Illustrated histories of the early days of the comic book industry have been around for a long time. Real Facts Comics #5 (1946) showed how Bob Kane singlehandedly created Batman (It was not exactly “real’ or “factual.”), Will Eisner’s graphic novel, The Dreamer (1986), was a “fictionalized” account of the beginnings of comics from Eisner’s viewpoint (More accurate than Kane’s Batman origin, although the names had been changed to protect the innocent.), and more recently there was the wonderful book, The Joe Shuster Story: The Artist Behind Superman by Julian Voloj and Thomas Campi (2018). In between there have been comics about Jack Kirby, Bill Finger, Stan Lee, and even a Comic Book History of Comics. It was inevitable, as the origins of the heroes of comics was covered that the most notorious villain of the comic book medium got his own graphic novel story. The villain, of course, is Doctor Fredrick Wertham, author of Seduction of the Innocent – the book that almost destroyed the comic book industry.
Dr. Werthless by Howard Schechter and Eric Powell tells the story of psychologist Frederick Wertham, from his examination of the truly horrific crimes perpetrated by children (before the invention of comic books) to Wertham’s death in 1981. Along the way, the reader is shown many things. Among them: Wertham’s empathy towards his patients, especially those that were considered “perverted;” Wertham’s first book, Dark Legend, about the murderous acts of children (It was turned into a failed play.); his friendship with the African American novelist Richard Wright (Native Son), which led to his nickname Dr. Quarter (because that was what he charged the poor for his services); and his role in the anti-segregation movement of the 1950s. Wertham jumped on the anti-comic book crusade (which had been going on for a decade) with inaccurate and fictionalized testimonies of children “damaged” by comics. After comics, Wertham went after TV shows like The Untouchables with little to no effect. Eventually, Wertham – trying to make peace with his critics – became fascinated with fanzines, publishing one himself when he was 78 years old. The reception was not good, nor was his attendance at The New York Comic Arts Convention in 1973. In addition, it also shows how artist Wally Wood satirized Wertham in MAD Magazine – dubbing him Dr. Werthless.
Frederick Wortham died in 1981, five years before Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, and Maus. One has to wonder what his reaction to those works would have been.
Dr. Werthless, the graphic novel, is nothing short of brilliant. Illustrator Eric Powell creates striking black and white with greytone artwork, as well as an EC Comics style for Wertham’s play and a straight-forward, black-and-white linework style showing the true answers of the children’s interviews concerning comic books. Designer Phil Balsman blends art and lettering in a way that is part Will Eisner and part picture book. This is amazing because of the sheer amount of words. Writer Harold Schechter has the biggest role of all. The amount of information in Dr. Werthless is staggering. There is just so much. The only drawback to this is: Does the reader REALLY want to spend this much time with someone as notorious as Frederick Wertham?
Dr. Werthless belongs on the shelf of every comic book historian. The book is packed full of information, as well as wonderful art. It is essential to understanding the twists and turns of the medium that we all love.
4 out of 4 stars
Creative Team: Howard Schechter and Eric Powell
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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