Graphic Nudity in Marvel and DC Comics: A Collector’s Perspective

Comic books have long been a source of imaginative storytelling, but as censorship has loosened, more and more graphic elements have made their way into both Marvel and DC comics. This article explores the instances of graphic nudity in these two major comic book studios, providing a collector's perspective and clarifying the distinction between non-graphic and graphic nudity in the industry.

Introduction to Graphic Nudity in Comics

Graphic novels have notably bypassed the censorship that once heavily restricted the comic book industry. Marvel's Starstruck 1 marks the first appearance of full female breasts in a major Marvel comic, opening the door for more expressive and mature content. Additionally, Epic provided comic creators with unprecedented freedom to explore their ideas, although many creators eventually left to form Image Comics a few short years later. The shift in censorship led to a significant evolution in the depiction of nudity within comics.

It's important to note that even in modern comics, much of the nudity is contextualized within tight-fitting costumes, with only a few lines indicating the presence of nudity. Once colored, the final product looks appropriate. For instance, X23's cover for X-Men 451 is one of the most celebrated examples of such work.

DC Comics and Graphic Nudity

When exploring instances of graphic nudity in DC comics, one must categorize the content. Neither Marvel nor DC is consistent in their approaches to nudity, and collectors would only categorize a handful of instances within their libraries. It's important to clarify that what is categorized by the industry as nudity is not always graphic.

Here are the five instances of graphic nudity in DC comics that have been documented:

Green Arrow 34
Dinah's nipple during lovemaking in the comic.
Dark Knight III: The Master Race 1
Wonder Woman's nipple during breastfeeding.
Batman: Damned 1
Bruce Wayne's full frontal and backside.
The Spectre 9
Madame Xanadu is fully naked.
Batman: The Killing Joke 1
Barbara Gordon is shown topless.

While the scenes from Watchmen are not included, it is worth noting that many other unpublished pages have been available for collectors. For example, the original panel of Babs from Batman: The Killing Joke 1 was more visible and graphic, as were various attempts to show Selina's breasts.

Marvel Comics and Graphic Nudity

Much like DC, Marvel has its own instances of graphic nudity in its comics, but these instances are not categorized as graphic due to the contextualization of the nudity within the costumes or other elements of the story. The instances in Marvel's comics are also limited and can be found in a variety of titles.

For example, Green Arrow/Batgirl 34 and Batman: Damned 1 both contain non-graphic instances of nudity. The focus of Marvel comics is often not on the portrayal of nudity, but on the story and characters. This stands in contrast to some of the graphic nudity present in other comics, such as Sex Criminals.

Other Comics Beyond Marvel and DC

For collectors seeking pure graphic nudity, there are many other comics outside of the Marvel and DC universes that offer a broader range of explicit content. Some notable examples include:

Sex Criminals
Written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky, Sex Criminals follows the adventures of Suzie, a librarian, and Jon, an actor, and explores their relationship through the lens of their ability to freeze time during orgasm. The series was nominated for two Eisner Awards in 2014 and won Best New Series. God is Dead
A story about the return of ancient gods to Earth and the chaos it brings, God is Dead by Jonathan Hickman and Mike Costa delves into the conflict between humanity and divinity. The series challenges the traditional narrative of the gods and offers a fresh perspective on the concept of divinity in modern times. Deep Dish
Eddie Rabbit's Deep Dish presents a gritty and explicit tale that stands out for its graphic content and nuanced storytelling. The character of Eddie Rabbit explores the darker side of human sexuality and the consequences of these actions.

These comics, while not exclusively about nudity, often incorporate graphic elements to enhance the storytelling and character development, making them stand out in the comic book landscape.

Conclusion

While both Marvel and DC have made efforts to showcase nudity in their comics, the instances are limited and categorized differently depending on the context. Collectors and enthusiasts of graphic content should look beyond the major publishers to find the most explicit examples, often found in independent and alternative comic series. The intersection of sexuality and storytelling in comics is a rich and evolving field, with new and exciting works emerging regularly.