In the 1930s many Americans struggled over their views of the world situation in both Asia as well as Europe. They did not want to go to war, but they knew they would likely be doing so. Many thought that their country's participation in World War One won that war for the Western Allies, France and the United Kingdom. They went through the 1920's attempting to ignore world events, particularly those that might involve them in foreign wars. They managed to do this, but high tariffs hurt the American economy, the world desired American participation in international events, but did not get it, and ultimately, the unsolved issues following World War One led to numerous problems that could not be solved but for war. In Europe the question was not if but when the German people would throw off the bonds of the Versailles treaty. It was seen by many people, not solely Germans, as an unfair, even dictated treaty. In the discontent of the inter war years Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party rose up in Germany to take power and threaten world peace. Beyond that, they threatened world populations of ethnic groups they disliked or hated, Jews, the Romany (gypsies) and more. In Asia the junior officer corps of the Japanese armies in effect launched a failed coup d'etat, a fait d'accompli with the incident at Mukden, Manchuria Northern China and started a large, extraordinarily violent conflict with China. Eventually they too would threaten world peace as well as that upon the Asian continent.

"Propaganda: Control of information, ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause..." Source

"PROPAGANDA- Any information, ideas, doctrines, or special appeals spread to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes, or behavior of any specified group to benefit the sponsor, either directly or indirectly." Source

It has been argued, successfully, that the Nazi German government used propaganda better than the world had seen previously (or perhaps since). Under the direction of Dr. Joseph Goebbels every perceived enemy, every desired ally were nuanced and influenced by the words and images of the Nazi propaganda machine. But however successful the Nazis were with their propaganda machine, Americans also had their propaganda, and it came in many forms. Included amongst the mediums utilized was COMICS.

American Jews very much were the comics industry in the pre war years of the late 1930s. They were in every area of the industry, writers, editors and artists. Many were young, some were first generation immigrants. And, some were very worried by the world events and the persecution of Jewish communities throughout Nazi occupied and threatened Europe. Some would enter the military to fight directly, but before that, many used the comics medium to motivate, educate, and inspire others to fight Nazi tyranny.

A year before the villainous attack upon Pearl Harbor December 7th 1941, fascists named "The Purple Shirts" were attacking the installations and defense works of the US. Ezra Smith, a true blue American got killed in an ultimate sacrifice for his country. His son, Buddy, was horrified, ran aimlessly and wished for someone to defend America from the Purple Shirts. Uncle Sam appeared to him, and then kicked purple ass. After that, Sam and Buddy were partners in America's struggle against the Nazis, fascists in general and Japanese soldiers. Quality's Uncle Sam was a living symbol of America and appeared in National Comics #1, July, 1940. The story was written and drawn by Will Eisner, a creative talent who is/was Jewish.

And 8 months before America's entry into World War II in December 1941, the artist formerly known as Jacob Kurtzman, Jack Kirby illustrated along with Joe Simon, CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 for TIMELY COMICS, (later Marvel) with a cover showing another living symbol of the country striking Adolf Hitler. Was there an uproar? No and frankly the comic was treasured by the people who bought it. Who bought it? Well unlike the present comic market the typical buyer and reader of comics would have been a child. In addition to a knowledge of the readership demographics, the price point represented what might have been a child's weekly allowance or earnings from chores. Children were the target audience and I guarantee that very few in that audience even thought "hey we are not at war with Nazi Germany". But the creative talents, Simon and Kirby knew very well that America was not yet at war.

Propaganda targeted the youth of America, and soon when the war did begin in earnest, the number of comics aimed at motivating Americans towards action was growing, and when service men and women took to the battlefield, comics were sold in record numbers, to them. At that point were the covers and stories propaganda or reflections of the war's events? Well Japanese people, whether soldiers or saboteurs, were presented very much in a stereotypical fashion, that is, with yellow skin, squinty eyes behind thick glasses, and of course buck teeth. As John Dower's WAR WITHOUT MERCY and Roger Daniels CONCENTRATION CAMPS USA demonstrate, America's war against Japan was a race war. The Japanese Americans, citizens of the USA, were interned, as being untrustable. Comic covers make it clear that comic artists thought of the Japanese as Japs, or more correctly, as enemies.

Some of the greatest covers were more about motivating people than demonizing opponents, artists such as Alex Schomberg created awesome and inspiring works using the heroes of Timely and DC depicted as fighting the Axis powers, of Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan. Additionally, war bonds were referred to on covers, as well as home front efforts to support the war effort. All in all comics depicted all aspects of the war.

Now clearly there was plenty in the war to respond towards. Pearl Harbor, the Death March, the victims of the Holocaust, Malmedy were all examples of horrible events that killed or maimed Americans, but war is horrible on all accounts. Victims exist due to war. I am not saying anything about the ultimate righteousness of the propaganda, but instead simply saying, that as far as propaganda goes, the Comics played a role, did so before the war, and throughout it. Those who created the works were motivated by many things, not the least amongst them capitalism, or that is, selling comics. The fact is that during war even escapist literature often depicts war. So it would not be wrong to suggest that at least some of the creative talents knew that an image of Hitler on a cover as a bad guy would sell a comic better than Lex Luthor or some other villain.

Comic covers during and about later conflicts were less prone to use stereotypical images, and were less black and white in discussing the conflict versus good and evil. Clearly the type of conflict was important in determining how the war was considered, and World War II was, up until 9-11-2001, considered by many people to be the last righteous war.

Clearly racist militarists were worthy of being destroyed. Upon the events of 9-11-2001 and the wars thereafter new propaganda came out, but most in mediums other than comics. The sole real cover of note was for the comic AMERICAN POWER, which had the hero socking Osama bin Laden across the chin, ala Captain America some 60 years earlier. However, the political climate and the sensitivity regarding propaganda has clearly changed, and that title, however good or bad, was canceled prior to it even publishing a single issue. America and the world, for all the difficulties faced now, seem to have in some ways grown up.

Looking at the covers over time you are forced to recognize that as comics have matured so too have the people reading them. Also it is important to recognize the place in popular culture comics played at that time. Accompanying this article will be a slew of comic covers gathered by James and me. Look at the level of violence, the depictions of evil, the racism, and maybe even detect the use of the pejorative terms Japs or Krauts. Propaganda wins hearts and minds, but you have to wonder at what cost our humanity.