It's Inauguration Day in these United States. I thought it a salient time to re-post this Dojo classic from some years ago.
For the record, I won't be watching any of the proceedings. Instead, I'll be reading Art Spieglman's MetaMaus which describes how he came to write Maus his epic comic tale about the Holoaust. (It was a Christmas present, one I asked for.)
Adolph Hitler! The name still resonates in the culture, a single man who has become the very symbol of unblinking hatred. Adolph Hitler became for the World War II generation an icon against which every atom was put to the wheel against his brutal aggression. The way in which his name is still evoked with such relative ease makes me wonder sometime if people don't miss the nostalgic glow of presumed simpler times when enemies were easy to identify and against which they were eager to rally their will.
Of course, those years were far more complicated, but having a shared mission is something that can give a fragmented society its identity and mission for good or ill. But we forget that was the very thing Hitler was so very good at too; it's a dangerous game to play. We must be careful as a general population not to fall into those nationalistic traps ourselves, nor should we imagine for a moment our modern sophistication makes us immune. We sure haven't proved we are any smarter than the folks who fell under Hitler's evil spell.
Here are fifty comic book covers from across the decades which showcase the terrible and sometimes terrifying image of the Hitler and in some instances his Axis allies Mussolini and Hirohito. Some of the images challenge our modern morality, but alas they are at least understandable if not justifiable given the tenor of the times.
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(Special Note: To read Daredevil Battles Hitler at the Internet Archive use this Link.)
Of course, those years were far more complicated, but having a shared mission is something that can give a fragmented society its identity and mission for good or ill. But we forget that was the very thing Hitler was so very good at too; it's a dangerous game to play. We must be careful as a general population not to fall into those nationalistic traps ourselves, nor should we imagine for a moment our modern sophistication makes us immune. We sure haven't proved we are any smarter than the folks who fell under Hitler's evil spell.
Here are fifty comic book covers from across the decades which showcase the terrible and sometimes terrifying image of the Hitler and in some instances his Axis allies Mussolini and Hirohito. Some of the images challenge our modern morality, but alas they are at least understandable if not justifiable given the tenor of the times.
Hitler and the Holocaust he instigated and inspired must never be forgotten, nor should we allow history to be revised to make that horror other than what it was -- mankind at its most savage. We are still that animal after all, and we must always strive to rise above those twisted passions which can consume us if we do not follow our better angels.
More Nazi nonsense tomorrow.
A Revised Classic Dojo Post.
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Some stunning covers that must have inspired as well as frightened a generation of kids in the 1940s in equal measure. Hitler appeared in UK comics as well at this time and beyond as well. Hard to believe there are folk out there that still follow his agenda , just as hard to believe the the US voted in Trump again a man already affecting UK and Scottish political parties here with many concerned and already asking " how do we deal with this man" . Loved the Captain Marvel Junior cover. Enjoy reading about "Maus" Rip.
ReplyDeleteI still think I'm having a bad dream when it comes to the miserable election results. I have lost so much faith in my fellow citizenry. But it is what it is, and life will have to soldier on. Maus here I come.
DeleteI've been reading about Trump's planned executive orders and it's all quite depressing even frightening but executive orders can be overturned by the next president so there's some hope I suppose but Trump's America is going to be a nasty place.
ReplyDeleteHere's a strange fact about Hitler and the Nazis: they strongly believed in environmentalism which Trump certainly doesn't as he intends to undo Biden's environmental policies and "drill, baby, drill".
Comparable to your environmental point is that Robert Kennedy's views on food and food additives is very progressive and more in line what you guys do. It doesn't make his anti-vaccine attitudes any more palatable.
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