Wartime Wednesday: Comics During WWII

 

Wartime Wednesday: Comic Books Go to War

Most scholars agree the Golden Age of Comics began in 1938 with the publication of Action Comics #1 which is considered the first superhero comic and features Superman saving the day. The original print run of 200,000 quickly sold out. Writer Jerry Siegel and illustrator Joe Shuster were paid $10 per page for a total of $130 ($2,973 in 2025). Not bad for a first run.

By the end of 1941, Detective Comics (predecessor to DC Comics) and its sister company All-American Publications had introduced Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Doctor Fate (who?), the Atom, Hawkman, Green Arrow, and Aquaman. Timely Comics (predecessor to Marvel Comics) created the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner, and Captain America. Unsurprisingly, most of the superheroes wore some combination of red, white, and blue apparel.

To some people’s consternation, before the US entered the war, Captain America was featured on the

cover of Timely Comics’ March 1941 issue punching Hitler in the face. According to multiple sources, the cover elicited threats and hate mail. However, New York City major Fiorello LaGuaria “heartedly approved of the cover and telephone owners, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, “You boys over there are doing a good job. The City of New York will see that no harm comes to you.”

After the attack at Pearl Harbor the use of superheroes to fight made-up villains with thinly veiled references to the real enemy increased exponentially. Characters such as Captain Nazi, the Red Skull, Captain Nippon, and Captain Swastika appeared with regularity. Superheroes also promoted patriotism by selling war bonds, creating victory gardens, recycling and saving scrap as well as joining the military or auxiliaries such as Wonder Woman who became a nurse. Superman was deemed 4-F because writers felt he had the power to end the war too quickly and without the military’s assistance.

Initially geared toward young readers, comics quickly became popular with older teens and adult men. A 1943 study indicated that about 35% of 18–30-year-olds, and about 15% of individuals over 30 read comics evidenced by the increase in companies from three in 1935 to eighteen in 1940. A staggering thirty-million new comic book issues were sold weekly by the end of the war.

 

These statistics may have been one of the reasons for the creation of the Writers’ War Board, technically a private organization but funded by the federal Office of War Information. Their mission as to find ways to insert propaganda in popular media, including comic books. In fact, there was a Comics Committee that helped shape messages.

Comics were circulated among American troops, and it is thought as many as fifty-percent of servicemen read them. Superman became the armed forces’ mascot, and planes, jeeps, and boats carried his name. He was a common illustration on Air Force planes’ nose art, and the USAF Reserve 33rd Bombardment Squadron made him their official insignia.

Entertainment, propaganda, morale-building in one small, inexpensive package.

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About Eye of the Beholder

Shunned for his appearance, a disfigured veteran encounters acceptance and love where he least expects it.

Left with physical and emotional scars after the Great War, Hank Drake has been shunned by polite society as the Ugly Duckling. Fine by him. He’d much rather be alone. Until he meets the kind proprietress of a tea stand at New York’s World’s Fair who isn’t repulsed by his appearance. Can he hope for acceptance…or even love?

Grace Sutton has no interest in marrying and is tired of her parent’s snide comments that she’s still single on the eve of her 40th birthday. After she loses her job thanks to budget cuts, she decides it’s time to follow her dream of feeding others. Armed with Mrs. Canfield’s cookbook, she opens a refreshment stand at the World’s Fair unaware how one man will turn her life upside down and upset the apple…er, tea cart.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Pz88KO

Sources:
https://www.nelson.edu/thoughthub/history/the-political-influence-of-comics-in-america-during-wwii/
https://www.thecollector.com/comic-books-wwii/
https://wrightmuseum.org/superheroes-go-to-war/
https://daily.jstor.org/the-propaganda-of-world-war-ii-comic-books/
https://bowers.org/index.php/collection/collections-blog/the-american-comic-strip-and-world-war-ii

Photo Credits:

Action Comics #1: By "DC Comics Celebrates 'Action Comics' #1000 and 80 Years of Superman With Commemorative Book: Exclusive" at Newsweek. Fair use

Captain America Punches Hitler: https://www.thecollector.com/comic-books-wwii/

B-17 with Superman nose art: http://www.ign.com