Marvel Rating System
Encyclopedia
The Marvel Rating System is a system for rating the content of comic books, with regard to appropriateness for different age groups. In 2001, Marvel Comics
withdrew from the Comics Code Authority
and established its own rating system for its publications. This was precipitated by the CCA refusing approval of the seal due to the strong depiction of violence in X-Force #116, a comic written by Peter Milligan
and drawn by Mike Allred. As well, by withdrawing from the CCA, this is seen as a move by editor-in-chief Joe Quesada
to lure more high-profile creators to Marvel Comics. Today's ratings are usually found on the comics UPC
box.
However, the Motion Picture Association of America
complained, as it holds a trademark on such classifications as PG and PG-13 (see MPAA film rating system
). Marvel thus switched to the following system (By changing the PG ratings):
Beginning in June 2005, Marvel switched to yet another system:
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
withdrew from the Comics Code Authority
Comics Code Authority
The Comics Code Authority was a body created as part of the Comics Magazine Association of America, as a tool for the comics-publishing industry to self-regulate the content of comic books in the United States. Member publishers submitted comic books to the CCA, which screened them for adherence to...
and established its own rating system for its publications. This was precipitated by the CCA refusing approval of the seal due to the strong depiction of violence in X-Force #116, a comic written by Peter Milligan
Peter Milligan
Peter Milligan born in London, a British writer, best known for his comic book, film and television work.-Early career:Milligan started his comic career with short stories for 2000 AD in the early 1980s. By 1986, Milligan had his first ongoing strip in 2000AD called Bad Company, with artists Brett...
and drawn by Mike Allred. As well, by withdrawing from the CCA, this is seen as a move by editor-in-chief Joe Quesada
Joe Quesada
Joseph "Joe" Quesada is an American comic book editor, writer and artist. He became known in the 1990s for his work on various Valiant Comics books, such as Ninjak and Solar, Man of the Atom...
to lure more high-profile creators to Marvel Comics. Today's ratings are usually found on the comics UPC
Universal Product Code
The Universal Product Code is a barcode symbology , that is widely used in North America, and in countries including the UK, Australia, and New Zealand for tracking trade items in stores. Its most common form, the UPC-A, consists of 12 numerical digits, which are uniquely assigned to each trade item...
box.
System
The Marvel Rating System assigns each comic book one of the following ratings:- ALL AGES - appropriate for all ages.
- A - Appropriate for age 9 and up.
- T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.
- PARENTAL ADVISORY - 15 years and older. Similar to T+ but featuring more mature themes and/or more graphic imagery.
- MAX: EXPLICIT CONTENT - 18 years old. Most Mature Readers books will fall under the MAX comics banner (created specifically for mature content titles), MAX and Mature-themed titles will continue to be designed to appear distinct from mainline Marvel titles, with the "MAX: Explicit Content" label very prominent on the cover. MAX titles will not be sold on the newsstand, and they will not be marketed to younger readers.
History
The first Marvel Rating System, implemented in 2001, used the following categories:- ALL AGES
- PG (Parental Guidance)
- PG+
- PARENTAL ADVISORY/EXPLICIT CONTENT
However, the Motion Picture Association of America
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. , originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America , was founded in 1922 and is designed to advance the business interests of its members...
complained, as it holds a trademark on such classifications as PG and PG-13 (see MPAA film rating system
MPAA film rating system
The Motion Picture Association of America's film-rating system is used in the U.S. and its territories to rate a film's thematic and content suitability for certain audiences. The MPAA system applies only to motion pictures that are submitted for rating. Other media may be rated by other entities...
). Marvel thus switched to the following system (By changing the PG ratings):
- ALL AGES
- PSR (Parental Supervision Recommended)
- PSR+
- PARENTAL ADVISORY/EXPLICIT CONTENT
Beginning in June 2005, Marvel switched to yet another system:
- ALL AGES
- A Appropriate for age 9 and up.
- T+ SUGGESTED FOR TEEN AND UP
- PARENTAL ADVISORY
- MAX: EXPLICIT CONTENT
External links
- Official ratings guide at Marvel.com (Note: the information on this page does not match the information published in Previews.)