I Can’t Make You Buy that Horror Comic Book
While researching the exceptions to non-competition agreements in California, I came across this exception:
16603. Every person who, as a condition to a sale or consignment of any magazine, book, or other publication requires that the purchaser or consignee purchase or receive for sale any horror comic book, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both.
This section is not intended to prohibit an agreement requiring a person to purchase or accept on consignment a minimum number of copies of a single edition or issue of a magazine or of a particular book or other particular publication.
As used in this section “person” includes a corporation, partnership, or other association.
As used in this section “horror comic book” means any book or booklet in which an account of the commission or attempted commission of the crime of arson, assault with caustic chemicals, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, kidnapping, mayhem, murder, rape, robbery, theft, or voluntary manslaughter is set forth by means of a series of five or more drawings or photographs in sequence, which are accompanied by either narrative writing or words represented as spoken by a pictured character, whether such narrative words appear in balloons, captions or on or immediately adjacent to the photograph or drawing.
This definition of “horror comic book” would probably include most comic books out there, at least not the ones written specifically for children. I wonder what the history of this Code provision is.
Internet, Regulatory | paul | 
June 5, 2007 3:32 pm
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By Sharzy, June 17, 2010 @ 8:17 am
Funny, I just stumbled upon this weird gem as well, while looking for the exact thing you were.