Learn How Dagwood Splits the Atom

Learn How Dagwood Splits the Atom
Cover artist: Joe Musial
Country/language:	USA / English
Format:	12,7 x 17,7 cm 17,7 x 25,4
Pages:	32 pgs, color
Publishing date:	1949
Editor:
Publishing company:	KFS
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Followed by:

Following the beginnings of the Atomic era, several educational brochures or articles from magazines were destined to inform general public about nuclear power. With such a purpose, they were often written in a point-of-view strictly sponsored by nuclear industry societies.

In that way, the magazine "Popular Science" published in 1948 a comics-format explanation of nuclear fission entitled "Dagwood Splits the Atom" which was expanded into a complete comic-book - released by King Features Syndicate on January 1, 1949 - under the title "Learn How Dagwood Splits the Atom".

This book, illustrated by Joe Musial, features the Chic Young's classical character "Blondie"'s boyfriend "Dagwood Bumstead" as Atomic neophyte and "Mandrake the Magician" as Atomic professor. Two versions of the book exist, one in 12,7 x 17,7 cm and another in 17,7 x 25,4 cm with identical content and cover. It was afterwards also released with a "Harvey Comics Group" label when ordered by mail.

"Dagwood Splits the Atom" was also included in Gilbert's famous U-238 Atomic Energy Lab set.

Book extracts

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Views linked to the release of the book

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  Mailing envelope

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  Dagwood Splits the Atom" exhibit

Translated versions

Sweden

• Under a different cover, the book was translated in 1952 in Swedish language with the title: "Dagobert spränger atomen" (Publishing Company : Norstedt & Söner / 32 pgs, 18.5 x 26.5 cm). Giveaway in the Swedish schools.