Flashback: WWII. Comics don't like the Japanese.

Let's now jump from discussing sexism to racism in comics. Today we're showcasing a series from cartoonist Milton Caniff who drew the famed adventure strip, Terry and the Pirates. This series was drawn for the U.S. Military and printed the "Pocket Guide to China" which was given to soldiers during their stay in China.

Remember, Japan was a political enemy and the derogatory term "Jap", was not generally considered offensive during WWII, unless of course you were Japanese. What this comic attempts to do is distinguish the physical differences between Chinese and Japanese persons. While they are indeed two different nationalities, the points made are absurd. People come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, no matter where one is from. To indicate that the Japanese are always shorter is a gross generalization, the heart of racism itself.



-- Click them to enlarge.




Not only should the Japanese find this offensive, but Chinese as well. If any of you out there know Terry and the Pirates, you'll also agree how strange it is to call Terry "an average American." He's a kid! This is only the beginning. We'll feature more pages of this series tomorrow. What do you think of these?