Boiled Angel (comic)
Date: 1993
Region: North America
Subject: Explicit Sexuality , Religion , Violence
Medium: Print Journalism
Artist: Michael Christopher "Mike" Diana
Confronting Bodies: State of Florida
Dates of Action: April 1993
Location: Florida
Description of Artwork: Boiled Angel, an underground comic book containing graphic depictions of a variety of taboo and gory subjects (specifically magazine issues #7 & #8).
The Incident: In 1991, while investigating a Florida murder case, a police officer discovered an issue of Boiled Angel and, desperate for clues, contacted Diana, informed him he was a suspect, and requested a blood sample. The real killer was soon apprehended, and Diana was not pursued. The officer in question, however, collected additional issues of Boiled Angel and sent them to the State’s Attorney’s office where they went on file. Two years later, the Assistant State's Attorney, Stuart Baggish came across the books and charged Mike Diana with three counts of criminal misdemeanor.
The charges were 1) Publication of lewd or obscene material 2) Distribution of lewd or obscene material 3) Advertising for the sale of lewd or obscene material.
Results of Incident: The artist plead innocent to all charges at the first hearing on April 19, 1993. On June 7 he was granted a continuance to July 17, 1993 for a pre-trial hearing. The trial date was eventually set at January 13, 1994. No further information on the trial was submitted. Mike Hunt Comix are currently available by mail order.
Source: Michael Christopher "Mike" Diana, Wikipedia
