EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Decapitation
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Decapitation. Dismemberment. Serial killers. Graphic gore. Hey, Kids! COMICS!! Since the release of The Dark Knight film series and the 22 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, comic-book characters have become wildly popular in other forms of entertainment, particularly television. But broadcast TV’s representations of comic-book characters are no longer the bright, colorful, and optimistic figures of the past. Children are innately attracted to comic-book characters; but in today’s comic book-based programs, children are being exposed to graphic violence, profanity, dark and intense themes, and other inappropriate content. In this research report, the PTC examined comic book-themed prime-time programming on the maJor broadcast networks during November, February, and May “sweeps” periods from November 2012 through May 2019. Programs examined were Fox’s Gotham; CW’s Arrow, Black Lightning, The Flash, Supergirl, DC’s Legends oF Tomorrow, and Riverdale; and ABC’s Marvel’s Agents oF S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s Agent Carter, and Marvel’s Inhumans. Research data suggest that broadcast television programs based on these comic-book characters, created and intended for children, are increasingly inappropriate and/or unsafe for young viewers. In its research, the PTC found the following during the study period: • In comic book-themed programming with particular appeal to children, young viewers were exposed to over 6,000 incidents of violence, over 500 deaths, and almost 2,000 profanities. • The most violent program was CW’s Arrow. Young viewers witnessed 1,241 acts of violence, including 310 deaths, 280 instances of gun violence, and 26 scenes of people being tortured.
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