INTRODUCTORY GEOPOLITICS WITH CAPTAIN NIPPO

We hear a lot about the teaching value of the graphic novel medium, but in practice it appears that the educational value of some comics is questionable at best. Case in point, this issue of "4 Favorites" from sometime in the "Slappin' The Japs" era of racial tolerance.


He's more evil than the Nazi beast and slyer than your average Jap (note the political designation of the European enemy, while the Asian foe is depicted in strict ethnic terms) - it's Captain Nippo. Yes, Captain Nippo, whose tasteful green ensemble and hook-hand enable him to...um, always be prepared for the costume pirate division of the St. Patricks Day parade, I guess.


Luckily Captain Nippo's Tokyo office is helpfully equipped with a table to better aid him in planning the downfall of the democracies.


International Diplomacy, comics-style - wear a crazy star shaped face mask, gesture wildly, and greet everyone with gibberish about "fire sticks" and "island dwarfs". Hey, it worked for Kissinger!


I'm repelled by Captain Nippo's barbed hook hand and giant overbite, but impressed by his his can-do, "nothing is impossible" attitude!


Captain Courageous- sensitive about having to use a handgun. Poor baby.


Could this entire story be simply an excuse to show the manly, shirtless, strangely lumpy Captain Nippo?


This is one of those comic book military battles where they eschew firearms in favor of knives and fists. Tanks, rifles, machine guns, synchronized air and artillery attacks -those are for pussies.


Yeah, I know he surrendered and is now fleeing in terror. Kill him anyway!


Remember to thank your rescuers with a angry, finger-wagging lecture about how America's going to lick the Japs for you. Had this conversation continued, I think it would have gone a little something like this.


Also, in case you were feeling the European theater was neglected...


Hey, subtle!

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