Content note: Cartoon panels of an explosion, with a man's remains shown after the blast. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Joe Dope says, Why bother to clean up a small spot of spilled gasolene?
Four-panel cartoon for soldiers: men ignore spilled gasoline while one lights a cigarette, then a large blast shadow and a medic with a magnifying glass over a scrap of the victim follow. The explosion shown is a fear-appeal, and Joe Dope's excuse is mocked as foolish (name-calling).
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Ordnance Department, U.S. Army (Will Eisner)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- War and the military, Health
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Ordnance Department, U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1143BB (NAID 514690).
Text on the object
Joe Dope says, "Why bother to clean Up a small spot of spilled gasolene ?... It evaporates fast." But a helluva blast Follows lighting a smoke on the scene [signature:] CWO Will Eisner, ORDNANCE [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943-O-565905
