Lecture Notes on Captain America and WWII Propaganda

Overview of Hydra and Captain America

• Hydra is the Nazi deep science division led by Johann Schmidt.
• The goal: create a new breed of super soldier.

Role of Comic Books in WWII

• Difficult to determine the exact cause of American volunteerism in WWII (comic books vs. propaganda).
• Comic books became popular in American culture by late 1930s.
• During WWII, Captain America comic books sold more than some newspapers.

Creation of Captain America

• Creation Date: March 1941.
• Creators: Jack Kirby and Joe Simon (worked for Timely Comics).
• Purpose: Build support for U.S. intervention in WWII.
• Writers' War Board (WWB): A group that promoted the U.S. war effort; funded by the government.
• Control: Creators had control over heroes; WWB controlled villain portrayal.

Captain America's Representation

• Comic cover: Captain America punching Adolf Hitler amid German soldiers and swastikas.
• Depicts Captain America as superior despite being outnumbered.
• Bucky represents the average American, making children feel included in the war effort.

Propaganda Themes

• Comics often demonized Japanese and German characters while idolizing Americans.
• Example: Captain America comic #22 (1942) shows Captain America and Bucky fighting Japanese soldiers.
• Stereotypes used in comics: glasses, buck teeth, small eyes representing the Japanese.

Target Audience

• Targeted American youth; comic books aimed primarily at children.
• Affordable price of comics allowed wide access.
• Captivating colors and intense action sequences attracted kids.

Ideology of Captain America

• Timely Comics promoted Captain America as a symbol of American values:
  • Strong, powerful, fearless, loyal to his country.
• Captain America as a face of patriotism during WWII.

Propaganda Goals

• Rally support for WWII through the creation of an American super-soldier.
• Long-term implications of prejudices against Germans and Japanese.
• Comic book narratives were designed to instill lasting beliefs in children.

Adaptation of Comic Book Propaganda

• The comic book medium adapts over time, changing enemies (e.g., Soviets).
• This adaptability indicates the effectiveness of the propaganda campaign.