Judge — September 20, 1919 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "America Last!" — A WWI-Era Satire This comic strip critiques American involvement in World War I by showing how military service and war production have depleted the home front of able-bodied men. Each panel presents a woman seeking help with domestic tasks (moving a piano) only to learn the men are absent due to war efforts. The satire's point: American resources and manpower are being diverted to foreign conflicts—helping Belgians, fighting alongside Russians, supporting the British against Germany and the Japanese against China—while American civilians suffer neglect at home. The title "America Last!" encapsulates the complaint that American interests are subordinated to global entanglements. References include income taxes funding war costs, military conscription ("drafted"), and various theaters of combat. The drawing style and colloquialisms suggest a rural, working-class perspective, emphasizing how ordinary Americans bear the burden of international commitments while their own needs go unmet.