This is a small but interesting collection of privately-published propaganda comics warning Americans about the menace of communism. Most of these date back to the 1950s. Now relegated to the dustbin of history, back in their heyday, the publications probably did more to shape the hearts and minds of a generation than any dusty political tome ever could.
It goes without saying that the inclusion of a comic book on this page doesn't constitute an endorsement or denouncement of the views presented in the publication. The comics are just fascinating and forgotten bits of historical curiosa that capture the zeitgeist of the era.
Some of the books were not previously imaged on the internet, so I had to scan them myself (🔍). Others are pieced together from existing scans. Stars (⭐) denote publications that stand out in one way or another and are particularly worth checking out. Finally, the poop badge (💩) stands for "read at your own risk".
Publisher: National Research Bureau (1950)
Scan source: Comics With Problems (ep.tc/problems)
A tale of factory workers led astray by entitlements and promises of job security. Culminates in a communist takeover of the industry, food rationing, executions, and all that. One of several attempts to delineate union labor and socialist movements in the US, presumably in recognition of the natural affinity of the two. The story starts off strong, but gets maybe a bit less coherent toward the end. Extremely rare and with a remarkable cover. The artwork is otherwise pretty simple; some of the panels are too dialogue-heavy, but the storyline isn't difficult to follow.
Publisher: Pictorial Media, Inc. (1951)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
A rather unorthodox take on the subject matter, positing that the communists' overarching goal is not to seize power or corrupt the youth, but to debase our own currency and destroy our way of life. Some parallels to "Your Fight's on the Home Front!" (scans below). The artwork is solid and the story is easy to follow. Very rare and not previously imaged online.
Publisher: Catechetical Guild Educational Society (1950)
Scan source: Comic Book Plus (comicbookplus.com)
A lengthy critique of secularism. Communism and the Soviet regime are not mentioned per se - it's the devil himself who's pulling the strings. That said, the message is clear: godlessness brings about tyrants who wish to control every aspect of citizens' lives. Clean, reasonably expressive artwork that's several notches above "Blood is the Harvest". The story is convoluted and perhaps not too gripping. Another rarity with only a handful copies known.
Publisher: Catechetical Guild Educational Society (1947)
Scan source: Comic Book Plus (comicbookplus.com)
A notable, bombastic tale of a vast Soviet conspiracy to enslave America, told as it unfolds. A pretty breathtaking and all-encompassing narrative, told far more skillfully than in most other anti-communist comic books of the era. A real page-turner. Simple but clear illustrations by Charles Schulz of Peanuts fame. Many parallels to contemporary conservative talking points. Zombie-like communists on the cover. The main villain is strikingly similar to the antagonist in "America Under Socialism".
Publisher: Catechetical Guild Educational Society (1949)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
Similarly to "America Under Socialism", this lengthy but well-drawn comic book seeks to dispel the notion of an inherent class struggle between labor and capital. The entire story is a polemic, perhaps too text-heavy but quite articulate. Notable for taking jabs both at communists and at the capitalists who "confuse something good with the evil of communism". Exceedingly rare and not previously imaged online.
Publisher: Work & Unity Group (1948)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
A cautionary tale of a global communist conspiracy to infiltrate the American workforce. Another attempt to drive a wedge between union labor and socialists. Fairly stereotypical, done better in "America Under Socialism" and "Is This Tomorrow"; one new element in this publication is the inclusion of several (clumsy) defenses of capital. Communists appear ugly and disfigured; one of the bad guys has glowing red eyes. This rare book also features J. Edgar Hoover, for no particularly clear reason. The artwork is busy and too heavy on metaphors (one guy parroting Party slogans has the head of a parrot). Not previously imaged online.
Publisher: National Association of Manufacturers (1952)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
A quick and simplistic retelling of the revolutionary history of the US. Stalin crops up on the last page, in a manner somewhat similar to "Fight for Freedom" (a pamphlet from the same publisher released several years prior). Short and not particularly memorable. The artwork is the strongest aspect of the comic, making good use of varied camera angles and such. Not previously imaged online.
Publisher: National Association of Manufacturers (1950)
Scan source: Comic Book Plus (comicbookplus.com)
Another cautionary tale about entitlements; it pulls no punches, with Hitler cropping up by the time you get to page 3. The worker-centric booklet appeals to the spirit of free enterprise and contrasts it with the horrors of planned economies. Another well-done production by Dan Barry.
Publisher: National Association of Manufacturers (1951)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
Notionally a warning against inflation, a rather unusual topic for a comic book. Communism is not explicitly tackled, but there is a clear warning against government regulation and growing entitlements. A remarkable publication, in part because of how its prescriptions differ from the views of modern-day fiscal conservatives. Excellent artwork, once again by Dan Barry of Flash Gordon fame. Not previously imaged online. See this dedicated page for more.
Publisher: Catechetical Guild Educational Society (1950)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
A true story of Pavlik Morozov, a kid who ratted out his parents to the secret police and became an unlikely martyr of the Soviet Union. A unique slow-burn comic, rooted more firmly in reality and not trying to uncover vast global conspiracies. Powerful cover art. The remaining artwork is rather bland, with a limited color palette and little dynamism: everybody is just standing there, expressionless. Deserves a 💩 rating for artwork and a ⭐ for its unusual subject matter. Let's just say it cancels out.
Exceedingly rare, only a handful copies known. Not previously imaged on the internet. Also see this dedicated page.
Publisher: Christian Anti-Communism Crusade (1962)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
A series of not-too-subtle vignettes that contrast the common-sense meaning of certain phrases with their use in the political rhetoric of the Soviet Union. The comic appears to be a refinement of "Two Faces of Communism", an earlier pamphlet by the same publisher (scans below). While the storyline lacks any nuance, the artwork is competent and the text is easy to follow. Exceedingly rare, not previously imaged online.
Publisher: National Association of Manufacturers (1949)
Scan source: Hagley Digital Archives (digital.hagley.org)
Purports to be a general history of struggles for liberty. What makes this publication unique is that the authors attribute a wide range of societal collapses to socialism - starting in antiquity and continuing all the way to modernity. Stalin makes an obligatory appearance toward the end, but the Soviet regime doesn't get nearly as much airtime as in most other books. Top-notch artwork with complex composition and lots of background detail; drawn by Dan Barry, a noted cartoonist of Flash Gordon fame.
Publisher: Marvel (1962)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
A rather turgid story of communists trying to indoctrinate the tribes of Africa, only to be devoured by the Old Gods. Half a denouncement of communism, half a paranormal horror story. The most notable thing about it was that it was published by Marvel in their early days, before they fully embraced the superhero schtick.
Publisher: Comic Combine Corp. (1953)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
Another grotesque story that ran in "Men's Adventures", one of countless pulp monthlies of the era. It purports to offer a glimpse of the mindset of a communist soldier in North Korea. One of a handful of anti-communist publications focused on Asia, but a disappointing one: it portrays North Koreans as primitive, cowardly simpletons. The artwork is mediocre. Not previously available online. Some interesting period ads accompany the scans.
Publisher: George Pflaum (1963)
Scan source: Catholic University of America (libraries.catholic.edu)
"Treasure Chest of Fun & Fact" was a long-running series of comic books distributed to private schools across the US. It provided a mix of wholesome humor, basic religious instruction, and practical knowledge. In 1963, the series included a recurring feature titled "Red Victim", telling the largely true story of a Catholic missionary among the (stereotypically savage) tribes of China. The climax is the clergyman's show trial and imprisonment at the hands of the country's newly-minted Maoist government. A slow-burn, low-key tale similar to "Blood is the Harvest"; the artwork is of much higher quality, but the plot drags on. Still, quite notable for its focus on Chinese communism. Also see "What About Red China?", below.
Publisher: Impact Publications (1960)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
Another text-heavy catalog of the techniques of communist infiltration - generally muddied and derivative, although interestingly, told through the prism of real espionage investigations on US soil. What's equally interesting is that the comic doubles as a defense of the House Un-American Activities Committee and J. Edgar Hoover. The cover is fairly remarkable; the remaining artwork is decent but cluttered with too much text; the "iceberg" trope overstays its welcome. Rare and not previously imaged online.
Scan source: Comic Book Plus (comicbookplus.com)
A generally true story of a Hungarian clergyman imprisoned for opposing communism. Similarly to "Blood is the Harvest", it takes an intimate approach to the subject matter instead of trying to expose vast conspiracies (although it spends some time deconstructing the motives of the Party). Simple and fairly uninspiring artwork, a notch better than in "Blood is the Harvest". The storyline is straightforward and easy to follow. Also compare to "Red Victim".
Publisher: George Pflaum (1961)
Scan source: Catholic University of America (libraries.catholic.edu)
Another series of shorts found in the "Treasure Chest of Fun & Fact". After an over-the-top opening episode, the focus is on retelling the history of the USSR. Considerably more engaging and a bit less preachy than the "Red Victim". With above-average artwork and writing, it's definitely worth a skim.
Publisher: Standard Publishing Co. (1965)
Scan source: Comics With Problems (ep.tc/problems)
A fairly comprehensive overview of the history of the Soviet communist regime, from the Bolshevik revolution to the death of Stalin. Longer and better-researched than most, and definitely notable for this reason alone. Simple, clean artwork that gets the point across. Extremely rare.
Publisher: Christian Anti-Communism Crusade (1961)
Scan source: Comics With Problems (ep.tc/problems)
Somewhat similar to "Threat to Freedom", but not nearly as in-depth. The first pages promise an exciting expose on the two-faced nature of the rhetoric coming out of the Soviet Union, but the rest is just a rehash of general talking points about the origins and goals of Marxism-Leninism. It is framed as a weirdly cringeworthy dialogue between a father and his two suspiciously grown-up children. Fairly amateurish artwork. Compare to "Double Talk", a later publication that does a better job of staying on topic (and features younger siblings talking to an uncle).
Publisher: George Pflaum (1962)
Scan source: Catholic University of America (libraries.catholic.edu)
Published in the "Treasure Chest of Fun & Fact" a year before the better-known "Red Victim" (see above), this short story provided a broader historical sketch of Chinese communism and introduced the character of a China-bound missionary that became the focus of the latter story.
Publisher: "VOICE - Victims of International Communist Emissaries" (but really the CIA, 1983)
Scan source: Comics With Problems (ep.tc/problems)
A pretty obnoxious CIA-published propaganda comic to garner support for the otherwise probably fairly defensible invasion of Grenada in 1983; the cover features smiling crowds, US soldiers holding babies, and a subtitle reading "RESCUED FROM RAPE AND SLAVERY" (and communism). The remainder of the book is about as subtle, and the artwork is fairly poor. Government-produced materials are not exactly in scope for the collection, but this one pretends to be a private publication, and there aren't that many other similar works.
Publisher: Ajax (1955)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
One of several communism-themed stories from comic books targeted at young women. This one is pretty incoherent; see Love Secrets #32 (below) for a better take. An assistant working for a prominent nuclear scientist faces another woman who competes for the scientist's affection. Luckily for the first lady, the other one turns out to be a communist spy and is arrested by the FBI.
Publisher: Harvey Enterprises, Inc. (1954)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
Another short feature in a romance periodical: a story of lovers stuck behind the Iron Curtain. Communism is hardly mentioned; the bad guys appear more Nazi-like. Fairly nicely drawn but otherwise not worth your time.
Publisher: Quality Comics (1953)
Scan source: Out of This World blog (kb-outofthisworld.blogspot.com)
Relationship fears, 1953 edition. A pretty hilarious communism-themed short appearing in a monthly romance-themed publication targeted at young women. So bad it's almost good - and definitely the best of the genre. The happy ending is that the communist lover turns out to be a secret operative of the FBI. Exceptionally rare.
Publisher: Best Syndicated Features, Inc. (1952)
Scan source: own collection 🔍
Yet another lackluster short story from a comic book for young women: a girl almost marries a communist who is planning to enslave and exploit her, as communists are liable to do. A solid contender, but done better in Love Secrets #32 (above).
There are several other comic books and pamphlets I am still looking for; this includes "Yalta to Korea" (Republican National Committee, 1952), "America Menaced!" (Vital Publications, 1949), "Frontiers of Freedom" (General Comics, 1960), and "It's Time for Reason... Not Treason!" (Liberty Lobby, 1967).
Of course, communist villains feature prominently in many other works of the era. That said, my collection focuses on books that purport to describe the real world, and where communism is the main thrust of the story; a superhero novel featuring a deranged Soviet scientist or a fictional spy story set in East Germany doesn't quite meet this bar.
As a practical example, I did not include "God's Smuggler", as it's a religious pamphlet far more than it is a discernible warning against communism.
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