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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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.

As the head of King Features Educational Division, and at the "New York Golden Jubilee Exhibition" and as part of this event, Joe Musial created in 1948 an exhibit about the atomic power that - with the King Features’ comics stars explaining how works of this atomic power. This led to the comic book version to be printed in 1949.

To note that the New York Golden Jubilee was a summer-long citywide celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the 1898 consolidation of the five boroughs into Greater New York.The main exhibition ran from August 23 to September 19, 1948, with events and parades spanning earlier in the summer.

Also in that global way, the magazine "Popular Science" published in 1948 a comics-format (4 pages) 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" (32 pages).

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.

"Dagwood Splits the Atom" in "Popular Science" (1948)

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"Learn How Dagwood Splits the Atom" (Book extracts) (1949)

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Views

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  Mailing envelope
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  "Dagwood Splits the Atom" 1948 exhibition
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  1948 exhibition
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  1948 exhibition
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  newspaper article ("Gainesville Daily Register and Messenger" / August 25, 1948)
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  New York Jubelee
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  New York Jubelee official stamp
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  Gilbert's Atomic Energy Lab Kit
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  Gilbert's box (inside, with 1949 book)
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  Gilbert's box (inside)

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.

cover

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  Dagobert spränger atomen.