I. When people realized that governments were a tool meant to serve them, politicians panicked. Often times, people need most to be protected from themselves. In an effort to control the ignorant masses, propaganda, both overt and subtle, became a pervasive phenomenon through all facets of American culture and society. These subliminal messages could be found anywhere: in books, advertisements, speeches, and even comic books. Despite symbolizing light hearted frivolity and simply imaginative pleasure for youngsters, comic books originated as propaganda pamphlets that could easily convey a message and a more important connotation. In fact, comic books can be read and analyzed historically as reflections of society’s values and morays of the time. Allegories within comic books have reflected society’s darkest struggles in women’s attempts to overcome misogyny, the African American fight for civil rights, and Cold War anti communist sentiments.
II. Body Paragraphs
A. Women are typically portrayed as helpless “damsels in distress” that constantly find themselves in impossible situations.
i. (Heroes for Hire #13)
ii. “Females [in comic books] are all the same…helpless” (Mayo Interview)
iii. “Women are always in need or rescue—they are trophies” (Mayo Interview)
B. Comic books objectify women and force them to uphold the golden standard of sex symbolism.
i. (Heroes for Hire #13)
ii. (Heroes for Hire #13)
iii. (Heroes for Hire #13)
C. Black heroes have been largely missing in classic comic book literature
i. “What’s truly weird about black heroes…in mass produced comic has been their virtual absence” (Holy Sh*t)
ii. “There is a clear lack of minority heroes in any [comic] book” (Mayo Interview)
iii. “We’ve also featured some comics about and by African Americans, because they highlight how rare the prominent, positive representations of black...