I was reading this blog today when I came across some disturbing images. It seems that back in the day (the specific day being every one leading up to and including the whole of World War II), my hero the Caped Crusader was a flunkie for Uncle Sam, who used him to sell war bonds. Don’t believe me? Check out these Batman comics covers:
Much less awesome than the Batmobile.
and
This is silly. We all know the Batman never uses guns because 1. He doesn’t kill and 2. Guns are for sissies.
and
Batman and Robin riding to victory on America while declaring peace, or possibly giving us the bird. (Get it?)
I can’t tell you how saddened I was to find that my beloved Bat had sold out to the Man. Robin I get – he’s young and impressionable. Maybe we can blame this on Alfred (who was in the British Armed Forces at one point)?
The blog also featured some rather embarrassing Marvel comics from that era. Observe:
Notice how big they are? Or perhaps they just crashed Bucky’s army-themed birthday party, which took place in a puddle.
And even better:
Possibly the Human Torch (in his pre-Fantastic Four incarnation?) melting the boats of the troll monsters. Who are yellow. And have Japanese flags on their ship…
Hey, wait a minute! Those monsters are supposed to be Japanese soldiers! And that explains the guy who’s just had his bubble gum bubble popped by Cap at Bucky’s birthday as well! Holy crap! How did this stuff get past the censors?
Needless to say, comics (and all of society) used to be much more overtly racist than we are today. Today, we recognize that a born-and-raised American kid who picks up a comic might be of Japanese descent (of course, this was not a problem during WWII as we had put all Japanese kids in Concentration Camps and forbade them luxuries like comics and dignity). We realize that we can’t vilify our opponents by turning them into cartoons that bear little resemblance to who they actual are and what they stand for because they’re real people with real motivations, thoughts and feelings. We have learned as a society and a culture that objectifying a person by creating grotesque parodies so that we can attack and demean them in order to garner mindless support for our own position is just plain wrong.
Unless it’s election time.
holy propaganda batman….!
“I can’t tell you how saddened I was to find that my beloved Bat had sold out to the Man.”
I can’t see, exactly, how one could find the Patriotism of either DC Comics, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, or any other American as having “sold out.”
What had they “sold out” too, exactly? Their Love of Country, the American Way, Freedom, or perhaps even the will of survive a *very* real threat: WAR!
A War, instigated by Fascism, Communism, Totalitarianism, and every other “ism” that threatened *all* Free peoples everywhere. The fact that Americans rallied together to survive such an unforgiving time in Human History (an experience which you should be grateful of not having known,) I cannot bring myself to feel either ashamed or apologetic for anything the past my have seen in such darkest of times.
The success or failure of America’s Wars relies not entirely on bombs and bullets, but on the will of the American People to prevail in what is the Ultimatum of War – Life or Death.
American Lives On because of a history of Americans whom understood their responsibility, and responded to the reality of their time with appropriate and unreserved Strength, Fortitude, and Faith in America.
“We have learned as a society and a culture that objectifying a person by creating grotesque parodies so that we can attack and demean them in order to garner mindless support for our own position is just plain wrong.”
I see. Well, I would appreciate you reiterate this to your Liberal compatriots at the “Jew York Times” and throughout San Francisco when they attempt to pass their “progressive” observations on Conservative American (which seem to make the majority of our Armed Services,) as well.
“Unless it’s election time.”
Ah, yes! What is called when does too feeble begin “casting stones” and “hiding hands?” Hypocrisy, perhaps? Though I believe those guilty of such called is Democracy.
“Those monsters are supposed to be Japanese soldiers! And that explains the guy who’s just had his bubble gum bubble popped by Cap at Bucky’s birthday as well! Holy crap! How did this stuff get past the censors?”
The illustration of those monsters (notice the omitting of quotation marks) are actually inspired by the illustration of political cartoonist Arthur Szyk, whom was so prominent in showing people the evils of their time, Hitler himself had issued orders to have Szyk assassinated!
“During World War II, Arthur Szyk, a Polish-born artist and illustrator, was considered the foremost political artist in the world. He was an advocate for social justice and civil liberties in America and was known as ‘Franklin Roosevelt’s Soldier in Art.’”
“Eleanor Roosevelt declared that his work fought the Axis powers ‘as truly as any of us who cannot actually be on the fighting fronts.’”
“With themes of freedom and human dignity, Szyk established an international reputation as a master of miniature paintings, book illustrations and illuminated manuscripts, such as “The Haggadah” and “The Book of Esther.” He died in 1951 at age 57.”
Arthur Szyk was recently honored with an exhibition of his Art at Florida Atlantic University, which I personally attended. When considered within the context of the era, the works continue to receive recognition and respect for their contribution to bring hope to Free people by bringing them a voice through Art, a universal language.
[...] JR? Batman is now racist and a [...]