Frans Masereel

One of the greatest illustrators of the 20th century, Frans Masereel produced “wordless novels” that influenced the later development of comic books and graphic novels. Despite the significance of his work, he remains little known outside specialist circles and his books can be difficult to locate. The German Frans Masereel Foundation hosts a large collection of his drawings and graphic novels. Access to the collection and other information is provided through the Foundation’s website. Masereel’s most famous work, My Book of Hours, was first published in 1919 and is available at HathiTrust.

Source: Frans Masereel Foundation (Saarbrücken, Germany)

Wonder Women of History

Beginning in 1942, Wonder Woman comic books featured short interludes praising the “Wonder Women of History.” Alice Marble, a champion tennis player who was shot in the back by an enemy spy during World War II, authored most of the early installments. A complete list and images from this pathbreaking series are available here. Profiles for Carrie Chapman Catt and Ellen Swallow Richards are available at the Library of Congress.

The series’ interpretation of Helen Keller is available here.

Source: Alice Marble, “Wonder Women of History,” in Wonder Woman, vol. 1, no. 12 (1945)