The Ugly American - Comic

One of my favorite books was a recommended reading before entering the Peace Corps, The Ugly American. Ironically, the only loveable American in this semi-fictional overseas story is the "ugly american," Homer Atkins, who learns to adapt and appreciate the lands in which he works and tries to empower the people therein.

Recently, I ran across a comic book from 1958 that is a compilation of many famous and respectable cartoonists of that time period. The subject matter is the behavior of Americans abroad - and I hardly tell whether the artists believe the Ugly American sterotype is a reality to be reeducated or a ridiculous idea. [By the way, The Ugly American was also published in 1958. It would be interesting to see which came first].

An irreverent blogger, who published this book on-line, writes:

Here's a fascinating book from 1958 I just picked up. It was produced when there was a lot of criticism of "Ugly Americans" that traveled to foreign lands and made nuiances--or worse--of themselves (unlike today ;o) ). It is amazing because of two reasons. (1) The A-list cartoonists that contributed to it, Charles Schulz, Walt Kelly, Al Capp, Hank Ketcham, Milton Caniff, Ernie Bushmiller, Rube Goldberg, etc. and (2) It's not exactly clear who the audience is. Is it trying to educate insensitive Americans? Or is it an arrogant defense to ungrateful foreigners who should be damn happy for the American dollars being spent in their lands? What do you think, Arf Lover?!?

(click for slide show)

--C. Yoe (in the funny papers)

Other notes:

A website about cartoonist Charles Schulz (of Charlie Brown and Peanuts fame) says:

"You Don't See These Sights on the Regular Tours (1958) - a booklet of cartoons by some of the top cartoonists, each commenting on being an ugly American tourist abroad. Schulz contributes a single, all-adults panel on litering, with a Charlie Brown head illustration commenting on it."