When I was first married, my wife collected books for young girls published during World War II. My wife had some of these as a child and wanted copies for our children to read. I had no idea such books existed.
I soon understood why my wife wanted these books for our children. The stories all focused on a hero or heroine with integrity. Each character contributed to fighting evil in their own way.
Many of the books were serials. Titles ranged from the Cherry Ames Nurse series to the Yankee Flier in Air Combat Stories for Boys to “Sparky Ames & Mary Mason of Ferry Command” in the Fighters for Freedom Series. The latter was about the WASPs who flew new aircraft to different theaters to free up the male combat pilots.
Inside the front pages in many of the books was the Council on Books in Wartime logo. This emblem is a line drawing of an eagle clutching a streamer in its mouth. The streamer reads, “Books Are Weapons in the War of Ideas.” That is the truth.
Comic Books
Books are not the only tool used in fighting the battle of ideas. During World War II, movies, radio, newspapers – and even comic books – fought the battle.
Although one may argue when superhero comic books made their initial debut, Action Comics #1 published in 1938 introduced Superman. Soon newsstands began selling superhero comic books from many companies. With the onset of World War II, the heroes were portrayed with idealistic values fighting the axis powers.
The aim of these superhero comics was to inspire youth to embrace positive principles. But some obvious problems were already surfacing. Wonder Woman was put on a list of “Publications Disapproved for Youth” issued by the National Organization for Decent Literature. The reason for the disapproval was “Wonder Woman is not sufficiently dressed.”
The Slide into Debauchery
In the years following both world wars, comic books began to rise in popularity. They also began to evolve, but not in a positive sense.
Horror and romance comics were becoming popular, featuring every vice known to humanity. As David Hajdu explains in the prologue to his book, “The Ten Cent Plague”, “During the early post war years, comic books shifted in tone and content… many of the titles most prominent in the late forties and early fifties told lurid stories of crime, vice, lust, and horror, rather than noble tales of costumed heroes and heroines… These unprecedented dark comics sprouted from cracks in the back corners of the cultural terrain and grew wild.”
And children were picking up these adult oriented comics. Many parents were not happy. Comic book burnings occurred through the Unites States.
Treasure Chest of Fun & Facts
Instead of burning comics, Catholic Publisher George Pflaum created them. He explained his vision as, “More than four years ago, the publishers of the Messengers laid plans to issue a worthwhile comic magazine as a counteractive to the objectionable type. Treasure Chest is not just another substitute for the objectionable comic publication. It stands on its own merits as a quality magazine which children – and adults – will enjoy and profit by.”
Pflaum changed the content of the medium. He responded to the rise in “objectionable” comics with a Catholic comic series of his own with high production value in comparison to the competing comic books at the time. In my opinion, his comic books became a light in the darkness.
Pflaum’s “Treasure Chest of Fun & Facts” comics enjoyed a long run beginning in 1946 and ending in 1972. Although the secular comic book industry self-regulated using the Comics Code Authority in 1954, Treasure Chest was the Catholic focused alternative.
Through the late 1950’s to early 1980’s secular comic books remained tame. The romance and crime titles from the late 1940’s and early 1950’s had disappeared. Heroes were dominant.
Secretly the Depravity Returns
However, in the mid-1980’s, comics again began shifting to more mature themes seeking to hold onto readers (and their dollars) as they entered their late teens and twenties. Authors such as Alan Moore, who the NY Times called “a darkly philosophical voice,” began the shift. Moore injected his ideals into young impressionable audiences in his graphic novels, such as “V For Vendetta,” and in the DC Comics series “Watchmen.”
Parents, including my own, believed their children were reading a wholesome hero comic. But they were often unaware of the gratuitous violence and explicit sex hidden behind the cover. More and more comics were publishing without the Comics Code Authority which ultimately went defunct in 2011.
I would argue that the current state of the comic book industry is worse today than in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Today it is difficult to find comics suitable for children that are void of nudity, blurred gender, homosexuality, gore, and needless violence. Nearly all superheroes are turning against the traditional values they used to uphold.
For example, “The Question” was created by Steve Ditko in 1967 as a noir faceless detective wearing a suit and fedora, and living by the objectivist Philosophy of Ayn Rand. But in 2007, the writers killed off the male character. Renee Montoya, who is openly lesbian and attracted to Batwoman, replaced him.
Fortunately, comic book racks in drug stores are gone. This content must be sought out in specialty shops or online.
Modern Catholic Comics
Be that as it may, a demand for wholesome stories presented in the comic medium is strong. Although not as visible as the continuously promoted secular comics, Catholics can find a multitude of comics sharing our traditions & values.
Unlike with traditional comic books, many of these Catholic publications feature high quality printing with excellent binding. Often called graphic novels, these durable comics can be handed down for years to come.
Catholic Answers has issued three graphic novels featuring two space travelers, Brenden & Eric, starting with “The Truth Is Out There.” Ignatius Press published a comic style biography of Fr. Gereon Goldmann titled ” The Shadow of His Wings.”
Although not specifically Catholic, “The Action Bible” published by David C Cook has artwork and coloring as good or exceeding that of contemporary comic books. Sophia Institute Press has issued several comics including “The Saints Chronicles Collection,” “Sacraments in Action,” and “Kolbe – The Saint of Auschwitz.”
For younger children, Sophia Institute Press produces several comics using Lego characters including “The Holy Mass”, “Sacramental Reconciliation,” and “Stations of the Cross.” Our Sunday Visitor issued “God’s Superheroes – Amazing Catholic Men.”
Voyage Comics is among the most prolific publishers of Catholic Comics. In addition to producing series such as “Phantom Phoenix”, “Finnian,” and “Medal Knight.” Voyage Comics has also issued numerous biographies including “Digital Disciple – Carlos Acutis and the Eucharist.”
Voyage Comics, moreover, has taken on the daunting task of remastering Treasure Chest of Fun & Facts. So far, they have reprinted the first six issues in a single volume as work on this project continues.
All of these comics and graphic novels provide rich content in an entertaining medium sought by so many of our young. Each volume can be an antidote to a confused culture that has strayed away from traditional Catholic values.