Using spiderman to convey a public message

In the 1970s a spiderman story led to changes in the the Comics Code. Before, the Code did not allow the depiction of the use of illegal drugs. But in 1970 the Nixon administration’s Department of Health asked Stan Lee to publish an anti-drug message in one of it’s top-selling titles. Stan Lee chose the The Amazing Spider-Man; featured in a story on the negative effects of drugs. In the theme, Harry Osborn becomes addicted to pills.

And when Spider-Man fights the Green Goblin he defeats him, by revealing Harry’s drug addiction. Even though the story had an anti-drug message, the Comics Code Authority refused to issue its seal of approval. But Marvel published the three issues without their approval or seal. The issues sold so well that the industry’s self-censorship was undercut and the Code was soon changed after that.
The Amazing Spider-Man , the first of three non-Comics Code issues that prompted the Code’s first update, allowing publications to show the negative effects of illegal-drug use.