[ DRAWN & QUARTERED ]
Graphic Arts As Literature
Peter Kuper states his anti-war stance by examining violence in "Stars and Stripes."
The Bush administration wants to declare war and there's absolutely nothing to stop the inevitable march to Iraq. Right? Cartoonists ever vigilant
Strip Show
with war commentaryBy Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.comWell, maybe an "insignificant" several millions' worth of people both here in the United States and around the world have something to say about that, including a bunch of alternative cartoonists who have never backed down from railing against our country's imperialist policies.
It's only natural that, in the aftermath of 9/11, newspaper editorial cartoonists have been given plenty of fodder to fuel their suspicious minds and pens. That's evident with the recent publication of the special Winter 2003 edition of The Comics Journal (Fantagraphics) -- in the section "Cartoonists on Patriotism" -- and the latest issue of the agitprop B&W comic book World War 3 Illustrated, subtitled "The Situation."
Both publications offer a mixed bag of contributions, but the better offerings are as succinct and pointed in their anti-war stance as anything you could find on the op-ed page.
In The Comics Journal, faux-primativist and fringe artist Ted Jouflas relates a riveting story about the difficult paths his immigrant grandparents took in settling down in America in "Twilight's Last Gleaming." His resulting mixed Greek and German heritage makes him appreciate what was done by "my heroes, immigrants and patriots." Jouflas is also angered by Bush's Republican aristocracy. If you can get through reading the panels' densely packed, idiosyncratic lettering, it's well worth the effort.
MUCH SIMPLER to read, and with more humorous impact are Wilfred Santiago's mock ad for "Patriotex 500," Sam Henderson's straight-up hilarious "America: 250 Years of Channeling Aggression!!!!" and Phoebe Gloeckner's droll "medical findings," showing no significant anatomical differences between patriotic males from China, the U.S., Iraq and Israel through digital rectal exams.
Peter Kuper, whose distinct expressionistic style has been seen in such august publications as Time, Newsweek, The New York Times oh, and Mad magazine (he does "Spy vs. Spy" for The Usual Gang of Idiots), contributes a haunting "Stripes and Stars" that illustrates all too well the cycle of violence that's kept in motion through patriotic and religious jingoism.
Kuper also co-founded World War 3 Illustrated, a more traditional radical-leftist publication based out of New York.
You don't need to go any further than its page one statement to understand World War 3 Illustrated's basic mission: "In this issue we say 'no' to endless war and global capitalism. We reject the demonization of the Arab people that occurs daily in the media. An entire race must be composed of more than terrorists and fanatics. We oppose the idea that a 'battle of civilisations' is inevitable and we choose to paint a different picture."
And even though the anger and passion is raw, the artistry overall doesn't suffer for it, as seen in Pulitzer Prize winner Art Spiegelman's two contributions, a parody strip based on The Katzenjammer Kids rethought of as "The Tower Twins," and a back cover illustration of him in his famous "Maus" alter ego blissfully dreaming of his beloved ancient newspaper comic strips between threatening caricatures of bin Laden and Bush.
Between these two publications, it's good to be reminded that not all of us will go quietly into that yawning pit of darkness that threatens to swallow us all.
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Pua's Perceptions / Nancy McCord
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