By Mark Bryant
Publisher: Grub Street
ISBN: 978-1-904943-06-8
Newly reprinted, this is an amazingly detailed and fantastically researched book that deserves a space on any cartoonist's or history buff's shelf. Divided into yearly sections that map the progress of the war, it offers a wonderfully rich selection of cartoons that reflect the events of the time. But what makes it of particular interest is that it's not just the cartoons of the Allied western powers, but also features work printed in Russia and, most interesting of all, cartoons from the Axis powers' point of view.
In the preface it mentions regret that Walt Disney and the Beano denied permission for the inclusion of certain material, and we later learn that the Beano's contribution was a strip called Musso the Wop, which I'd certainly liked to have seen. However, you won't feel short-changed because there's so much in here to see, coupled with lengthy background information to set the scene or explain circumstance. One for your Christmas list.
And if you liked that: Mark has a whole host of books in a similar vein, so hop on to Amazon and get reading.
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