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Willie & Joe: Back Home
In the summer of 1945, a great tide of battered soldiers began flowing back to the united States from around the globe. Though victorious, these exhausted men were nevertheless too grief-stricken over the loss of comrades, too guilt-ridden that they had survived, and too numbed by trauma to share in the country’s euphoria. Most never saw a ticker-tape parade, or stole a Times Square kiss. All they wanted was to settle back into quiet workaday lives without fear. How tragic that the forces unleashed by World War II made this simple wish impossible.
Willie Joe: Back Home brilliantly chronicles the struggles and disillusionments of these early postwar years and, in doing so, tells Bill Mauldin’s own extraordinary story of his journey home to a wife he barely knew and a son he had only seen in pictures. The drawings capture the texture and feel, the warp and woof, of this confusing time: the ubiquitous hats and cigarettes, the domestic rubs, the rising fear of another war, and new conflicts over Civil Rights, civil liberties, and free speech. This second volume of Fantagraphics’ series reprinting Mauldin’s greatest work identifies and restores the dozens of cartoons censored by Mauldin’s syndicate for their attacks on racial segregation and McCarthy-style “witch hunts.” Mauldin pleaded with his syndicate to let him out of his contract so that he could return to the simple quiet life so desired by Willie Joe. The syndicate refused, so Mauldin did battle, as always, through pen and ink.
Willie Joe: Back Home brilliantly chronicles the struggles and disillusionments of these early postwar years and, in doing so, tells Bill Mauldin’s own extraordinary story of his journey home to a wife he barely knew and a son he had only seen in pictures. The drawings capture the texture and feel, the warp and woof, of this confusing time: the ubiquitous hats and cigarettes, the domestic rubs, the rising fear of another war, and new conflicts over Civil Rights, civil liberties, and free speech. This second volume of Fantagraphics’ series reprinting Mauldin’s greatest work identifies and restores the dozens of cartoons censored by Mauldin’s syndicate for their attacks on racial segregation and McCarthy-style “witch hunts.” Mauldin pleaded with his syndicate to let him out of his contract so that he could return to the simple quiet life so desired by Willie Joe. The syndicate refused, so Mauldin did battle, as always, through pen and ink.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Bill Mauldin
38 books22 followersWilliam Henry "Bill" Mauldin was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist from the United States. He was most famous for his World War II cartoons depicting American soldiers, as represented by the archetypal characters Willie and Joe. These cartoons were broadly published and distributed in the American army abroad and in the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 20, 2025
WW II is over and all our boys can rest now...right? Poignant look at the hardship faced by many when they returned home. War always leaves a 'wake' of uncertainty when military members return home: and so often society has done very little to 'calm' this - we all need to understand that men and women who serve in our armed forces need the people to help ease them back to a safe place where they can move forward.
May 27, 2023
“Thank you for your service,” is something often said to those who have served in America’s military forces. Sometimes, it is not said because many of America’s military involvements haven’t had unanimous support from its citizenry. Probably no war had greater support than the war against the Axis powers, World War II.
Having said that, there was always a disconnect between what a soldier was doing and feeling and what the people back home imagined. Bill Mauldin became a very important link in the process of explaining the war from the perspective of the “grunts.” Not the high command or the Executive Branch but from what the “dogface soldier” was experiencing on a moment-to-moment basis. He was a soldier who drew “cartoons” while also being part of the American forces invading Italy. His pen was magic. His drawings got immediate positive feedback from his mates and then a larger audience. They showed the privations, the needs and the simple joys that many experienced. The “higher ups” thought that this was something special.
“Mauldin began working for Stars and Stripes, the American soldiers' newspaper; as well as the 45th Division News, until he was officially transferred to the Stars and Stripes in February 1944. Egbert White, editor of the Stars and Stripes, encouraged Mauldin to syndicate his cartoons and helped him find an agent. By March 1944, he was given his own jeep, in which he roamed the front, collecting material. He published six cartoons a week. His cartoons were viewed by soldiers throughout Europe during World War II, and were also published in the United States.” (from Wikipedia)
After the war, Mauldin had a career as a cartoonist with a national audience. But he never forgot those he served with. This book digs deep into the difficulties faced by those millions who served in the military and then found themselves “on their own” with lots of responsibilities and expectations and little or no support from the government that was so grateful for their service.
Again, Mauldin showed the gift of being able to draw a scene and a caption that told a story in a brief moment better than any of the speeches by elected representatives or other folks who lacked that singular experience.
5*
Having said that, there was always a disconnect between what a soldier was doing and feeling and what the people back home imagined. Bill Mauldin became a very important link in the process of explaining the war from the perspective of the “grunts.” Not the high command or the Executive Branch but from what the “dogface soldier” was experiencing on a moment-to-moment basis. He was a soldier who drew “cartoons” while also being part of the American forces invading Italy. His pen was magic. His drawings got immediate positive feedback from his mates and then a larger audience. They showed the privations, the needs and the simple joys that many experienced. The “higher ups” thought that this was something special.
“Mauldin began working for Stars and Stripes, the American soldiers' newspaper; as well as the 45th Division News, until he was officially transferred to the Stars and Stripes in February 1944. Egbert White, editor of the Stars and Stripes, encouraged Mauldin to syndicate his cartoons and helped him find an agent. By March 1944, he was given his own jeep, in which he roamed the front, collecting material. He published six cartoons a week. His cartoons were viewed by soldiers throughout Europe during World War II, and were also published in the United States.” (from Wikipedia)
After the war, Mauldin had a career as a cartoonist with a national audience. But he never forgot those he served with. This book digs deep into the difficulties faced by those millions who served in the military and then found themselves “on their own” with lots of responsibilities and expectations and little or no support from the government that was so grateful for their service.
Again, Mauldin showed the gift of being able to draw a scene and a caption that told a story in a brief moment better than any of the speeches by elected representatives or other folks who lacked that singular experience.
5*
May 31, 2012
A collection of one panel cartoons from the year following WWII. Bill Mauldin was a cartoonist for the US Army newspaper Stars and Stripes and was also syndicated in civilian newspapers. Once the war was over he faced more censorship by the syndicates and the newspapers than he ever had from the military. At the height of his problem his comic was being dropped by a paper a day for his work addressing race relations, free speech, and politics. His syndicate started regularly censoring him. When they complained about his cartoons about racism he would respond by doing an additional 8-10 in a row on the same subject.
Most of the cartoons featured still retain their humor and poignancy after 65 years. These uncensored versions are also an insightful look into history.
Most of the cartoons featured still retain their humor and poignancy after 65 years. These uncensored versions are also an insightful look into history.
May 19, 2017
Curated collection of postwar cartoons. Labeled as Willie and Joe, but only about a third feature the famous GIs or have a military bent, the rest are general commentary on postwar politics and society. With an excellent introductory essay by DePastino that sets the reader to Mauldin's mental state at the time, this is a must read for anyone interested in American postwar sociology or history.
October 9, 2013
Bill Mauldin was an absolutely matchless war cartoonist. He brought the war to life for people who hadn't seen it, and commiserated with those who had. And he didn't disappoint when he turned his gaze upon peacetime. This book is an outstanding criticism of the jingoism, anti-communism, racism, isolationism, and ultra conservatism that gripped the country following the second world war. One of the most frightening things, however, is that almost every cartoon could apply equally today. Few people realize that "Joe", of Willie and Joe, is a Native American. Mauldin grew up around reservations in the Southwest. The anti-Klan cartoons were very interesting, and he has some deeply poignant cartoons about displaced Japanese Americans (One features a wounded veteran on a crutch being refused service at a diner because "we don't serve Japs").
I highly recommend this to anyone who is only familiar with Mauldin's cynical and brilliant war cartoons. You won't be dissapointed.
I highly recommend this to anyone who is only familiar with Mauldin's cynical and brilliant war cartoons. You won't be dissapointed.
October 20, 2013
I was not familiar with this until I happened upon it in a book store. If Up Front is a necessary part of the wartime chronicle, then this successor is equally important to understand the awkward following years. Some of the cartoons are topical enough that they lose their impact, but others remain utterly relevant. Of these, the self-styled patriot proprietor of The Victory Bar refusing service to the Nisei veteran remains an unfortunately evocative image of an ugly minority's lingering claim to define what is really American. Of interest, too, is the story surrounding the work, including Mauldin's struggle to find peace in a civilian world, and the censorship that his syndicate increasingly imposed.
August 6, 2013
i've given this only five instead of six stars because i've not read the introduction yet.
these cartoons are a kick in the head. 1945/46 and mauldin is drawing the klan, war profiteers, christians, palestine, civilians not understanding what the war was, spoiled americans, racism, chickenhawks etc.
some of these had to have been done after trayvon martin and while obama was running for president. these can't have been done fifty years ago, otherwise it means we learned nothing.
every jr high, high school and general library should be circulating this book. should be required reading in history classes, by political commentators and anybody running for or in office in the u.s.
these cartoons are a kick in the head. 1945/46 and mauldin is drawing the klan, war profiteers, christians, palestine, civilians not understanding what the war was, spoiled americans, racism, chickenhawks etc.
some of these had to have been done after trayvon martin and while obama was running for president. these can't have been done fifty years ago, otherwise it means we learned nothing.
every jr high, high school and general library should be circulating this book. should be required reading in history classes, by political commentators and anybody running for or in office in the u.s.
April 5, 2012
I grew up reading my Dad's copy of Up Front. I've admired Mauldin's later work, however I was unfamiliar with this time period. It is a great add to my collection. No artist has captured the veteran like Mauldin. The post war issues the vets faced are not sugar coated. His spin on race is spot on. I like this volume.
Want to read
January 10, 2012Mon. Jan. 9, 2012
My mother has another of his bookds that i've read and enjoyed
Luv the Willie and Joe comics he did during the war. I never knew he survived to come home.
Going to start reading this one tomorrow
xoDaleB.xo
My mother has another of his bookds that i've read and enjoyed
Luv the Willie and Joe comics he did during the war. I never knew he survived to come home.
Going to start reading this one tomorrow
xoDaleB.xo
December 24, 2015
Willie and Joe, the famous cartoon characters created by Bill Mauldin, return home to the States. The book contains many cartoons that were considered "too hot" to publish as they spoke to racism and McCarthyism. Mauldin was a cartooning genius.
April 7, 2012
A wonderful collection. Worth being on any comics' or history fan's shelf.
September 19, 2012
Interesting cartoons that addressed the return of soldiers from world war 2 back into the civilian world. I enjoyed it.
March 18, 2019
Great re-issue of Mauldin's post-war cartoons. Short intro giving background, nice large drawings. Some purely political, some from a vet's perspective, some showing Willie and Joe.
December 19, 2012
This book picks up at the final months of World War II, after Bill Mauldin returned to the US. It still focuses a lot on the experience of returning GIs, but also branches out into other areas. Infantry soldiers, a.k.a. "dogfaces," seemed to have a different post-war experience than many. Mauldin shows them as slightly less gung-ho towards red-baiting, having served up front and having seen the cost of war. Due to this, Mauldin often skewers World War I American Legion members for their jingoistic militarism against the Soviet Union and the older population who would not have to fight in any future conflicts. He also rails against blacklisting people for knowing leftists and censorship of left-leaning materials. He has some really great comics involving the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).
Mauldin also repeatedly goes after the Ku Klux Klan and nativist groups. This is especially poignant given that Mauldin has Native American ancestry, which he uses to show the ridiculousness of such prejudice. The book also delves into issues like finding housing and work, reacclimating to home life, and price gouging (he even gives some praise to the work of the Office of Price Administration and brickbats to the people trying to get around the price controls).
This book might not be as consistent as Bill MauldinWillie and Joe: The WWII Years, but it brings to light a lot of the issues that returning service personnel faced, as well as some of the issues affecting the countrymen who stayed on the home front.
Part of the impetus for my reading this was I saw a Bill Mauldin created political pin with Willie or Joe telling explaining "I Like Adlai." while at work. Itwas a fun little find in the Ohio Historical Society political pin collection.
Mauldin also repeatedly goes after the Ku Klux Klan and nativist groups. This is especially poignant given that Mauldin has Native American ancestry, which he uses to show the ridiculousness of such prejudice. The book also delves into issues like finding housing and work, reacclimating to home life, and price gouging (he even gives some praise to the work of the Office of Price Administration and brickbats to the people trying to get around the price controls).
This book might not be as consistent as Bill MauldinWillie and Joe: The WWII Years, but it brings to light a lot of the issues that returning service personnel faced, as well as some of the issues affecting the countrymen who stayed on the home front.
Part of the impetus for my reading this was I saw a Bill Mauldin created political pin with Willie or Joe telling explaining "I Like Adlai." while at work. Itwas a fun little find in the Ohio Historical Society political pin collection.
July 30, 2015
How good to get a dose of reality about that seemingly happy, after the big bad war, period in American history.
So interesting that the commentator universally taken to heart during the war, should be out of step with the public during the post war time.
Painful to contemplate how Mauldin must have felt, seeing the killing and dying first hand, believing that it was democracy and freedom that was being fought for and then to come home to a place where past association with an ally (e.g. Russia with its communism) could get you black-listed or even jailed and Nazi-like habits are accepted and even embraced (hello Ku klux Klan and "separate but equal" laws.)
updated 7/2015:
Also it feels like the returning vets--there were so many of them!--were viewed almost like migrant workers flooding across a border, the public saying in words and actions: We don't need you guys, we have been doing the jobs and finding companionship just fine without you. All we care about is that--now your back, being freed from rationing restrictions and no longer being bumped by you when traveling--even if you are having trouble getting transportation home and housing is so crowded you're having trouble finding a place to sleep.
Also Mauldin suggests that it was the ones who had not yet gone to fight--who got to celebrate V-E and V-J Days on the Home Front, and the ones who were not at the front lines who had time to shop for luxuries in Paris.
Even the Veteran's organizations had issues--for one thing, dominated by the older, more established WWI Vets who saw the WWII guys as young upstarts.
So interesting that the commentator universally taken to heart during the war, should be out of step with the public during the post war time.
Painful to contemplate how Mauldin must have felt, seeing the killing and dying first hand, believing that it was democracy and freedom that was being fought for and then to come home to a place where past association with an ally (e.g. Russia with its communism) could get you black-listed or even jailed and Nazi-like habits are accepted and even embraced (hello Ku klux Klan and "separate but equal" laws.)
updated 7/2015:
Also it feels like the returning vets--there were so many of them!--were viewed almost like migrant workers flooding across a border, the public saying in words and actions: We don't need you guys, we have been doing the jobs and finding companionship just fine without you. All we care about is that--now your back, being freed from rationing restrictions and no longer being bumped by you when traveling--even if you are having trouble getting transportation home and housing is so crowded you're having trouble finding a place to sleep.
Also Mauldin suggests that it was the ones who had not yet gone to fight--who got to celebrate V-E and V-J Days on the Home Front, and the ones who were not at the front lines who had time to shop for luxuries in Paris.
Even the Veteran's organizations had issues--for one thing, dominated by the older, more established WWI Vets who saw the WWII guys as young upstarts.
May 14, 2015
Editorial cartoons from the period immediately after World War 2, it's interesting to see the kinds of issues being dealt with and compare them to the current political climate. Mauldin is a gifted artist, and an insightful cartoonist, but gets a bit too heavy-handed in a lot of these.
October 24, 2022
Mauldin's personal and professional struggles come through in his artwork as his iconic characters readjust to civilian life. Mauldin's work became more clearly political as he himself tried to readjust.
September 20, 2020
a wonderful collection of this great comic writer's just barely post war work. Beautiful edition as well.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews