The Use of Comic in World War II Essay

Total war is a new concept for many Americans. The concept that the fight so consumes everyone's mind and thought, the action of every American is beyond comprehension. On the other hand, during the World War II, the people of America spend every last piece of energy in a bid to do what they could be able to do to win the war.

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To see to it that Americans never forget the idea of total war that took place, propaganda was delivered to people in various ways. Many of the grown-up people saw this regarding posters pasted and sold in shops. Also, some saw them in short films before a movie. However, for the sake of children, the increase in the new type of literature that was widely known in the 1930s turned out to be a perfect doorway for propaganda to be delivered to young people. The comic book was a symbol of virtues that was thought to be necessary insofar as World War II is concerned. To be more precise, up-to-date, the comic book expresses the very same virtues in the current days.

For example, in 1977, the writer Michael Uslan indicated the following in regards to the nature of the books: All the way from the 1930s up-to-now comic books have indicated the convections, trends, as well as worries in respect to the life of people of America. Comics have become a platform for slang, national views, customs, morals, racial attitudes, customs, and heroes of the day, fads as well as anything else that comprises people's lifestyles. And during the World War II, this is what the comic books were supposed but specifically about the fight.

It is worth noting that comic books have been in existence since the 1500s even though in different formats. Nonetheless, the United States, the first comic book arrived in the 1930s, For example, in June 1938, the very first comic arrived. The comic book was children oriented. The release of the book meant that children were never to be the same again. Superman, the main actor who encapsulated everything that was perceived as good regarding American as well as humanity, became a popular start as a result of the issue. After that, other performers followed including the Batman, Human Torch, Wonder Woman, The Shield, the Sub-Mariner, Captain America, and Captain Marvel among others.

In the long run, Superman turned out to be more popular for various reasons. Just like many Americans, Superman was a migrant in America - although an alien world. It was possible for anyone to argue that Superman was the ultimate migrant that stayed away from his parents. Also, Superman was an epitome of justice, hard work as well as the truth. In this context, comic books also were known everywhere regarding other virtues and especially in the Great Depression.

Comic books also became popular for other virtues in the Great Depression. Though with the form of outflow, the comic book gave room to readers to picture about punishing real-life offenders. It is worth noting that, since the Depression was the superseding issue of Americans in the 1930s, traders felt good seeing crusaders fighting and even killing the people who were alleged to exploit the country driving it into bad times for their interests. For instance, early characters like Green Lantern, Batman, and Superman in most cases took on corrupt people who mistreated the desperate and poor workers in the late 1930s.

In the early 1940s (1940 and 1941), many of the comic books available wrote so many stories about the happenings of the war and especially in Asia and Europe, much of the stories focused on a how the wars were conducted and those who were involved. These postures before the United States of America joined the war in somehow a controversial manner. In some cases, and categorically during the period when many Americans seemed not to have interest in anything to do with another war in Europe, the actors in the comic books did it in a very explicit manner. It is noteworthy to indicate that, many of the comic books heroes were of Jewish originality and their main intention was to influence and inform Americans of the hazards of what was happening in countries abroad (Stouffer, Lumsdaine and Lumsdaine 2016, p. 62).

Importantly, a complete nine months to the chaos, Captain America was seen hitting Hitler in the face. Also, renowned writers like Jack Kirby and Joe Simon received hate mail in respect to actions and goals of Captain America. During this time, many people were against such kind of storylines. Captain America was very astounding in his white, red, and blue attire while elaborating on the ideals of the American nationalism. Just in a year after Pearl Harbor, Captain America's actions and views regarding evil and what should be done became a normal happening (Stouffer, Suchman and Devinney, 2017, p. 52 - 152).

When the war started, 15 million comic books were being printed and published after every month. After two and half years later, the selling rate had shot to 25 million copies were being sold after every month. For example, Captain and Superman each sold over a million copies every month. During this period, the largest single client was the United States Army. In many cases, the soldiers were buying the comic books as diversion tactics. However, many of the army members became attached to the character development, storylines, as well as the virtues, fight against oppression as well as evil in bedeviling the society (Rajadhyaksha, 2017 n.p).

All through the war, the comic book superheroes took part in doing things to aid the war effort in comparison with fighting the war. They did several things including stop spies back at home, deliver supplies, as well as did whatever they were able to do to aid the army while in the United States of America. The portrayals of the actor's action were good and simplistic and in most cases won the battle over the evil. Also, the performers in most cases elaborated the war aims as well as how children were an essential tool when it comes to winning the fight. Superman was never involved in the war. In fact, anyone reading the comic book would perceive that he could never terminate the fight by himself. However, the writers of the comic never wanted that to take place. Instead, Clark Kent's unrest to conquer his physical to the extent that he accidentally uses his X-Ray Vision to go through the chart in the next room (Wuthnow, 2014, p. 56 - 302).

Not after so long, other comics followed. People's stories of courage and bravery ended with the America solder hence overcoming fear as well as saving the day. The character was depicted in a manner that inspired people at home. Also, the characters wound up by inspiring the people abroad and especially those who had gone to war (Winant, 2015, p. 82 - 202).

Many authors of the comic books were part and parcel of the Office of War Information as well as War Writer's Boar. These associations supposedly were attentive regarding giving accurate information regarding what was taking place abroad. To this extent, the comic books were the right vessel for this purpose (Winant, 2015, p. 82 - 202).

Conclusion

In conclusion, comic books during World War II played an important role regarding educating young people before, during, and after the war. The information in the books educated people about the total war. Also, the books served as entrainment tools for many. Also, the comic books laid the foundation of other books after the war.

Works Cited

Rajadhyaksha, Adyot. COMIC BOOKS AND WORLD WAR II: BUYING INTO THE WAR. 17 June 2017. https://historyrat.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/comic-books-and-world-war-ii-buying-into-the-war/. 19 June 2018.

Stouffer, S. A., et al. "The American soldier: Adjustment during army life." American Psychological Association (2017): 54 - 152. Online: http://psycnet.apa.org/record/1950-00790-000.

-. "The American Soldier: Combat and its aftermath. (Studies in social psychology in World War II), ." American Phycological Association (2016): 67 - 87. Online: http://psycnet.apa.org/record/1950-00791-000.

Winant, Howard. "The World Is a Ghetto: Race and Democracy." The World Is a Ghetto: Race and Democracy 16 July 2015: 89 - 202.

Wuthnow, Robert. "The Restructuring of American Religion: Society and Faith Since World War II." Wuthnow, Robert. The Restructuring of American Religion: Society and Faith Since World War II. Chichester: Princeton University Press., 2014. 56 - 302.