American War Comics

Thrilling Comics No 32, 1942 In this comic, almost every mention of a Japanese patrol officer is referred to as Jap, desensitizing the reader to the slur. In this panel, the American spy punches a Japanese officer claiming "Take a nap, Jap!" In this issue, the panel is preceded by the spy knocking Japanese officers into the ocean saying, "Hope the sharks can stomach you Japs! I can't!"

Blackhawks 1952 In this issue, the crew set out to China to find Chop Chop’s Uncle Wah Po who has been arrested by the communist government. Chop Chop is is the only caricatured character with his petite stature, big teeth, enlarged ears and childlike mannerisms. Once in China, Chop Chop’s uncle helps the crew discover a potential weapon of mass destruction. Blackhawk is hesitant to bomb the weapon’s location since Wah Po is there, however, Chop Chop assures him “Uncle is glad to give up his life to save others." 

G.I Joe 1952 In this comic, Chinese army-men are deemed savage by the explicit depiction of a “Gorilla Man,” an unnamed Chinese soldier who stands a foot taller than the rest, is significantly hairy and has missing teeth. While the stereotyping for the other Chinese soldiers is their yellow skin with no animalistic traits, G.I Joe still calls them “monkeys" and “not human.”   

Fighting War Stories 1952 In this page, a subtle slight is thrown at Asians’ teeth when an American Sergeant hits a Chinese agent with a bottle telling him, “I hope you have good dentist.” When the Sergeant proceeds to attack Lily, the anti-Asian violence quickly becomes gendered, as he says he’s going to use a series of “American punches” and proudly claims, “This is called a spankin’ Lily – American style!”