2022 book #48. 2008. A compilation of Bill Mauldin's WW2 cartoons depicting his view of soldering life from the viewpoint of the common GI. Not overly funny but mainly a wry commentary on Army life. My favorite depicts Willie and Joe in a fox hole with bullets wizzing by overhead. One says "I'm beginning to feel like a fugitive from the law of averages". ( )

I always loved the Willie and Joe cartoons by Mauldin. This is a great and comprehensive collection. ( )

This is a collection of all of the cartoons of Bill Mauldin during WWII. He was famous for his satire on the lives and roll of the infantry during the conflict. General Patton was annoyed by him, General Eisenhower believed that he should be left alone to voice the grievances of the every day soldier. Guess who won that argument?

I'm sure that I missed the significance of more than half of these cartoons. I am not of that generation, nor do I have any familiarity with the infantry, or any other armed force for that matter. What I did not miss though, was the power of a fine artist and cartoonist to tell an entire story with one picture. The editor has added a few explanatory notes at the end, but not enough for the generations who didn't live through this and haven't any connection to the army.

I also enjoyed the brief biography with photos at the beginning. They are arranged to be somewhat chronological, although because they are from multiple publications, they are also grouped by the publisher for context. This is a two volume set, printed on lovely paper and bound deliciously. I enjoy holding, stroking and touching these books. The powerful stuff inside is what makes them a treasure though. History told by the men in the trenches and on the front line. ( )

A collection of cartoons of the two iconic World War II soldiers, Willie and Joe. Bill Mauldin drew these (mostly) for Stars & Stripes and Yank, the soldiers' newspapers during the war. The cartoons deal with the funny, surprising, and frustrating incidents in the typical G.I.'s wartime experience. A look at WW II from the common soldiers' perspective. ( )