I’m dedicating this one to my wife, Shelagh Lustig, and all the other medical personnel who are fighting the good fight.
Art by Vince Colletta from the story “Stars in My Eyes” in Teen Secret Diary #2, Dec. 1959.
Transcript:
SCENE: Female nurse and male doctor. In the background is a closeup of an American flag.
CAPTION: New war…new heroes!
1959 Art: Vince Colletta Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
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Art by Al Plastino from 4Most Vol. 2, #4, Fall 1943.
Transcript:
Two boys firing a sling shot and throwing a stone at pumpkins made up to look like Adolph Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Emperor Michinomiya Hirohito.
Caption: If only it was this easy! Memorial Day
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Art by Al Plastino from 4Most Vol. 2, #4, Fall 1943.
Art by Vince Colletta from the story “Involuntary Bride” from FIRST KISS #40, 1965.
Transcript:
Man in a military-style camouflage shirt hugging sadly.
WOMAN (thinking): Every day is Memorial Day for some of us!
Art Code: DJP.lk265 40.6.8.1
I was surprised by how many people hated today’s comic. It is arguably—at least so far—my most controversial comic.
I wasn’t trying to offend anyone. Instead, I was trying to make a point. Too many people regard Memorial Day as just a three-day weekend for having fun. They don’t want to think about the dead we’re supposed to be honoring.
Beyond that and on a personal note, I was also trying to highlight the absurdity of people who expect bereaved family members to quickly “snap out of it” and stop crying.
I know from personal experience that recovery is a long, slow process.
Unfortunately, those points don’t seem to have come through in the comic. (Or at least not in a humorous way.) And, for that, I’m sorry.
Art by Art Saaf & Mike Peppe from the story “Kiss and Run” from NEW ROMANCES #14, 1952.
Transcript:
SCENE: At a cemetery. Two men are covering up a grave in the background. In the foreground, a woman is crying and a man is trying to comfort her.
MAN: Cheer up! it’s a three-day weekend!
1952 Art: Art Saaf & Mike Peppe Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
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