Pulp Empire: The Secret History of Comic Book Imperialism

A single-issue comic from 2021 published by the University of Chicago Press, Pulp Empire is a nonfiction graphic history that examines the role of American comic books as tools of cultural imperialism during the mid-20th century. It focuses on the U.S. government's use of comics for propaganda and soft power, particularly in the Global South, and is written by historian Nicholas Hirshon. This work matters as a scholarly yet accessible look at a little-explored intersection of comics, politics, and international relations.