World War 3 Illustrated - History

History

The magazine initially began as a home for comic book work and graphic/illustrated story telling that was anti-establishment and aggressively critical of the social and political right-wing conservatism in ascension after the election of President Ronald Reagan. In the spirit of the then burgeoning DIY approach prevalent among independent punk and hardcore bands and musicians, the magazine took control of the means of production and distribution, foregoing possible relationships with established publishing institutions or companies for the sake of its own editorial integrity and political independence.

In the first decade of the magazine, its focus ranged from the global, to the hyper local, specifically addressing the politics and concerns affecting the neighborhoods of the Lower East Side of Manhattan: housing rights; gentrification; police brutality; racism; economic oppression. The Tompkins Square Park Riot (1988) was a watershed event for the magazine’s founders and artistic contributors as much of the work in the anthology had focused squarely on the political issues leading to the riot, such as the city government’s policies towards squatters and the homeless. When tensions brought the riot to its most dangerous points across the two day conflict, much of the notable imagery associated with the grassroots resistance on improvised signage and wheat-pasted posters was appropriated from published work in the magazine created by Eric Drooker, Seth Tobocman, and others.

The late 1980s and 1990s saw an increasing diversity in both the number of new individual artists and writers contributing original comic book stories to World War 3 Illustrated, and a widening of the range in subject matter. This period is also marked by an explosive expansion in distribution, as Ruth Schwartz of Mordam Records took on the magazine’s circulation fulfillment ensuring that it would be present in any and all outlets that already carried the notable music punk ‘zine Maximum RocknRoll. This distribution agreement took World War 3 Illustrated’s issues international, as they were carried by Tower Records in all territories. The partnership with Mordam records continued late into the 1990s until World War 3 Illustrated handed its distribution over to Chris Staros of Top Shelf Productions and Diamond Comic Distributors, an arrangement which continues today.