The Comic Book That Saw the Future (1947)

How a vintage comic warned us of the authoritarianism of Trump, DeSantis and the ultra-right

Thugs at the US Capitol - look familiar?

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It’s from the front page of a 1947 comic book - Is This Tomorrow: America Under Communism! - an anti-Communist propaganda comic book published by the Catholic Catechetical Guild Educational Society of St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1947.

The comic details how under direction of Moscow, American communists scheme to overthrow the US government and our way of life. You can read the entire comic book at Internet Archive and decide how it resonates with contemporary politics.

But here’s what I find ironic.

While the comic raises a “Red Scare” from coming from the left, many tactics detailed in the story echo authoritarian rhetoric and policies promoted by Trump, DeSantis and the ultra-right.

I’ve “cherry-picked” a few examples below.

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Tactics include supporting Russia to the detriment of our European allies.

Pushing pro-Russian propaganda over their co-opted news channels.

Dividing Americans against themselves along lines of class, race and religion.

Preaching hate against the Jews.

Stirring up racism against people of color.

Spoiler: This scene features a Karen.

Banning books and attacking educators.

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Plotters even use a weak Speaker of the House to help them take power.

Is this Tomorrow: America under Communism! is still in print.
But I’m not providing a link.

Title: Is this Tomorrow : America under Communism!

Publication date: 1947

Publisher: Catholic Catechetical Guild Educational Society of St. Paul, Minnesota

Internet Archive: ark:/13960/t7rn5rs69