Back when the government actually had money, they poured some of into . . . comics!

Federal and state agencies put comic artists to work telling Americans how to wage war, work harder, save more, and avoid social diseases. Professor Richard L. Graham, Media Services Librarian at the University of Nebraska, created and digitized an incredible collection of these comics, which are reproduced and discussed in his upcoming book from ComicArts, Government Issue: Comics for the People, 1940s-2000s.

Richie grew up on a Department of Defense base in Germany. His dad was in the Army motor pool. Graham senior would on occasion solemnly hand his son a copy of P.S. Magazine, the instructional comic produced by the legendary Will Eisner. Richie was warned: no dog-earring, no ripped pages, no torn covers—this was property of the U.S. military and had to be returned in perfect condition. As Richie tells it, “The old man made sure those comics were available in case of inspection, so I was introduced to that 'collector' mentality (keep it mint!) quite early.”

Here are 5 important things I’ve learned while working on Richie Graham’s amazing book:

	1. Girls know a lot about cars.
	2. You can psych out the enemy.
	3. Don’t worry about unemployment.
	4. Ignoring stop signs will not turn out well.
	5. Smoking in bed is a bad idea.

Government Issue: Comics for the People, 1940s-2000s by Richard Graham, foreword by Sid Jacobson, is available now where books are sold!

The Art of Jaime Hernandez won the 2011 Harvey Award for Best Biographica, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation.

Participants in the SDCC Love & Comics panel (l. to r.): Jason Shiga (Meanwhile; Empire State), moderator and Abrams ComicArts Senior Editor Sheila Keenan, Amy Kim Ganter Kibuishi (Sorcerers and Secretaries), Kazu Kibuishi (Explorer; Flight; Amulet), Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy), and Raina Telgemeier (Smile; Baby-sitters Club Graphix).

At Saturday’s panel on Love and Comics, Jason Shiga revealed that he doesn’t really like reading love stories with happy endings—though there’s a very happy ending to the surprise proposal hidden in his latest graphic novel, Empire State. Meanwhile, collaborator-spouses Amy and Kazu and Dave and Raina shared their takes on how to balance love, work, and comics—which they’re all doing mighty successfully!

(And congrats on the Eisner win, Raina!).

Thursday, July 21, 1:00–2:00PM – Room 9
Spotlight on Abrams ComicArts
Moderated by Chip Kidd − author and designer of Shazam!
Panelists:
Charles Kochman − editorial director, Abrams ComicArts
Sheila Keenan − senior editor, Abrams ComicArts
Neil Egan − designer, Abrams ComicArts

Special Guest:
Alvin Buenaventura − author of the upcoming The Art of Dan Clowes
For over 60 years Abrams has been the premiere art book publisher. With the launch of Abrams ComicArts in 2009, the tradition of excellence continues with award-winning original graphic novels by Brian Fies, Jason Shiga, and Barry Deutsch, as well as monographs on such seminal creators as Jack Kirby, Harvey Kurtzman, and Jaime Hernandez. Join Charles Kochman (editorial director), Sheila Keenan (senior editor), and Neil Egan (designer) in conversation with celebrated graphic designer Chip Kidd (Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal) as they talk about their current titles and reveal details and images from their upcoming collaborations with Dan Clowes, Derf Backderf, Kazu Kibuishi, and Dave McKean, as well as other projects and surprises.

Saturday, July 23, 1:00–2:00PM – Room 7AB
Remembering Harvey Pekar
Moderated by Jeff Newlet
Panelists: 
Joyce Brabner
Charles Kochman – editorial director, Abrams ComicArts, and editor of Yiddishkeit (edited by Harvey Pekar and Paul Buhle, coming September 2011)
Danielle Batone

The legendary Harvey Pekar died in July 2010, leaving behind a huge legacy of work with a veritable who's who list of comics collaborators on his American Splendor and graphic novels. Joyce Brabner and Danielle Batone join editor Charles Kochman and moderator Jeff Newelt to talk about Harvey's life and comics career. This is an open invitation to anyone whoever worked with Harvey or cared about him to come and share their memories.

Saturday, July 23, 2:30–3:30pm − Room 24ABC
The Art of the Graphic Novel
Moderated by Tom Spurgeron
Panelists:
Jason Shiga − Abrams ComicArts author/artist of Empire State and Meanwhile
With Chester Brown, Seymour Chwast, Eric Drooker, Joyce Farmer, Joëlle Jones, and
Craig Thompson

Saturday, July 23, 3:30-4:30PM − Room 8
Abrams ComicArts Love and Comics panel
Moderated by Sheila Keenan − senior editor, Abrams ComicArts
Panelists:
Jason Shiga − Abrams ComicArts author/artist of Empire State and Meanwhile
Kazu Kibuishi − editor of Explorer: The Mystery Boxes, Flight, Copper, and Daisy Kutter
Amy Kim Kibuishi − writer/cartoonist of Sorcerers and Secretaries, contributor to Flight
Raina Telgemeier − creator of Smile, contributor to Explorer
Dave Roman − creator of Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity, Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery, coauthor of The Last Airbender: Zuko’s Story, and X-Men: Misfits

Hope to see you at the show!