Commies, Cowboys, and Jungle Queens: Comic Books and America, 1945-1954
by William W. Savage
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Description
In addition to their entertainment value, comic books offered a unique world-view to a large segment of the American public in the confusing decade following World War II. Millions were distributed to service personnel during the war years, and by 1945, adults as well as children were reading an astounding 60 million comic books per month. These books treated such contemporary concerns as the atomic and hydrogen bombs, growth of international Communism, and the Korean War, and they offered show more heroes and heroines to deal with such problems. In response to moral criticism, the industry established a Comics Code that specified acceptable content. The code prohibited most of what had appeared in the medium prior to 1954, thus ending what has since come to be known as the "golden age" of comic books. With reproductions of five representative stories supplementing the text, William Savage's book (first published in 1990), will appeal to social historians and others interested in this vivid expression of American culture. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Comics as a social commentary. A good part of the book deals with the Bomb and WWII/Korea along with the spread of Communism around the world and within the US. Touches only lightly on the Cowboys and Jungle Queens. Throughout you get his ideas on all the "isms" prevalent in the comics of this time, which for myself, it could of done without. Sure one could say that for social commentary it is essential, but I could care less about it. While talking about Communism, the extent and propaganda ect , one could definitely see our own times just change out key words, eg. Terrorism (for wars)and Economic Crisis (for political) and you could be talking about ourselves today. All in all it isn't a bad book and it doesn't change my ideas about show more enjoying comics from this time or anytime because I will still read them for enjoyments sake alone, but it does give one pause to think about what was the driving force behind what was written and portrayed in comics of that era and even our own era today in extension. show less
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Author Information
10 Works 150 Members
William W. Savage is Professor of History in the University of Oklahoma
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1990
- Dedication
- For Sheila.
- First words
- During the 1930s, purveyors of popular culture offered escape to the American people.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, Graphic Novels & Comics, Literature Studies and Criticism
- DDC/MDS
- 306.0973 — Society, government, & culture Social sciences, sociology & anthropology Social Behavior - Dating, Marriage, Divorce Social history North America United States
- LCC
- E169.12 .S293 — History of the United States United States General
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 28
- Popularity
- 984,355
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 1
