Flag Day–Comic Book Style

Flag Day–Comic Book Style

Original Vintage Art & Text

Cover art by Lou Fine for National Comics #9, March 1941. Quality Comics.

Curious to see more? Click the link above to read the entire vintage comic book for free on ComicBookPlus.com.

↓ Transcript
SCENE: A zillion kids (several carrying American flags) are in a field Uncle Sam. Together they are fighting a terrorist or criminal gang. Each of the gang members are wearing leather jackets with a skull and cross bones insignia on the back.

CAPTION: National Comics #9 10 cents.

CAPTION: A Typical Flag Day in Comic Books!

CAPTION: Patriotism: It’s not for wimps!

1941 Art: Lou Fine Flag Pole Polisher: John Lustig

National Comics #9 CoverModified_NoStars



Flag Day, 1941

Flag Day, 1941

Today’s Flag Day comic is really two comics in one.

First, there’s the vintage, Nazi-fighting art from Our Flag Comics #3. It struck me how different times were back in 1941 and how united we were (by the end of that year) against “the bad guys.” These days, alas, we can’t even all agree who the “bad guys” are.

Second, there was this incredible, completely over-the-top caption in the 1941 art. I thought it was jaw-dropingly bizarre, but also a lot of fun. So I decided to share it with you. But—fearing that the type would be too small—I enlarged it for readability. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

(Below is a miniature version of the vintage,

untouched art so that you can see the original layout

and what I covered up when I enlarged the caption.)

Art by Harry Anderson from Our Flag Comics #3, Dec. 1941.

 

 

Transcript:

SCENE: Superhero dressed somewhat like an American flag, punches out a bunch of Nazis in a subway as terrified citizens look on in the background.

THE FLAG: That’s
what I love about America in 1941…Everyone agrees about who the bad

CAPTION BOX: Born with a chest birthmark resembling the American Flag, Jim Courtney, adopted son of John Courtney, an old flag maker and war veteran known as “Old Glory,” has been endowed by the immortals of U.S. history with the strength of a hundred men and the speed of the wind. When traitors seek to destroy our country, Jim Dons the special patriotic uniform made for him by “Old Glory” and goes forth as that hard-hitting, patriotic avenger, The Flag, to crush and destroy them!

Happy Flag Day!

Dec. 1941 Art: Harry Anderson from Our Flag Comics #3
New Dialogue: John Lustig
Yellow caption box is enlarged, but contains the original,
1941 textfeaturing the origin of The Flag. Writer unknown.

our flag comics 4_17-Flag2

↓ Transcript
SCENE: Superhero dressed somewhat like an American flag, punches out a bunch of Nazis in a subway as terrified citizens look on in the background.

THE FLAG: That’s
what I love about America in 1941...Everyone agrees about who the bad

CAPTION BOX: Born with a chest birthmark resembling the American Flag, Jim Courtney, adopted son of John Courtney, an old flag maker and war veteran known as “Old Glory,” has been endowed by the immortals of U.S. history with the strength of a hundred men and the speed of the wind. When traitors seek to destroy our country, Jim Dons the special patriotic uniform made for him by “Old Glory” and goes forth as that hard-hitting, patriotic avenger, The Flag, to crush and destroy them!

Happy Flag Day!

Dec. 1941 Art: Harry Anderson from Our Flag Comics #3
New Dialogue: John Lustig
Yellow caption box is enlarged, but contains the original,
1941 textfeaturing the origin of The Flag. Writer unknown.

our flag comics 4_17-Flag2