award: 2005 Best Humor Publication, Will Eisner Comic Industry Award: 2005 Best Continuing Series, Will Eisner Comic Industry Award: 2008 Best Writer/Artist—Humor, Will Eisner Comic Industry Award: 2008 Best Painter or Multimedia Artist. View titles by Eric Powell

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