Join us for “Comic Books, Superheroes, & World War II” presented by James Kimble at the Kearney Public Library for Thursday, January 12, at noon-1:00 p.m. The talk is sponsored by Humanities Nebraska.
The United States was involved in dramatic, action-packed battles with Axis forces several years before the Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor in late 1941. These battles, which continued throughout the war period, played out in the pages of countless comic books. Nearly every issue featured superheroes, GIs, and regular civilians struggling fighting treacherous Axis villains. They quickly became a staple of wartime culture. Children, adults, and even soldiers on the front lines created a huge fan base for such stories. This colorful and controversial cartoon war is an often-forgotten chapter in American history.
James J. Kimble is an associate professor in the Department of Communication and the Arts at Seton Hall University. He is the author of numerous books including, “Prairie Forge: The Extraordinary Story of the Nebraska Scrap Metal Drive of World War II” which was the 2021 One Book One Nebraska selection. He is the co-producer of Scrappers: How the Heartland Won World War II, a feature documentary on the 1942 scrap drives.
This program is free and open to the public so bring your lunch and learn! This presentation is made possible by Humanities Nebraska, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and Kearney Public Library as part of the Humanities Nebraska Speakers Bureau.
Kearney Public Library is located at 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE