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World War II in Cartoons
Whether producing strips, social comment in magazines like Punch or Lilliput, savage caricature of allies and enemies, or a daily chronicle of events at home or abroad, little escaped the cartoonists pen during World War II and they encapsulated the great dramas in a way impossible in prose.
This book is divided into chapters covering the war year-by-year, each chapter prefaced with a concise introduction that provides a historical framework for the cartoons of that year. Altogether some 300 cartoons, in color and black and white, have been skillfully blended to produce a unique record of World War II.
This book is divided into chapters covering the war year-by-year, each chapter prefaced with a concise introduction that provides a historical framework for the cartoons of that year. Altogether some 300 cartoons, in color and black and white, have been skillfully blended to produce a unique record of World War II.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 3, 2015
This book was not very good. Sure it does have a lot of well preserved cartoons from World War II, that is not the problem.
The problem is that the title and summary should rather tell you that this here is a very selective collection of cartoons, often leaving out especially nasty ones, which is especially prominent when it comes to the Pacific War and the propaganda that was started there.
In fact cartoons from that region of the war was significantly lacking. There were some cartoons by the Japanese and the Americans and British (I think) but seemingly none from the Chinese, or maybe I overlooked that. Also the propaganda pieces from the Pacific War were… relatively harmless. They did not really show the racist attitudes from both sides in the published propaganda.
The most dehumanizing that the depictions of Japanese ever got in this, was this picture:
More dehumanizing and demonizing depictions like Tokyo kid:
Or any of these:
Never occurred in this in any form.
And if you need a piece of evidence of how nasty the American war propaganda against the Japanese could get, look at this:
In fact the Japanese war propaganda also was never shown in its more ugly forms. You never saw these:
So if you want to read it for its pictures and nothing else I would say its fine, but if you want a trustworthy overview about the war time propaganda of World War II this book is not where you would find it.
The problem is that the title and summary should rather tell you that this here is a very selective collection of cartoons, often leaving out especially nasty ones, which is especially prominent when it comes to the Pacific War and the propaganda that was started there.
In fact cartoons from that region of the war was significantly lacking. There were some cartoons by the Japanese and the Americans and British (I think) but seemingly none from the Chinese, or maybe I overlooked that. Also the propaganda pieces from the Pacific War were… relatively harmless. They did not really show the racist attitudes from both sides in the published propaganda.
The most dehumanizing that the depictions of Japanese ever got in this, was this picture:
More dehumanizing and demonizing depictions like Tokyo kid:
Or any of these:
Never occurred in this in any form.
And if you need a piece of evidence of how nasty the American war propaganda against the Japanese could get, look at this:
In fact the Japanese war propaganda also was never shown in its more ugly forms. You never saw these:
So if you want to read it for its pictures and nothing else I would say its fine, but if you want a trustworthy overview about the war time propaganda of World War II this book is not where you would find it.
October 27, 2023
A well organized and fascinating overview of cartoons done by cartoonists from both the Axis and Allied countries. There’s enough history to contextualize them and good explanations for what to look for in the various illustrations. I only wish it had been longer!
February 10, 2011
Exellent book showing cartoons from all sides of the conflict. Very balanced
December 7, 2013
the most fun and interesting way I've seen of explaining all sides of world war ii
July 5, 2015
Relentlessly interested as I am in the second world war, this book is a treasure trove of propaganda cartoons throughout the war, from both the Axis and the Allied side.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews