Cord A. Scott. Comics and Conflict: Patriotism and Propaganda from WWII through Operation Iraqi Freedom .
2015; Oxford University Press; Volume: 120; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1093/ahr/120.5.1919
ISSN1937-5239
Autores Tópico(s)Comics and Graphic Narratives
ResumoWhen the U.S. goes to war, American comic books follow, and the comic book war reveals much about how audiences perceive the real one. That is the central thesis demonstrated effectively by Cord A. Scott in this carefully researched and entertaining history of war-themed American comic books. Scott argues that comic books have played a crucial yet overlooked role in both reflecting and shaping popular understanding about U.S. military interventions from World War II through the present, particularly among the children, teenagers, and young adults who have comprised their core audience. Long dismissed as ephemeral, comic books by virtue of their ubiquitous yet “under the radar” qualities reveal what Scott maintains are hidden gems of insight into popular perceptions of specific military conflicts as well as transformations in such broader war-related concepts as patriotism, heroism, enemy stereotypes, military combat, and government. Scott sees the Second World War as a unifying national endeavor that generated a unique intersection of common purpose among comic book creators (most of whom were Jewish), publishers, audiences (including servicemen), and government propaganda. While comic books did their part for the war effort by extoling the Allied cause, celebrating American ideals, and pitting star-spangled superheroes against Axis villains, Scott also draws attention to some of the more unsavory aspects of the comic book war. Always prone to stereotype, comic book artists subjected the Japanese to some of the ugliest racist caricatures found anywhere in popular culture. The origins and appearance of that most patriotic of superheroes, Captain America, bore a disturbing resemblance to Nazi eugenics theories. And it was a time when the pre-teen Boy Commandos—American children enlisted into armed combat—somehow seemed amusing instead of atrocious.
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