From a historical point of view, a story like this, published less than a year before the attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into the global fray, shows an attitude that we would eventually have to go to war. With a hero like Minute Man we couldn’t lose!
According to the Grand Comics Database, the story is drawn by Charles Sultan.
Someone might well assemble a book, combining an essay or essays with various comic-book stories, showing both the debate over whether the United States should enter the war, and the steeling of attitudes as entry seemed to become ever more likely.
ReplyDeleteI continue to be amused about how — in comic-book and pulp fiction — we are even more forgiving of wickedness by beautiful women that we are in real life.
This story is of course marvelously drawn.
Daniel, I'm sure you remember your history about the isolationist attitudes that were strong in those days before America entered the war. But there were also a lot of people who believed that America could not avoid the inevitable.
ReplyDeleteBefore that, though, the comics seemed to be ahead of the curve of public opinion, being effectively at war by using their characters fighting thinly disguised enemy nations.
I think the fact that many of the early comic book creators were Jewish had a lot to do with it. The attack on Pearl Harbor ended the isolationist debate.
Well, gee, Daniel...if you have a beautiful woman as an enemy there is always a chance you might convince her to come over to your side. A win-win.
I'm... only a woman! xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteAlicia, and quite a woman you are, too.
ReplyDeleteBut, back to the story...it's nice to know that even if Illyria is a deadly enemy of our country that our hero won't hurt her. Let's hear it for chivalry!