This is a feature called "A Political World," where we spotlight 20th Century comic book stories that came out back when comic books were not political at all, unlike comic books nowadays.

Today, we look at an insightful examination of the stupidity of bigotry in "Blood Brothers" by Al Feldstein and Wallace Wood from EC Comics' Crime SuspenStories #13.

The story opens up in the aftermath of a tragic affair, as a man has killed himself with a cross burning outside of his house. The county coroner shows up and begins to interview a man about his neighbor's suicide. The doctor recalls the two men being really good friends. The change is for a shocking reason...

As it turns out, Sid learns that one of his neighbors is planning to sell his house to an African-American family. When he goes to complain to his best friend and neighbor, Henry, Sid is shocked to learn that Henry's grandmother was African-American!

This just WRECKS Sid. He can't believe that he didn't know this about his friend. He, naturally, twists it up in his mind as a sort of attack on him by Henry. He was tricked, you see!

He then dedicates his life to making Henry's life miserable enough that Henry will move his family out of the neighborhood...

When things aren't progressing fast enough, he gets Henry fired from his job. After Henry's wife dies because they can't afford to give her proper health care, Sid is sure that Henry will move, but he doesn't. Sid turns to a burning cross and that does the twisted trick...

Doctor Falk, of course, knows Sid is a bigoted moron and he explains to Sid that there's no such thing as "black blood." Doc tells Sid of a time that a young boy was badly injured and the only way that he could be saved was by a blood transfusion on the spot. The only person who had a matching blood type was the African-American farmhand and he gladly gave up some of his blood to save the boy...

And, of course, we all know who that little boy grew up to be, right?

What a powerful ending.

As you might imagine, a story like that in 1953 drew some less than complimentary responses from certain readers (while praise from most of the readers). Here are two letters. I've slightly edited the letter. Suffice it to say that they did not write "negro" in the edited parts...

When Stan Lee talked about the importance of preaching anti-bigotry in comic books, this is precisely the sort of thing that he was thinking about.

Okay, folks, I'm sure you have suggestions for good political storylines from the "good old days when comic books weren't political," so drop me suggestions at brianc@cbr.com!