For the purposes of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
COMIC BOOK. Any narrative, story, tale, romance, or account of events or happenings, fictional, factual, or historical, in which the successive steps in the development of the action or plot are pictorially or graphically illustrated by drawings or photographs and in which the legend, narrative, or dialogue is printed adjacent to or on the pictorial illustration, whether or not in balloons proceeding out of the mouths of the characters portrayed. This definition includes all publications of the nature described regardless of whether they partake of the elements of comedy or humor.
COMIC BOOK PORTRAYING DEEDS OF BRUTALITY AND VIOLENCE. A comic book, as hereinbefore described, the theme or plot of which is devoted primarily or in substantial part to deeds or acts of brutality or violence, such as assaults, cuttings, stabbings, beatings, sluggings, floggings, eye gougings, brutal kickings, burnings, dismemberments, and other reprehensible assaults and batteries on the person.
CRIME COMIC BOOK. A comic book, as hereinbefore described, the theme or plot of which is devoted primarily or in substantial part to the portrayal of the planning or commission of criminal deeds, such as murders, rapes, armed robberies, burglaries, thefts, kidnappings, arsons, the peddling, sale or use of narcotics, or other felonies or conspiracies or attempts to commit felonies.
HORROR COMIC BOOK. A comic book, as hereinbefore described, the theme or plot of which is gruesome, debasing, monstrous, vile, demonic, ghoulish, weird, horrible, vicious, depraved, inhuman, or otherwise calculated to inspire in readers feelings of terror, fear, revulsion, disgust, or morbid curiosity.
SEXUALLY INDECENT COMIC BOOK. A comic book, as hereinbefore described, the theme or plot of which is devoted primarily or in substantial part to sexually indecent subject matter, such as adultery, homosexuality, sadism, masochism, or other perversions or in which male and female characters are depicted in lewd, lascivious, or suggestive amorous embraces or in which male or female characters are scantily or indecently clad or in which the breasts of female characters or the genital organs of male or female characters are exposed or partially exposed.
(Prior Code, § 132.20)