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Images and Imaginings of Internment: Comics and Illustrations of Camp

Little Joe

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Comics Outside of Camp 82 image_header 2023-08-04T17:26:54+00:00
During World War II, many of the images people saw in their day-today lives had patriotic and nationalistic themes that reinforced Yellow Peril stereotypes. This type of imagery can be seen in propaganda images and other political cartoons; however, these sentiments are also reflected in the popular comics of the time such as Superman and the others you see below.

This Dr. Seuss cartoon by Theodor Geisel shares many of the same themes as the cartoons below. Japanese Americans, especially on the West Coast, are depicted as disloyal and eager to join forces with Japan to sabotage the American war effort. This line of thinking was used to justify the creation of Japanese American incarceration camps.
Captain Courageous
In this comic, a figure of "oriental evil" tries to corrupt a Japanese American boy living in an incarceration camp and recruit him to fight the Americans. The all-American Captain Courageous saves the boy (and the United States) by defeating the Japanese menace. Loyalty is an important theme in this comic. At different points in the plot, Japanese Americans are required to prove their loyalty to the United States, whether by remaining in their incarceration camp or sacrificing themselves to save others, even though they are American citizens.

Captain Midnight
This comic follows Captain Midnight and his sidekick as they try to capture the German-Japanese villain Von Togo. The internees are depicted as freeloaders taking a free vacation while in their incarceration camp. When the Japanese American internees try to escape, they are treated as disloyal saboteurs trying to aid the Japanese conquest of the United States.
Green Hornet
The cover of Green Hornet uses racist language and imagery to depict the imagined betrayal, violence, and disloyalty of Japanese Americans. It's important to note the little details that are included on this front page: the "PW" on the shoulders of the internees stands for Prisoner of War, which in this case implies that the Japanese Americans are the captured enemy. Additionally the Japanese Americans wear the Rising Sun Flag, suggesting that they are foreign operatives instead of American citizens.
Little Joe
The comic strip "Little Joe" follows a sheriff on his search to find escaped Japanese American internees who are described as "most dangerous prisoners." Little Joe makes racist comments that Japanese American internees get good treatment in the camp and that they are freeloaders. Once the escaped internees are found digging ditches, Little Joe remarks that this is the treatment they deserve. There is also a threatening suggestion that Japanese Americans who refuse to work will be killed.
Mr. Mystic
At the center of the plot of this comic is the idea that Japanese Americans cannot be easily separated from the Japanese enemy. A woman sees men of Japanese ancestry dressed in US military uniforms speaking with American hero, Mr. Mystic, and assumes that the Japanese have invaded the United States. It is only later revealed that the men in uniform are actually Japanese Americans - loyal citizens of the 442 Regiment who are about to leave for the warfront.

Superman
In this comic series, Sneer Strikes, Superman defeats a Japanese villain, the Sneer, and his henchmen who have infiltrated the Japanese American incarceration camps in a plot to invade the United States. Superman is able to defeat the Sneer, only after disguising himself as a Japanese American and joining a group of escaped Japanese American internees.
Let's Talk About It!
1. Is there a comic that surprised you the most? Which one and why?
2. What are some of the themes or ideas about Japanese Americans that are repeated in these comics? How are Japanese Americans represented?
3. How do these comics represent the Japanese American incarceration? How are these representations similar or different from what you have learned about the incarceration from photos and testimonies?
Let's Explore!
Read this letter was written by Bob Maxwell, Director of Radio at Superman, Inc. In this letter, Maxwell responds to complaints about the Superman Sneer Strikes series and justifies their depiction of Japanese and Japanese Americans.
Let's Talk About It!
1. What does Mr. Maxwell see as the role of comics and radio programs in the war effort? What does this suggest about the importance of children in the war effort?
2. What do you think about Mr. Maxwell's argument about the importance of hate during wartime?
3. What do you think about Mr. Maxwell's argument that an individual cannot be separated from the nation they represent? Do you feel this is true for you or your community?
Little Joe

Summary
The comic strip "Little Joe" follows a sheriff on his search to find escaped Japanese American internees who are described as the "most dangerous prisoners". Little Joe makes racist comments that Japanese American internees get good treatment in the camp, especially in comparison to the treatment of indigenous tribes who are digging irrigation ditches. Soon Little Joe stumbles upon a chief who is surveilling the group of Japanese Americans. Little Joe asks why they are so willing to work. The chief gestures to three graves and says "Three say no—others work fine now!". With that Little Joe returns home without recapturing the internees. When the mayor inquires if he couldn't find them, Little Joe replies that it's a big country and the Japanese Americans can be put to work instead of being put back into the camps.
"These were our most dangerous prisoners!"