by BK Munn: The Banned Comics Updates
It’s time once again to check in with the Canadian government’s ongoing censorship efforts. For some reason, most of the censorship in this country is directed at comic books, and specifically manga (but also hate propaganda and porn dvds). Here’s the most recent list of prohibited comic books:
Obscenity
Comic Books / Bandes dessinées
Caramel Crunch!; Dated: 2019/8/12 –admissable
Chi-Chan Kaihatsu Diary; Artist: Mucha; Published by Wani Magazine Comics; © 2019. —prohibited
Deliheal The Blood; Dated: 08/2015; Artist Jénoa Caké; © 2015.–prohibited
Does This Strange Body Please You?; Artist Z-Ton; Published by FakkuBooks. admissable
Dropout; Artist: Fan No Hitori; Published by Unreal Comics; © 2014.prohibited
Empire Hard Core 5; Dated: 2005/10; Artist: Type 90.prohibited
Every Girl has Her Thorns; Artist: Hisasi; Published by Fakku Books; © 2018.prohibited
Forbidden Fruit; Artist: EBA; Published by Angel Comics – Action Pizazz Brand; © 2012. prohibited
Girls und Panzer Mika x Aki Fanbook; Artist: Shamisen Koubou; © 2017.–admissable
Happy No Return; Dated: 2011/11/24; Artist Uchiuchi Keyaki; Published by Hot Milk Comics; © 2011.prohibited
Happy Style! 3; © 2015.prohibited
Kakihosyu 10; Dated: 2018/5/6.prohibited
Lovely Star S2; Artist: Mel; Published by Lucky Star / Melty Pot; © 2010.prohibited
Monster Smash; Artist: Mizone; Published by Fakku Books; © 2018.–admissable
Party Blast; Dated: 2018/9/8; Artist: Taira Issui, Sagaris Studio; Published by Bavel Comics; © 2018.prohibited
Pinkerton; Artist: Monorin; Published by Megastore Comics.prohibited
Reginae; Published by Laminaria; © 2018.prohibited
S&M Ecstasy; Artist Michiking; © 2018.prohibited
Saten Uiharo, Onnanoko Do- Shi Toka Suki Dakara!; © 2009.–admissable
Sukeko Mas; Dated: 2015/8/16; Published by Spermation.prohibited
Trembling Lips; Artist: Inu; Published by PROJECT-H.prohibited
Whispers After Class; Artist: Hinasaki Yo; Published by Fakku Books; © 2017.prohibited
Wild at School, Wild at School!; Artist: Bota Machito; Published by Fakku Books; © 2017.–admissable
*All these titles were seized by the Canadian government between July and September, 2019.
Background
The basic way comics are censored in Canada is at the border by Border Services agents. These defenders of liberty open mail, shipments and luggage looking for seditious or pornographic material. And four times a year they publish a list of what they have caught, with a note attached about whether the items in question are “prohibited,” meaning they are impounded and/or destroyed, or “admissible,” meaning they let them go.
For the longest time, the government seemed to have a hard-on for Little Sisters Books and other bookstores who imported a lot of LGBTQ material, especially before the advent of free porn online and the demise of bookstores, which lead to some famous court cases. Nowadays they seem to pay particular attention to adult manga and anime.
With the exception of Hate Literature, this is an effort that focuses on visual media almost exclusively. Meaning, the Canadian government doesn’t seem to be in the business of actually reading books without pictures, like in the old days of Lady Chatterly’s Lover and “under-the-counter” porno paperbacks.
The List
The full title of the censored book list is “Quarterly List of Admissible and Prohibited Titles” and the most recent list to arrive in my inbox are for the period covering July to September, 2019, published by the mysterious “Prohibited Importations Unit, Travellers Border Programs Division” of the federal Canada Border Services Agency. One of the roles of the CBSA is to “administer tariff item 9899.00.00 of the Schedule to the Customs Tariff” (i.e., part of the Customs Act) that blocks the import of material “considered to be obscenity, treason, sedition, or hate propaganda” as defined by the Canadian Criminal Code.
Sometimes the list includes items that fall under Section 59 (Re-determinations): “This section lists titles that have been previously prohibited under tariff item 9899.00.00 and which have been the subject of program monitoring. The re-determination was initiated by the PIU in order to ensure that goods have been correctly classified.” Also Section 60 (Re-determinations): “This section lists titles that were previously prohibited under tariff item 9899.00.00 and which have been re-determined at the importer’s request.”
As usual, the CBSA doesn’t note if the items in question were part of a larger wholesale shipment to a retailer or intended for an individual or just seized from a suitcase on the border (to see a collection of these lists up to 2010, see the CBDLF site here). FYI the CBLDF’s “sibling” organization here in Canada is the CLLDF, Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund.
The banned comics are mostly translated hentai manga by Japanese creators. A quick check reveals you can order many of these through Amazon.com but not Amazon.ca, among many other places. Not included in this post are the many dvds on the banned list, including live-action porn.
Just to let people know, there is a “sibling” organization of the CBLDF here in Canada; the Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit to assist people with legal issues involving comics. For more info, please visit clldf.ca
Good point, noted! I’ve amended the post to include that thanks!