Drinking Companions

Over a year before the infamous V-J Day in Times Square picture of a sailor kissing a nurse was taken, Mason and Co. prematurely decided to come out with a line of victory-themed drinking glasses in mid-1944. The six different glasses each had picture of a member of the U.S. military officer making out with what they called a drinking companion. The idea of American women acting solely as an outlet for soldiers' sexual frustration is one thing, but taking the concept and advertising it in comics intended for younger readers is even worse. WWII was a trying enough time with international hostilities while simultaneously attempting to honor the acts of all Allied Forces committed during the savage aggression they faced against the Axis Powers. To glorify the whole affair in an attempt to ensnare children in their propaganda scheme is particularly sketchy. The ad ran in military anthology comics like Captain Aero which were normally escapist adventures for youngsters during a harsh period of human history not intended to glorify the act of war but for a possibly peaceful solution, or at least before the A-Bomb was unveiled. This advertisement made the entire campaign look like America was only taking part in WWII so they could have an excuse for a big orgy for all their surviving service men. The fact that they state it was offered directly to readers of "insert comics title here" in the ad is a new level of manipulating children's development and romantic intentions. If these glasses were intended for kids, then they wouldn't have labeled them as being perfect for beer or highballs.