Communist Comics.

This article examines how the People's Republic of China managed the coexistence of communist ideology with a literary canon containing supernatural and uncommunist elements, focusing on the medium of lianhuanhua—small illustrated serial picture books popular from the Republican period through the mid-20th century. While the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) embraced lianhuanhua for propaganda, stories like the folk tale *The Snail-Shell Girl* posed challenges due to their supernatural themes, which conflicted with the CCP's emphasis on rational and scientific thinking. Authorities initially allowed revised versions that combined communist rhetoric with traditional supernatural motifs, using introductions to frame these elements as reflections of ancient societal thinking. However, from 1965 onward, stricter cultural policies led to bans on lianhuanhua featuring supernatural content, though some classics like *Journey to the West* remained tolerated; after the Cultural Revolution, many previously banned titles were republished, demonstrating the medium's resilience.