Commies, Cowboys, and Jungle Queens: Comic Books and America, 1945-1954 [Paperback]

William W. Savage Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1998

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 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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An extremely charming, informative, and funny work. The book is entertaining and scholarly at the same time. Rather than couch these now-amusing texts in dry analysis, Savage uses a playful style that helps to communicate the absurdity of both era and context." --American Journalism

"Savage has helped break ground with this work. The style of writing employed is often acidic, but witty. The insights are clearly stated. The relationships are definitely drawn. Comic Books and America is not reading material for the faint-hearted. The author states his position and then draws the line ready for challenge. His leanings are liberal, and the text flows from that perspective. The work is a positive contribution to the study of popular culture and its role in American history."--Social Science Quarterly

"Using a straightforward, uncluttered style and incorporating primary source materials rarely used by anyone -- including enthusiasts -- Savage has made a valuable contribution to the study of the genre."--The Library Quarterly

"All right! At last! Those splendid hours of my youth when I lay absorbed in reading comic books were not misspent. The injunctions of my parents against those purveyors of unspecified evil have been proven wrong. William W. Savage has salvaged comic books as primary documents for those trying to understand the mindset of post-World War II society." --South Dakota History

From the Publisher

5 1/2 x 8 1/2 trim. 40 cartoons LC 97-44596

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 165 pages
• Publisher: Wesleyan; 1st edition (March 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819563382
• ISBN-13: 978-0819563385
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #909,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Look at American Through Comics, October 21, 2001

By 

Ricky Hunter (New York City, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Commies, Cowboys, and Jungle Queens: Comic Books and America, 1945-1954 (Paperback)

William W. Savage, Jr. had led the way in this brief volume, colourfully titled Commies, Cowboys and Jungle Queens (original title Comic Books and America, 1945 - 1954). The author was among the first the look at the content of the comic books, read and passed around by millions of children and teenagers and not just a few adults, in terms of their comments on the culture which they reflected, such as the wonderful look at the Korean conflict as reflected in the comics. This book led to the brilliant and highly recommended Comic Book Nation by Bradford W. Wright and for that it should be thanked. This particular volume by William Savage is well-written, insightful, and often very funny. Its main drawback is its brevity and lack of more comic panels for illustrative purposes. All that aside, this is an enjoyable read.