About this collection
Will Eisner (1917-2005) was already famous for his work on The Spirit when he was drafted for duty during World War II. While in the service, Eisner put his artistic talents to work in army publications, creating a character named Joe Dope. After the war, the army wanted to design a publication dedicated to preventive maintenance that soldiers would actually want to read, and turned to Eisner's young company, American Visuals Corporation. Eisner was the artistic director for PS Magazine from its inception in 1951 through 1972.
Eisner began a 24-year absence from the comic book world when he founded the American Visuals Corporation in the late 1940s to produce commercial work. As one of the biggest names in the industry, Eisner attracted some of the best aspiring comic artists. Artists you will find in PS Magazine include: Murphy Anderson (Strange Adventures, Mystery in Space, Adam Strange, The Flash, Green Lantern); Mike Ploog (Creepy, Planet of the Apes, Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing); Don Perlin (Werewolf by Night, Ghost Riders, The Defenders); Dan Spiegle (Space Family Robinson, Magnus Robot Fighter, Korak); and comic strip artist/writer Andre LeBlanc (The Phantom, Flash Gordon, Rex Gordon, MD).
Each issue of PS Magazine consisted of a color comic book style cover, often designed and drawn by Eisner; eight full pages of four-color comic continuity story in the middle; and the rest was filled with technical, safety, and policy information printed in two-color to save money. The continuity story starred his earlier character and was called "Joe's Dope Sheet." Each episode offers the same cautionary tale: a soldier who ignores preventive maintenance learns of its importance in the end. Eisner commanded a high level of freedom to create the continuity section and he used his colorful comic style to draw the reader in.
Eisner had always believed that the comics medium had teaching potential and the work of American Visuals Corporation helped confirm this for him. The company produced educational cartoons and illustrations and giveaway comics for a variety of clients and industries. Eisner took on a number of roles within the company. In the case of PS Magazine, he created the continuity section and the art of each issue based upon the technical manuscripts provided to him by the Army's PS staff. As part of his contract with the magazine, Eisner was sent on location to places like Japan, Korea, and Vietnam in order to meet soldiers and better understand the situations they and their equipment experienced.
Will Eisner revolutionized the world of comic books twice. First with the 1939 comic The Spirit, a gritty urban crime fighter tale written for adult readers and distributed as a newspaper insert. Then with his 1978 book A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories, one of the first modern graphic novels. In between, he and his company showed how comics could be used as popular educational tools.
We are pleased to offer a complete run of all Eisner issues, issues 1-229, as well as three special issues and 22 index issues, primarily digitized from the print copies held by James Branch Cabell Library Special Collections and Archives. Special thanks go to the PS Magazine Division of the U.S. Army for generously donating 92 issues for scanning to help us fill in the gaps.
Copyright This material is in the public domain in the United States and thus is free of any copyright restriction. Acknowledgment of Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries as a source is requested.
Additional research information
For more on Will Eisner, see Will Eisner: A Spirited Life by Bob Andelman. PN6727. E4Z55 2005
For more on PS Magazine or to view current issues, visit: https://www.psmagazine.army.mil/
Credits
VCU Libraries initially digitized this collection in 2007-2008. Digital Specialist Jennifer Cason supervised student employees, digitization, and quality control. Student employees Kaitlin Foray and Kelly Crone assisted with digitization. Digital Specialist Drew Rollo generated PDFs for the collection in 2014. Metadata Librarian Mary Anne Dyer created the metadata.
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PS Magazine 1951 June Volume 1 Number 1 Issue 001
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1951 July Volume 1 Number 2 Issue 002
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1951 August Volume 1 Number 3 Issue 003
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1951 September Volume 1 Number 4 Issue 004
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1951 October Volume 1 Number 5 Issue 005
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1951 November Volume 1 Number 6 Issue 006
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1951 December Thru July 1952 Number 7 Issue 007
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1952 August Number 8 Issue 008
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1952 September-October Number 9 Issue 009
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1952 November Number 10 Issue 010
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1952 Number 11 Issue 011
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1953 Series Issue 012
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1953 Series Issue 013
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1953 Series Issue 014
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1953 Series Issue 015
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1953 Series Issue 016
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1954 Series Issue 017
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1954 Series Issue 018
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures a
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PS Magazine 1954 Series Issue 019
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1954 Series Issue 020
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1954 Series Issue 021
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1954 Series Issue 022
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1954 Series Issue 023
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1954 Series Issue 024
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1954 Series Issue 025
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1954 Series Issue 026
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1954 Series Issue 027
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 028
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 029
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 030
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 031
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 032
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 033
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 034
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 035
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 036
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 037
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 038
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1955 Series Issue 039
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1956 Series Issue 040
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1956 Series Issue 041
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1956 Series Issue 042
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1956 Series Issue 043
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1956 Series Issue 044
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1956 Series Issue 045
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1956 Series Issue 046
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1956 Series Issue 047
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.
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PS Magazine 1956 Series Issue 048
United States. Dept. of the Army and Will Eisner
PS Magazine, also known as the Preventive Maintenance Monthly, is an official publication of the Army, providing information for all soldiers assigned to combat and combat duties. The magazine covers issues concerning maintenance, maintenance procedures and supply problems.