1944.02.05 "Growing Larger and Larger" by Paul R Carmack

1944.02.05 “Growing Larger and Larger”
by Paul R Carmack (1895-1977)
11.2 x 15 in., crayon and ink on board
Coppola Collection

Paul Carmack was a staff cartoonist for the Christian Science Monitor.

Once read as a sentence, the cartoon becomes plainspoken: The IF in the pacific is growing larger and larger. This is Tokyo’s last chance as the US captures more and more of the South Pacific territories. “If” Japan can still prevent defeat before the war reaches Tokyo.

The Marshalls campaign had just demonstrated Pacific permeability, Rabaul had been neutralized without invasion, and Japanese outer defenses were proven irrelevant. Yet, the homeland was not yet reachable.