History ComicBook / JudgmentDayECComics

Its reception in W.F. No. 18 was overwhelmingly positive, but was met with strong ExecutiveMeddling by the [[UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode Comics Code Authority]] for its 1956 reprint. Administrator Judge Charles Murphy demanded that the ending be changed so that Tarlton would not be black, but Feldstein stiffly refused, saying that it would ruin the whole point of the story. It should be made clear that Murphy's objection had no basis in any Code rule, and was solely motivated by his own racist views, and the event only confirmed to the EC Comics staff of what they had long suspected; namely that reactionary elements within the Comics Code Authority had it out for them because of their progressive content and messages. He had then called Feldstein and William Gaines to instead request that the sweat be stricken from Tarlton's forehead, with one or both of the men bidding him "[[PrecisionFStrike Fuck you!]]", and hung up. The story would be successfully reprinted in ''Incredible Science Fiction'' #33 with no changes, [[PyrrhicVictory but as the last comic issue published by EC Comics]], who were harassed out of the comics business and shifted their focus to the non-CCA-compliant ''Magazine/{{Mad}}''.

Its reception in W.F. No. 18 was overwhelmingly positive, but was met with strong ExecutiveMeddling by the [[UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode Comics Code Authority]] for its 1956 reprint. Administrator Judge Charles Murphy demanded that the ending be changed so that Tarlton would not be black, but Feldstein stiffly refused, saying that it would ruin the whole point of the story. It should be made clear that Murphy's objection had no basis in any Code rule, and was solely motivated by his own racist views, and the event only confirmed to the EC Comics staff of what they had long suspected; reactionary elements within the Comics Code Authority had it out for them over their progressive content and messages. He had then called Feldstein and William Gaines to instead request that the sweat be stricken from Tarlton's forehead, with one or both of the men bidding him "[[PrecisionFStrike Fuck you!]]", and hung up. The story would be successfully reprinted in ''Incredible Science Fiction'' #33 with no changes, [[PyrrhicVictory but as the last comic issue published by EC Comics]], who were harassed out of the comics business and shifted their focus to the non-CCA-compliant ''Magazine/{{Mad}}''.

Its reception in W.F. No. 18 was overwhelmingly positive, but was met with strong ExecutiveMeddling by the [[UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode Comics Code Authority]] for its 1956 reprint. Administrator Judge Charles Murphy demanded that the ending be changed so that Tarlton would not be black, but Feldstein stiffly refused, saying that it would ruin the whole point of the story. It should be made clear that Murphy's objection had no basis in any Code rule, and was solely motivated by his own racist views, and the event only confirmed to the EC Comics staff of what they had long suspected; reactionary elements within the Comics Code Authority was very deliberately harassing them over their progressive messages. He had then called Feldstein and William Gaines to instead request that the sweat be stricken from Tarlton's forehead, with one or both of the men bidding him "[[PrecisionFStrike Fuck you!]]", and hung up. The story would be successfully reprinted in ''Incredible Science Fiction'' #33 with no changes, [[PyrrhicVictory but as the last comic issue published by EC Comics]], who were harassed out of the comics business and shifted their focus to the non-CCA-compliant ''Magazine/{{Mad}}''.

Its reception in W.F. No. 18 was overwhelmingly positive, but was met with strong ExecutiveMeddling by the [[UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode Comics Code Authority]] for its 1956 reprint. Administrator Judge Charles Murphy demanded that the ending be changed so that Tarlton would not be black, but Feldstein stiffly refused, saying that it would ruin the whole point of the story. It should be made clear that Murphy's objection had no basis in any Code rule, and was solely motivated by his own racist views. He had then called Feldstein and William Gaines to instead request that the sweat be stricken from Tarlton's forehead, with one or both of the men bidding him "[[PrecisionFStrike Fuck you!]]", and hung up. The story would be successfully reprinted in ''Incredible Science Fiction'' #33 with no changes, [[PyrrhicVictory but as the last comic issue published by EC Comics]], who were harassed out of the comics business and shifted their focus to the non-CCA-compliant ''Magazine/{{Mad}}''.

Its reception in W.F. No. 18 was overwhelmingly positive, but was met with strong ExecutiveMeddling by the [[UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode Comics Code Authority]] for its 1956 reprint. Administrator Judge Charles Murphy demanded that the ending be changed so that Tarlton would not be black, but Feldstein stiffly refused, saying that it would ruin the whole point of the story. This had no basis in any Code rule, and was solely motivated by Murphy's own racist views. He had then called Feldstein and William Gaines to instead request that the sweat be stricken from Tarlton's forehead, with one or both of the men bidding him "[[PrecisionFStrike Fuck you!]]", and hung up. The story would be successfully reprinted in ''Incredible Science Fiction'' #33 with no changes, [[PyrrhicVictory but as the last comic issue published by EC Comics]], who were harassed out of the comics business and shifted their focus to the non-CCA-compliant ''Magazine/{{Mad}}''.

* JustOneMan: The orange robot is agitated and feels personally judged when Tarlton criticizes Cybrinia's caste system and its reality falling short of its proposed ideals of freedom, pointing out that "this existed long before I was made!" and that he's "only one robot". This blame-shifting attitude, for something that the orange robots ''should'' feel responsible for, only serves further proof to Tarlton that Cybrinia isn't ready to join the Galactic Republic.

Tarlton is an emissary from the [[TheFederation Galactic Republic]], dispatched to the planet Cybrinia, to determine if the world is eligible for Republic membership. [[RobotRepublic Cybrinia is populated entirely by robots]], and he finds that [[ColorCodedCastes they are divided into two types: orange and blue]]. Both types have identical body plans, are made from identical components, and are built by the same methods before being fitted with outer casings and programmed with knowledge, but [[FantasticRacism orange robots live in comfort and luxury while blue robots are confined to second-class citizenry]], [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything living in squalor, limited to menial jobs, and relegated to shoddier charging-stations]]. Tarlton concludes that, on account of their discriminatory social structure, Cybrinia is ineligible to join the Republic. After he's boarded his rocket-ship and is flying back home, Tarlton removes his helmet, [[SuddenlyEthnicity revealing himself to the reader as a black man]]. TheEnd.

Tarlton is an emissary from the [[TheFederation Galactic Republic]], dispatched to the planet Cybrinia, to determine if the world is eligible for Republic membership. [[RobotRepublic The world is populated entirely by robots]], and he finds that [[ColorCodedCastes they are divided into two types: orange and blue]]. Both types have identical body plans, are made from identical components, and are built by the same methods before being fitted with outer casings and programmed with knowledge, but [[FantasticRacism orange robots live in comfort and luxury while blue robots are confined to second-class citizenry]], [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything living in squalor, limited to menial jobs, and relegated to shoddier charging-stations]]. He concludes that, on account of their discriminatory social structure, Cybrinia is ineligible to join the Republic. After he's boarded his rocket-ship and is flying back home, Tarlton removes his helmet, [[SuddenlyEthnicity revealing himself to the reader as a black man]]. TheEnd.

* SuddenlyEthnicity: The whole of the comic speaks not a word about Tarlton's race, but when he removes his helmet to show that he's black, a whole new perspective on the Cybrinians' discrimination is given. This is done through both the text and artwork at the same time.

* SuddenlyEthnicity: The whole of the comic speaks not a word about Tarlton's race, but when he removes his helmet to show that he's black, a whole new perspective on the Cybrinians' discrimination is given. This is both done through the text and illustation.

* WhamLine: The narration for the WhamShot below:

Its reception in W.F. No. 18 was overwhelmingly positive, but was met with strong ExecutiveMeddling by the [[UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode Comics Code Authority]] for its 1956 reprint. Administrator Judge Charles Murphy demanded that the ending be changed so that Tarlton would not be Black, but Feldstein stiffly refused, saying that it would ruin the whole point of the story. This had no basis in any Code rule, and was solely motivated by Murphy's own racist views. He had then called Feldstein and William Gaines to instead request that the sweat be stricken from Tarlton's forehead, with one or both of the men bidding him "[[PrecisionFStrike Fuck you!]]", and hung up. The story would be successfully reprinted in ''Incredible Science Fiction'' #33 with no changes, [[PyrrhicVictory but as the last comic issue published by EC Comics]], who were harassed out of the comics business and shifted their focus to the non-CCA-compliant ''Magazine/{{Mad}}''.

Tarlton is an emissary from the [[TheFederation Galactic Republic]], dispatched to the planet Cybrinia, to determine if the world is eligible for Republic membership. [[RobotRepublic The world is populated entirely by robots]], and he finds that [[ColorCodedCastes they are divided into two types: orange and blue]]. Both types have identical body plans, are made from identical components, and are built by the same methods before being fitted with outer casings and programmed with knowledge, but [[FantasticRacism orange robots live in comfort and luxury while blue robots are confined to second-class citizenry]], [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything living in squalor, limited to menial jobs, and relegated to shoddier charging-stations]]. He concludes that, on account of their discriminatory social structure, Cybrinia is ineligible to join the Republic. After he's boarded his rocket-ship and is flying back home, Tarlton removes his helmet, [[SuddenlyEthnicity revealing himself to the reader as a Black man]]. TheEnd.

* SuddenlyEthnicity: The whole of the comic speaks not a word about Tarlton's race, but when he removes his helmet to show that he's Black, a whole new perspective on the Cybrinians' discrimination is given.

Its reception in W.F. No. 18 was overwhelmingly positive, but was met with strong ExecutiveMeddling by the [[UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode Comics Code Authority]] for its 1956 reprint. Administrator Judge Charles Murphy demanded that the ending be changed so that Tarlton would not be Black, but Feldstein stiffly refused, saying that it would ruin the whole point of the story. This had no basis in any Code rule, and was solely motivated by Murphy's own racist views. He had then called Feldstein and William Gaines to instead request that the sweat be stricken from Tarlton's forehead, with one or both of the men bidding him "[[PrecisionFStrike Fuck you!]]", and hung up. The story would be successfully reprinted in ''Incredible Science Fiction'' #33, [[PyrrhicVictory but as the last comic issue published by EC Comics]], who were harassed out of the comics business and shifted their focus to the non-CCA-compliant ''Magazine/{{Mad}}''.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The innards of an orange robot and a blue robot are identical, but the only differences are in their casings and their programming, their outer shells and what they are taught. While orange robots live splendidly and control the levers of power, blue robots are relegated to slum-towns and menial jobs, subpar establishments ''and the backs of buses...''

* FantasticRacism: Blue robots are little better than serfs, who never know the gleaming luxury that the orange robots take for granted. Tarlton's guide even mentions "keeping them in their place" and that there would be "trouble" if orange and blue were to comingle.

* RayOfHopeEnding: It ends on the implication that Tarlton's guide will take back the knowledge that the Earthman gave him, to show his orange brethren that they are fundamentally no different from the blue robots. Tarlton also told that Earth's people used to be the same way until they cast aside their prejudices to finally be able to touch the stars which, in highly-segregated [[TheFifties 1950s]] America, [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall was also a message of hope to the reader]].

[[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Foreshadowing}} Notice the blue robots kept away from the front of the crowd.]]]]

Tarlton is an emissary from the [[TheFederation Galactic Republic]], dispatched to the planet Cybrinia, to determine if the world is eligible for Republic membership. [[RobotRepublic The world is populated entirely by robots]], and he finds that [[ColorCodedCastes they are divided into two types: orange and blue]]. Both types have identical body plans, are made from identical components, and are built by the same methods before being fitted with outer casings and programmed with knowledge, but orange robots live in comfort and luxury while blue robots are confined to second-class citizenry, living in squalor, limited to menial jobs, and relegated to shoddier charging-stations. He concludes that, on account of their discriminatory social structure, Cybrinia is ineligible to join the Republic. After he's boarded his rocket-ship and is flying back home, Tarlton removes his helmet, [[SuddenlyEthnicity revealing himself to the reader as a Black man]]. TheEnd.