If you were a dog soldier in World War II, there were probably days when the only thing you had to look forward to was the latest issue of Stars & Stripes and the single-panel cartoons of Bill Mauldin.

Mauldin’s adventures of “Willie & Joe” became legendary for the laughs they brought to America’s soldiers – and the contempt they generated in high ranking officers.

Mauldin was the first artist to make a reputation for himself in the military, always signing his name to his work. Soldiers pledged allegiance to the American flag, baseball, apple pie – and the cartoons of Bill Mauldin.

Todd DePastino brings us a triple-dose of Mauldin to the artists’ legion of fans this year, first with his biography, Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front from W.W. Norton, and second with Willie & Joe: The WWII Years, a collection of the beloved artist’s cartoons, published in a two-volume deluxe set by Fantagraphics.

You can LISTEN to this Mr. Media interview with TODD DePASTINO by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player below!

Copyright 2008 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!