Legendary The Sandman writer Neil Gaiman is confirming an R-rated rule that he could not break during his iconic run at DC Comics, as he couldn't mention DC characters pleasuring themselves under any circumstances. In a recently shared Twitter comment that's received more than 75,000 likes, Gaiman confirmed a question regarding DC's rules on masturbation in comics, as creative teams were strictly prohibited from showing (or even talking about) the act in their books.
DC Comics has always pushed the envelope in bringing gritty, dark action to the world of super-heroics, as some of their most iconic stories are full of violence, sex, swearing, and more adult-themed scenes and narratives. In the '90s, Karen Berger founded the now-defunct Vertigo imprint, which pushed the envelope on more adult-oriented creator-owned books even more. The results were some of the most unique, compelling comic books ever, as, over the years, the line carried the likes of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, Y: The Last Man from Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra, and Preacher by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. DC's more recent Black Label line has also taken its stories in a much more adult-themed route. However, before Vertigo, Neil Gaiman admitted that he had to follow an R-rated rule at DC Comics: No masturbation in stories.
On his Twitter account, Gaiman answered a question regarding DC Comics' stance on showing and talking about self-pleasure in the pages of its stories. When asked if it was true that he was once told he couldn't mention masturbation in the pages of Sandman, Neil Gaiman confirmed "yes." Gaiman also confirmed his reaction, joking, "that explains a lot," in response to the R-rated rule.
It's important to keep in mind, that the R-rated rule was a few years before DC Comics decided to push the boundaries of its darker storytelling with Vertigo. Gaiman tried to get the word "masturbate" into The Sandman, but ultimately was explained the R-rated rule and how he couldn't use it at the time. The Sandman was still relatively new at the time, and including scenes or references to self-pleasure might have halted the story altogether due to its graphic nature.
Ultimately, it seems the situation worked out for both Neil Gaiman and DC Comics. Gaiman would soon get more creative freedom working on The Sandman with the Vertigo imprint as DC Comics allowed its creative teams a little more free rein when including adult themes and situations in their comics with the line. Still, it's funny that nearly three decades later, the R-rated DC Comics rule returned in such a big way on social media.
Source: Neil Gaiman