Life — February 28, 1918 — page 30: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This comic strip mocks a German spy or saboteur's daily routine during World War I. The figure systematically documents destructive acts: blowing up bridges, consulting a "Berlin Primer" (suggesting German intelligence guidance), buying Liberty Bonds as cover, making patriotic speeches, and distributing propaganda while simultaneously conducting sabotage. The satire targets suspected German agents operating in America during WWI—a period of widespread espionage fears and anti-German sentiment. The humor derives from the absurdity of openly documenting treason while maintaining a façade of patriotism (flag-saluting, bond-purchasing). The "Berlin Primer" reference suggests official German direction. The cartoonist portrays the spy as methodically working through a checklist, treating massive destruction with casual mundanity ("nice day for explosions"). This reflects American anxieties about hidden enemy operatives undermining the war effort from within.