What --?

Right on the button . . .

Comics exploring the Holocaust

I recently read Dave Sim's Judenhass, an amazingly informative comic which depicts in heart-rending detail aspects of the Holocaust (the Shoah). This should be available at your comic local shop. The book addresses some very difficult issues, as can be imagined from its topic.

Reading the book led me to think a little about other comics stories that touch on the camps. I seem to recall at least one early issue of Captain America making mention of the camps. But really, not too many comics creators have ventured into this area.

In fact, I can think of just a few "pre-Maus" stories:

Fightin' Army 119 (June 1975) contains a great story drawn byPat Boyette (and likely written by Joe Gill) entitled "The Liberators" It tells of the liberation of a concentration camp and the hunt for its commandant.

Master Race from Impact #1 (Apr 1955) -- Bernie Krigstein: 'nuff said

Masterpiece from Harvey Hits #6 (Feb 1958) -- a spectacularly drawn 2-pager; I can't identlify the artist, but see the clip above. In this story, a camp inmate fashins a clock from bits of barbed wire, springs, and other scraps he finds in the camp. When the commandant steals the clock, he is transported for a time to Elsen, and qucikly crumbles. Interestingly, although set up as a revenge tale, it is unclear that the "punishment" really fits the crime: the commandant is merely relieved of his post and sent home. But he keeps the clock!

Aside from those stories there is Escape from Hell Planet (1972) also by Spiegleman and Incorporated into Maus.


Anyone know of others? (And let's avoid Hogan's Heroes for now!)