Willie & Joe: The WWII Years (Hardcover)

by Bill Mauldin (Author), Todd DePastino (Editor)
Key Phrases: original publication date unknown, publication unknown, Daily Oklahoman, Divison News, Oklahoma City Times (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
*Starred Review* To the generation that lived through World War II, Mauldin’s iconic infantrymen Willie and Joe personified the beleaguered, resigned dogface who won the war. Mauldin began drawing for his division’s newspaper shortly after joining the army in 1940. Three years later he landed in Sicily, and his work began appearing in the military newspaper Stars and Stripes as well as on the home front. His bristle-faced foot soldiers endured life on the frontlines with heavy-lidded weariness and resigned humor. Mauldin’s ink-laden drawings conveyed the harsh conditions the troops endured, although military censorship prevented him from showing the true horrors of combat. While his cartoons were beloved by the soldiers, he frequently ran afoul of the brass, most famously General Patton, who thought that Mauldin’s goal was to “create disrespect for officers.” His battlefield efforts were recognized stateside when Mauldin became the youngest Pulitzer Prize winner in history, and they launched a career as an editorial cartoonist that continued four decades after the war. These two lovingly designed, khaki-green, slipcased volumes collect all 600-plus Mauldin WWII cartoons. They’re an essential complement to editor DePastino’s Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front (2008)—and to every good WWII collection. --Gordon Flagg

Review
Bill Mauldin was my first artist hero… [Willie & Joe: The WWII Years] reminds me why. (Steven Heller, The New York Times Book Review)

Mauldin was arguably the greatest war correspondent of his day. (Steven Grant, Comic Book Resources)

The cartoonist’s humanistic brush paints a sober picture of war that a news camera can never achieve. (James Sturm, Print Magazine)

There’s a sad wisdom on virtually every page here. (Jeff Salamon, The Austin American-Statesman)

These gritty, existential cartoons—everything Mauldin published during the war that still exists is compiled here—are the real deal and then some. (Laurel Maury, NPR)

This collection of all of Mauldin’s World War II work stands out…a worthy platform for a series of brilliant strips drawn with a lively hand. (Rob Clough, High-Low)

This compilation of his cartoons helps bring Mauldin’s talent and his life at the front lines both to historians and a new generation. (Samuel M. Baker, ARMY)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 650 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books (April 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560978384
• ISBN-13: 978-1560978381
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 3.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #258,231 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A soldiers opinion, June 2, 2008

By	Eric Galgay (Boston Ma.USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a veteran of the army (1st Bn 75 Inf ) I could relate to the situations that Willie and joe found themselves in.The humor that soldiers see in different situations can be appreciated by soldiers and civilians alike. Mr. Mauldin illustrates these situations very well and has clever captions to go with them. If you ever wondered what army life is like or want to remember some of the situations you as a soldier were in, then take a look at these two books. If you enjoy them half as much as I do then you will be very happy you bought them. Happy reading.
"Rangers Lead The Way"

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mauldin Fans Rejoice!, May 17, 2008

By	R. Stolzer (WI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an excellent set of books, with a wonderful and informative introduction by Todd DePastino. The reproduction quality of Mauldin's cartoons is quite good, especially considering the original source material in some cases. One can tell that this was a true labor of love. To see everything in one place is a real treat. Thank you Fantagraphics and Todd DePastino!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Willie & Joe, March 8, 2009

By	Roderick A. Macleod (New Zealand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this boxed set for my fathers 90th birthday. He served in the same areas as Bill Mauldin and had a small collection of Stars & Stripes for the cartoons. He absolutely loved the books and I have to say Fantagraphics have done a great job - presentation impeccable. A great purchase.