Marvel Comics rating system


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 comic's UPC box.

System

The Marvel Rating System assigns each comic book one of the following ratings:
Most Mature Readers books will fall under the MAX imprint, MAX and Mature-themed titles will continue to be designed to appear distinct from mainline Marvel titles, with the "MAX: Explicit Content" label very prominently displayed on the cover. MAX titles will not be sold on the newsstand, and they will not be sold to younger readers. It says anything from explicit to non-explicit.

History

The first Marvel rating system, implemented in 2001, used the following categories:
However, the Motion Picture Association of America complained, as it holds a trademark on such classifications as PG and PG-13. Marvel thus switched to the following system :
Beginning in June 2005, Marvel switched to yet another system: