The Cold War was a nearly fifty year political and economic struggle between the

communist Soviet Union and the capitalist United States. Never directly engaging in battle, these
two titans fought each other through the development of nuclear arms, the space race, and
propaganda. Communism: Americas Mortal Enemy by W.R. Stevenson and Superman by
Roman Cieslewicz are both propaganda style book covers reinforcing their own ideas about
Americas position as it relates to its status in the war and the effects of communism on
American society. The former takes a pro-American stance, depicting communism as a foe of the
United States. The latter takes a more self-reflective position, comparing and exposing the
United States similarities to the Soviet Union. Both utilize color to persuade the audience of
communisms relation to America. Both employ pathos, ethos, kairos, and logos to convince
their viewers to make a decision about Cold War America, bastion of capitalism and protector of
the free world or one of two world powers enforcing its agenda on its half of the Earth?
The color used in both works depicts a stance about the United States during the Cold
War. In Americas Mortal Enemy, the use of black, white, grey, and light brown convey a
sense of desolation. They conjure the image of the stereotypical Nuclear Winter, a stark and
bleak future absent of all hope, the same hope on which the American dream is based. The
metallic yellow of the blade against the shocking white color of North America emphasizes the
blades presence in the image, reinforcing the sense of danger that the artist believes the audience
should feel. The size and scale of the arm are meant to remind citizens of the extent of Russias
reach, are they really as safe as they feel? The Superman cover could not be more different.
Superman enjoys the bright, almost neon colors of a comic book. The bright colors, in a way,
satirize the conflict between the USA and the USSR. Both countries are portrayed in obnoxious
colors in equally ridiculous costumes, both urgently rushing to solve the next crisis in a long list

of crises. The national colors of both countries are also subtly incorporated into the work,
Russias red and yellow with Americas red, white, and blue.
The images present pathetic arguments to audiences in their persuasion. In Superman,
the two heroes are presented as mirror images of each other, but at the same time are looking
away from each other as if their sight is restricted only to what they choose to be focused on.
This, combined with the bright and jubilant colors, delivers a whimsical exposure of each
countrys ignorance towards the other. This is meant to strike the viewer as either funny or
angering. It presents the two great fools, nearly identical, but blissfully unaware of their own
similarities and, instead of working hand in hand to solve the same issues, they are dutifully
focused on their own agendas. The satirical portrayal of oblivion on this scale is meant to enrage
the audience, invoking the question: I am fearing for my familys safety just because these two
powers are too blind to see their own similarities? This idea is reinforced by the use of the
Superman commonplace, the iconic superhero archetype of a burly man in tights and a cape.
Superman, published in the United States, is also meant as a jab at American societys view of
itself. It puts America not only on the same level as the CCCP, but as identical to it. This instills a
sense of pseudo-guilt in the viewer, saying Americas action, tactics, and goals are no different in
nature that its sworn enemys. As opposed to satire, Americas Mortal Enemy calls upon fear
to convey its message. Using pathos, the comparison to the fist and knife is meant to strike fear
into the American people. Communism is a nameless figure, wielding a blade, ready to strike at
any moment. The blade not only injures the country but seemingly annihilates the entire
continent. It rends America asunder, cracking her from within while assaulting her from without.
The use of the word mortal is also meant to scare us into action. It implies that losing to the
Soviet Union means certain death, instilling a win or die mentality into the American people.

Russia assails the entire continent in its stab, implying that not only are we in danger, but our
allies will be caught in the crossfire. Raising the sense of fear, this conveys the thought that the
USSR cares little for the scope of the destruction, so long as it results in Americas defeat.
These images also encompass logical arguments. Americas Mortal Enemy subtly
incorporate logos with the use of the hammer and sickle logo on the stabbing arm. The hammer
and sickle, now the universal sign of communism and socialism, was created in Russia during
the Russian Revolution. The use of this symbol links communism and all of the aforementioned
danger and fear directly the Soviet Union. This makes the image point not only to communism as
Americas mortal enemy, but, specifically, to the Soviet Union as Americas mortal enemy.
This image links communism and Soviet Russia through fear and presents them as the same
entity. Superman also employs a subtle use of logos in the form of CCCP. This is the Russian
form of USSR. This, when compared to the USA superman, states that this is the way that both
countrys view themselves. Both countries see themselves as Superman. In their arrogance,
they both view themselves as the all-powerful protectors of the world.
Surprisingly, both pieces also incorporate ethos into their persuasion. In Superman it
uses the ethos of the superman commonplace. The Superman/Captain America archetype is seen
as the boy scout superhero, the hero with no dark side, high morals, and unwavering devotion.
Superman is the ber-citizen, and the living embodiment of the American civic. This furthers the
satire of the nations being portrayed in this way. They view themselves as this uncompromising
comic fixture, their set of morals held above all others. Americas Mortal Enemy benefits
from the name of author, Dr. Fred Schwarz, of the book it covers being in the image. The viewer
assumes this man has a PhD, since he is talking on matters of communism and international
politics. This paints the message on the cover as academic, a scholarly opinion of worthy note

that has been thought through and well researched. When, in reality, Dr. Fred Schwarz was a
physician and has no more expertise on the matter than the average citizen.
Kairos plays, perhaps, the largest role in these images arguments. Both take advantage of
the turmoil and upheaval caused by the Cold War. Both images were produced during the height
of the Cold War, and during the Space Race, which began in 1954 and ended in 1969.
Americas Mortal Enemy was produced in 1958. It takes advantage of the extremely high
levels of American nationalism pervasive throughout the 1950s. This nationalism dove tailed off
of a strong economy and victories in World War II and the Korean War, both of which were
largely supported by the American populace, and the latter seen as an American victory over
China, Russia, and communism as a whole. Americas Mortal Enemy also takes advantage of
fearful undertones in 1950s society, caused by recent events. Fear of Russia took off after the
successful launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, in 1954 and the beginning of the Space
Race. Americans feared the newly spawned war with Russia would spread into orbit, literally.
Fear also spread through American households due to McCarthyism. Due to the efforts of
Senator Joseph McCarthy, communism became synonymous with treason. Equating communism
with treason verifies this images message, if one is treasonous, they are, by definition, an enemy
of the state and if communism is treason, then being communist automatically makes one
Americas enemy. Superman takes advantage of the entirely different atmosphere of the 1960s.
Superman was produced in 1968. First, it takes advantage of the popular serialization of comic
books during this time, utilizing a comic book style of art to connect to younger audiences. It
also takes advantage of Americas involvement in a war, Vietnam. The reaction to the Vietnam
War was the complete opposite to the reaction to the Korean War. Vietnam created almost a sense
of anti-nationalism. Taking advantage of this, Superman pulls America down from its pedestal

and criticizes more harshly. Anti-war sentiments relating to Vietnam cross over and apply to the
Cold War as a whole in Superman. If these protests can end the war with Vietnam, why cant
they end the war with the Soviet Union?
Both pieces of propaganda, Americas Mortal Enemy and Superman attempt to
persuade the viewer toward the artists view of the United States during the Cold War. They take
very different approaches. Americas Mortal Enemy takes a very pro-American stance and
uses patriotic undertones to rally the citizenry to its cause. Superman stands for a pro-peace
position and employs satire and pop culture icons to persuade the viewer to engage in a little
introspection. The former presents communism as the encroaching death of American society,
while the latter presents America and the CCCP, and, by extension, communism, as two halves of
the same whole.

Works Cited

Stevenson, W.R. "Communism: America's Mortal Enemy" Digital image. Flickr. N.p., 20

Aug. 2008. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/igeldard/2781171267>.

Cieslewicz, Roman. "Superman" Digital image. Designer Daily. N.p., 4 Aug. 2009. Web.
14 Oct. 2015. <http://www.designer-daily.com/10-amazing-cold-war-propaganda-posters2901>.