Joe Dope's Comic Masterclass in Military Mishaps

WWII training from Will Eisner - the father of graphic novels

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During World War II, the United States faced the monumental task of educating and training millions of soldiers in a short amount of time. To meet this challenge, the U.S. Army turned to innovative methods, including comics.

One of the most memorable characters to emerge from this era was Joe Dope, a bumbling but well-meaning soldier created by the legendary cartoonist - Will Eisner.

Eisner wrote - “I was drafted into the U.S. Army in late '41, early '42. En route to Washington, D.C., I stopped at the Holabird Ordnance Depot in Baltimore, where a mimeographed publication titled Army Motors was put together.

I began doing cartoons – and we began fashioning a magazine that had the ability to talk to the G.I.s in their language. So I began to use comics as a teaching tool, and when I got to Washington, they assigned me to the business of teaching – or selling – preventive maintenance."

Eisner created the educational comic strip and titular character Joe Dope for Army Motors, and spent four years working in the Pentagon editing the ordnance magazine Firepower and doing "all the general illustrations – that is, cartoons" for Army Motors.

Will Eisner, often hailed as one of the most influential figures in the history of comics, was already a prominent name in the comic book industry before he was enlisted to aid the war effort.

Today, Eisner is credited with popularizing the term “graphic novel” and helping to establish the genre as a legitimate form of literature.

Will Eisner’s influence on the comic book industry is immeasurable. He mentored and inspired countless artists and writers, and his innovative techniques and storytelling methods have become standard practice in the industry.

Eisner’s annual award, the Eisner Awards, often referred to as the “Oscars of the comic book industry,” celebrates excellence in comic book creation, further solidifying his impact on the field.

Source for all images - the Library of Congress’ Joe Dope Collection

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Here’s two comic predictions …

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