Comic About The Holocaust: Good Idea / Bad Idea

WARNING: If you are easily offended by nazi symbols: I use an image in this post that contains some, to prove a point. I only use the image to illustrate that something as important as remembering the Holocaust for the tragedy it was can be undermined when people don't how to properly use a medium. If the idea of seeing nazi symbols in any context is offensive to you, please close this page on your browser now.

...

Here's a little story about how *not* to go into a medium of which you're unfamiliar.

Background, the CNN story.

So basically CNN reports on the Ann Frank center making a comic book about the Holocaust.

It's time for one of my favorite sketches from another cartoon, Animaniacs, "Good Idea / Bad Idea".

GOOD IDEA: Reaching out to disinterested German youth about an important historic tragedy by using a media that they are familiar with and enjoy.

BAD IDEA: Rather than getting say, Frank Miller or another more darker-style graphic novel illustrator to do it, and show it for the brutality and harshness it is, making it look like Archie Comics.

The picture seems to say: "Oh, hey Hitler! Don't you look all stoic and non-aggressive with your extended finger and bad combover?"



Let's compare. I'm telling ya'. Add the Adolf mustache and it could be a dead ringer.




Bright colors? Child-like human figures? Gee, Jughead, whose idea was this?

What the picture seems to say: "Awww, look at all those faceless victims being hauled away. Too bad we don't get any sort of idea of the sheer brutality involved! Say, DAMN those are hot uniforms, eh?"



Even 60 years ago, pop-culture comics showed nazis in a more sinister style.



If I were tapped to pick a style for the comic, here's a more appropriate tone of the Holocaust, let's take David Lloyd's "V for Vendetta" rendition as an example.

Dark. Gritty. Fierce. And yet, still not bloody or graphic. (pardon the pun)



If you are entering a new medium, it's very important you understand it very very well, because you could be sending out the exact opposite message you would want.

** Note: All images are for comparison in a journalistic setting and fall under US Fair Use. If any artist has a problem specifically with me posting their work in this context, I will happily remove it with a written request. And signed artwork.

*** Note: The whole signed artwork thing is voluntary, but if an artist was upset enough (and somehow found my tiny blog) about my use of his/her image, well, sending a signed copy of artwork would show how cool that artist was and totally not censorship. Anyway.