Punching Hitler: WWII Era Comic Book Covers
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Issue #1 of Captain America, published in March 1941, featured a now classic Jack Kirby cover of the patriotic hero socking Hitler with a huge right-hook. What better a way to introduce eponymous star-spangled hero to the American public. And this was 9 months before that attack on Pearl Harbor, by the Japanese on December 7th 1941. Comic books featuring superheroes were still in their infancy as WWII started in Europe in 1939, and were perfect fodder for fascist bashing propaganda stories. And the new comic book industry was quick to capitalise on sending their costumed superheroes to war against the enemies of freedom.
Many writers joined the War Writers Board (WWB), which was established to promote government policy as well as discourage profiteering. While a private organization, the WWB quickly joined forces with the United States Office of War Information. And thus the propaganda machine went into pumped-up rock 'em sock 'em over-drive. The government sponsored drive to contribute to war bonds was particularly fierce in the comic book industry, and given the natural patriotic slant many heroes had, the two went hand-in-hand. As the war rolled on and soldiers were being deployed over-seas, comics accompanied them on their long journeys to Europe and Asia. The comic book industry was happy to supply page after page of patriotic propaganda to entertain the troops, with millions of copies being printed and shipped out to wherever the troops were stationed. In comci books winning the war went hand-in-hand with good defeating evil, always getting the girl and upholding Truth, Justice and the American way. |
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Walt Disney's World War II Propaganda Films - During World War II the United States government turned to Walt Disney, to help boost the morale of the people.
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Pocket Guide To China (1942): "How To Spot A Jap" Comic - A piece of WWII propaganda that's so bad, you wonder whether the top-brass were all on drugs when the authorised its release.
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