Comics in America have broadened their appeal by marketing
to adults. Prior to World War II, usually only 41 bought
comics. During World War II, the comic book industry in the
United States began to undergo a major change. When the war
started, the government 42 the comics industry in order to take
advantage of their powerful propaganda effects, regulating 43
for purposes of military defense. By the time the war was over, thetaste for comic books 44 the adult population. Publishers
from this point on expanded this 45 of the market, which was
to become the largest sales increase in the history of the comics
industry.
The editor of Exciting Comics, Ed O’Donnell, was important in
extending the success of this marketing drive. He reorganized
comic drawing to encourage artists’ innovation. The market had
declined slightly since the late forties. O’Donnell, against
conventions, hired 46 illustrators. He abandoned the
low-budget publication, a step considered risky to his peers in the
publication industry; however, his 47 environment for artistic
creation eventually proved successful. Kenny Barby was one of the
artists that helped 48 the most innovative titles to come out of
Exciting Comics. He insisted on revising the concept of the comic
book 49 ; he proposed to create characters designed to capture
markets that had previously not been successfully 50 by comic
books. This revolutionary idea laid the foundation for the now
thriving market for sophisticated adult-oriented comic books.
【題組】48. (A) spawn (B) obviate (C) reproach (D) conjecture