The Wasp — 1890 — page 249: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical comic strip, signed by Kingsbury, depicts a darkly comedic narrative about the Lusitania—the British passenger liner torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1915, killing nearly 1,200 people, including 128 American citizens. The prologue shows a wealthy gentleman; subsequent panels show him progressively losing his fortune and status as the ship sinks. The "I am Lusitania" signs marking the wreck indicate this is political commentary on the disaster's economic and social consequences. The strip traces one character's descent from prosperity to destitution, likely satirizing how the tragedy affected various social classes or commenting on America's response to the attack. The sequential format emphasizes the inexorable tragedy unfolding.