Interventionist Views in Pre-War Comics
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"And while I am talking to you mothers and fathers, I give you one more assurance. I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again: Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars" (Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1940, The American Presidency Project).
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". . . Superman is now in a really tough spot that even he can't get out of . . . As the mightiest, fightingest American, he ought to join up. But he just can't. In the combat services he would lick the Japs and Nazis in a wink, and the war isn't going to end that soon" (The Press: Superman's Dilemma, 1942, Time).
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During 1940 and 1941, two particular comics rallying against Hitler and Nazi Germany made an appearance. One of these comics was "How Superman Would End the War." In the comic, Superman ends the conflict by capturing Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, bringing them before the League of Nations to be judged. |
(How Superman Would End the War, 1940, Superman: A Celebration of 75 Years)
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(Captain America #1 Cover, 1941, Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Captain America Vol. 1)
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The second comic was Captain America Comics #1, the debut comic of Captain America. The comic featured strong anti-Nazi themes and propaganda. Captain America comics during the conflict featured plots involving Captain America's battles against Nazi agents and their allies. (Captain America #1, 1941, Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Captain America Vol. 1 )
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"1941. Insanity prevailed as this ad was taken seriously by kids across the country. Bags of mail were dumped in the Timely waiting room daily. Sentinel of Liberty clubs were being formed by the hundreds to serve their country as instructed by Captain America. Young patriots accused others of treacherous and nefarious deeds. Teutonic-sounding names reported parents and relatives accusing them of suspicious radio transmissions and fifth column activities" (Joe Simon, 2003, The Comic Book Makers). |
(Advertisement for Sentinels of Liberty, 1941, Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Captain America Vol. 2)
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"Captain America quickly became Marvel's bestselling title and most popular character, selling close to a million copies monthly throughout the war" (Bradford W. Wright, 2003, Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America).
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