War Comic influence of WWII, by Zachary vanBuuren

comic book influence of wwii

     The 1930’s saw a transformation of the comic. In the beginning, the comic was regarded as nothing more that a panel strip in the newspaper. The familiar three panel layout was what comprised “the funny pages” in the newspaper. The origin of the comic strip can be dated back to the egyptians. Then in the late 1930’s, the comic book came into popularity. With this new format of storytelling and conveying of information, a new method of storytelling was made possible. Writers and artists could tell stories of fantasy and epic tales, from this, the graphic novel was make possible and accepted as a literary medium.  

     Comic books took popularity throughout wartime because they were an easily transportable, digestible method of hero stories to motivate and encourage the soldiers. Many of the generation that saw the development of the comic book were drafted during WWII and took with them a desire for comics with them into battle. From this desire a new type of comic book character was born. A character who was strong in the face of the enemy. A leader by example. An inspiration to military prowess. The comic book format was also a new way to train soldiers and give instruction to tasks such as repair equipment.  Where this was particularly effective was in map making and instructional documentation. It was viewed an an effectively universal medium that did not rely on reading comprehension to pass information. While this was used throughout the war, it also spawned a stereotype of the enemy that persisted through the war and after. American comic artists tried for many years to shake of the negative stigma attached to the Japanese. 

     Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created and released Captain America #1. Published one year before the bombing of pearl harbour. American comic artists were already attempting to portray the nazi party as a national opponent. Many other superhero personas were born to help fight the nazi regime as well as the Japanese. The comic book publishers in America realised that they could use their use their creations to help raise war bonds as well as tell stories. It seems as every character did their part in helping the war effort as well as fight the enemy as well. Other creators including Stan Lee brought in Batman and Robin, the Flash, the Atom, the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner, as well as many lesser known shorter lived superheros such as Catman. 

     Captain America was a hero that was not above the common soldier. True, he had superhuman strength and a flashy costume, but he provided a moral code of conduct for the american fighting force to abide to, and during battle he could provide soldiers with a boost of morale. The story of Captain America was something that soldiers could relate to and could personify. He had started as a nobody in his hometown, and through the glory of the military, he was something and somebody. He was a representation of a perfect soldier as well as being a emotional being struggling with his own life. 

While the comic industry was booming in America, the Germans were attempting their own war magazines. Historically they had relied on illustrated propaganda posters solely to vilify the Jewish culture and preceding that, to tell children's stories. German artists emulated the american styles to tell stories of war heroes and victorious battles. 

     War comic readers wanted to continue to see battles that lived on. They wanted to relive the glory and to teach their children about them. Heroes were born, evolved, and eventually were killed by their creators.