Cord Scott: The Military Comics Historian Making History Cool Again

A picture of Cord at the Joint Service Area (JSA) in 2016.  He later had the honor of teaching at Camp Bonifas, next to the JSA. 

From global classrooms to comic book archives, Dr. Cord Scott uses pop culture to connect students with military history in powerful, unexpected ways.

When I first met Dr. Cord Scott during my time at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) at Osan Air Base, I was setting up classrooms for the evening. I had no idea I was crossing paths with one of the most dynamic and thought-provoking scholars I’d ever meet or that we’d become such good friends. Our conversations quickly moved beyond the classroom, sparking a friendship built on a shared love of history, cultural storytelling, and community.

Currently, Cord is a professor at UMGC Okinawa. He is a researcher and a writer who brings together military history, comic books, cultural insights, and humanitarian work in ways you wouldn’t expect, but that somehow make perfect sense when he does it.

His journey, from a small-town upbringing to becoming one of the leading voices in military comics history, has been as surprising as it has been inspiring.

From Minot to the World: The Early Path of Military Comics Historian Cord Scott

Cord’s journey began in Minot, North Dakota, not because of the nearby air base, as he’s quick to point out, but because that’s simply where life started for him. His upbringing in this small, cold, and culturally homogeneous town was steady and predictable. “Exotic food,” he jokes, “was just anything labeled ‘Chinese,’ no matter where it was actually from.”

Cord may not have grown up surrounded by diverse cultures, but his curiosity was always there, and it led him to study history. His journey began at Minot State University for his BA, continued at Baylor University for an MA in International Relations, and ended with a PhD in U.S. History from Loyola University Chicago.

Though he didn’t originally plan to teach, famously replying “not only no, but hell no” when a mentor suggested it, Cord took a leap and taught his first college course at the age of 23. That pivotal moment launched what would become a truly global academic career. He has taught in Kuwait and, for over a decade, has served as Overseas Collegiate Faculty with UMGC, teaching history, government, and humanities across the INDOPACOM region, including mainland Japan, Okinawa, and South Korea.

Cord’s first book, Comics and Conflict, from 2014 by the US Naval Institute Press.

Teaching Military History Through Pop Culture and Comics

As a military comics historian, Dr. Cord Scott has carved out a unique role, showing how comic books can reflect and even shape our understanding of war, patriotism, and identity. Cord has found his own corner of scholarship where comics meet conflict. Through his work, he digs into the messages tucked inside these stories and shows how popular culture has been shaping the way we see war, patriotism, and identity for decades.

Comics are both a mirror and a megaphone. They reflect society but can also shape it.

His groundbreaking book, Comics and Conflict (Naval Institute Press, 2014), explores the way comic books have been used as tools of propaganda and cultural messaging, particularly in times of war. His fascination with the topic began while teaching a class on propaganda in 2001, when he noticed how contemporary comics, like a Spider-Man issue released after 9/11, were echoing the themes of patriotism and national resilience.

Comic creators weren’t just telling stories, they were selling war bonds, teaching camouflage, and boosting morale.

The Will Eisner "Joe Dope" poster from WWII was part of a poster series to reinforce the fact that US soldiers needed to treat their equipment with care.

His work sheds light on the powerful role comics have played as both reflections and drivers of national sentiment, from World War II to the War on Terror. He points to comics like Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat as examples of how the medium has sometimes countered official war narratives by portraying the raw, painful realities of battle.

The Ten Commandments training comic book taught basic skills to servicemen on etiquette.

Picture book from WWII featuring US Marines in the Pacific.  This was a commercially available comic book, albeit a very rare one.

Ted Shearer cartoon from the Ft. Huachuca paper The Buffalo.  The 92nd Infantry Division was a segregated unit within the United States Army. The artists were enlisted men. Shearer's cartoons are insightful and not often written about. 

Teaching History Through Pop Culture and Comics

Cord doesn’t leave his research on the shelf; he brings it directly into the classroom. Whether he's referencing war films, comic book heroes, or viral pop culture trends, he has an uncanny ability to meet students where they are.

"Students today are more visual,” he says. “Movies and comics aren’t replacements for research, but they’re great starting points."

Cord teaching in the classroom

He teaches students to question what they see, encouraging them to analyze how historical narratives are shaped, and sometimes distorted, by the media. He even shares his own experiences, like serving as a historical consultant on a WWII documentary that ended up colorizing footage inaccurately, much to his dismay.

Despite the challenges of teaching in a fast-paced, digital-first world, Cord remains passionate.

The Cord Scott Effect: Making Military History Engaging for Students

In my own conversations with Cord, as well as with many of his students, one thing is clear: he makes history not just accessible, but enjoyable. Whether he’s covering complex global conflicts or lesser-known cultural trends, he has a unique ability to make even the driest topics come alive.

His energy, humor, and storytelling draw students in, and his passion is infectious. More than just a professor, Cord is the kind of educator who makes you want to learn.

If students walk away with even a little more appreciation for history, or just say, ‘history doesn’t suck as much because of you,’ that’s a win.

But Cord’s dedication to history doesn’t end in the classroom. For him, history also lives in the field, sometimes quite literally beneath his feet.

July 2023 dig at the Naval Headquarters.

History Beneath His Feet: Military Battlefield Excavations in Okinawa

Cord’s dedication to history goes beyond the classroom and into the soil. In Okinawa, he volunteers with battlefield excavation teams that search for the remains of soldiers who died during World War II. These digs are gritty, emotional, and sometimes dangerous, often yielding fragments of everyday life, coins, utensils, and occasionally, human remains.

“It’s humbling,” he says. “You’re helping give closure to families, even if the identification takes time.”

One particularly powerful moment occurred during a dig at the Okinawa Naval Headquarters. An elderly woman approached the excavation team to thank them. Her male relative had died in the tunnels during the war, and their work meant the world to her and her mother, who had served as a student nurse during the battle.

Kuentai-USA, the group Cord works with on Okinawa, conducts about four WWII recovery digs each year, including the 2022 excavation that uncovered John Quinn’s ring, personal effects, and likely his remains. 

In another instance, the team recovered the ring of U.S. Marine John Quinn. His nephew, who had never left the U.S., traveled to Okinawa for the first time to see the site and hold a piece of his family’s history. “Those are the moments that stay with you,” Cord reflects.

In 2019, Cord Scott posed with then-Deputy United Nations Commander Lt. Gen. Wayne Eyre at the desk where the Korean War armistice was signed. Eyre coined Scott and requested a copy of Four Colour Combat for a friend, retired Gen. Andrew Leslie, whose grandfather, Gen. Andrew MacNaughton, led Canadian forces in WWII and appears on the book’s back cover.

The Scholar’s Legacy: Military Comics, Writing, and Cultural Impact

Cord is the kind of educator who sees history in everything from the political undercurrents of a comic book villain to the evolving depictions of patriotism in war films. He’s been recognized for his work, receiving commendations from military leaders, including a commander's coin from Canadian Lt. Gen. Wayne Eyre.

His work hasn’t come without a cost. “I’ve been called names and even threatened,” he says, recalling moments when his research struck a nerve. But that hasn’t shaken him. If anything, it’s strengthened his resolve to tell history as it is, unvarnished, uncomfortable, and unwilling to be forgotten.

He continues to write, from journal articles and books to new projects—like his current research on overlooked WWII-era Black cartoonists. He’s particularly proud of his first published article on the 1895 Chicago car race, which was later reprinted in a book. “It’s gotten a lot of mileage,” he says with a grin.

Cord’s second book, Four Colour Combat (W. Brand Publishing, 2019), explores Canadian war stories depicted in U.S. comics during WWII, especially in titles like War Stories and Real Heroes before America entered the war.

Wisdom in the Details: Helping Students See Military History Differently

As a professor, Cord encourages students to explore history on their own terms. “Pick something you’re interested in, even if it doesn’t seem historical at first. There’s always a connection.”

His approach is personal, practical, and deeply rooted in a belief that history matters. 

The Mud and the Mirth (USMC University) explores the humor and history of the Marine Corps’ earliest comics, from pre–WWI issues of the Recruiters Bulletin, Marines Magazine, and Marines Bulletin to the full run of Stars and Stripes cartoons by legendary Marine cartoonist Abian A. Wallgren

“America is just one piece of a much larger picture. If we understand the history of places like Korea and Japan, we can better understand today’s world.”

In our interview, I asked what he hopes students take from his classes. His answer is simple but sincere: “That history is relevant. That it matters, that maybe, just maybe, they learned something new.”

And of course, he adds with a laugh, “That I was really loud.”

They Were Chosin (USMC University) spotlights Marine artist Norval E. ‘Gene’ Packwood and his illustrated works, Leatherhead and Leatherhead in Korea, offering a humorous, character-driven take on the Korean War through comic art.

A Life in Service: Scholarship, Military History, and Cultural Education

Dr. Cord Scott has a way of showing you that history isn’t just something in a textbook; it’s something we live, share, and keep shaping every single day. If you’ve met him, as a professor, a colleague, or a friend, you know that for Cord, scholarship isn’t just about what you know. It’s about service. It’s about connection. It’s about the stories that tie us to each other.

I’ve seen it happen more than once: students walk into Cord’s class slouched in their seats, convinced history is nothing but dusty dates and dull facts. Then, somewhere between a comic book panel and one of his booming lectures, something shifts.

They start leaning forward, asking questions, and connecting the dots in ways they never expected. By the end of the term, they aren’t just informed, they’re curious, engaged, and sometimes even in love with a subject they once dreaded. That’s the Cord Scott effect: history that sticks because it’s meaningful, and yes, sometimes even fun.

That’s his gift. That’s his legacy. And for everyone who’s crossed paths with him, it’s a reminder that history isn’t just about what happened, it’s about the people who make sure the story keeps being told.

Cord with his friends Chuck and Melissa enjoying an afternoon in Songtan.

Living the UN Principles: Building Bridges Across Cultures and History

That same commitment to making history real, relevant, and human, extends far beyond his classrooms. At the heart of Dr. Cord Scott’s work is a belief that history can, and should, build bridges. 

His research reminds us that events like the Korean War cannot be understood in isolation. They were shaped by the actions, choices, and sacrifices of many nations working together under the United Nations. Too often, people view the war as only a story of the U.S. and the Republic of Korea, but Cord points out that it was, in fact, a global effort. Countries from around the world stood in defense of South Korea, driven by a shared understanding of rights, culture, and self-determination. That, he believes, is the essence of the UN’s mission: working together for mutual understanding, even when the path forward isn’t easy.

For Cord, teaching history isn’t just about recounting battles or timelines; it’s about showing students how diplomacy, culture, and human rights intersect. In his classrooms and in his research, he highlights how the UN provides a forum for every nation, large or small, to have a voice in shaping our shared future. From the Security Council to the General Assembly, from post-war independence movements to the recognition of newly formed countries, the UN has been a stage where sovereignty and cooperation meet.

Cord’s career is a living example of what it means to embrace those principles. By exploring military history through the lens of comics, culture, and international engagement, he demonstrates how understanding diverse perspectives isn’t just academic; it’s essential for peace, cooperation, and respect among nations. In doing so, he reflects the very values at the heart of the United Nations: that even in conflict, diplomacy should always be the first choice. Through his teaching and research, Cord shows us how knowledge can build the bridges that bring us closer together.

Exploring Military History, Culture, and the Korean War Through Additional Resources

Dr. Cord Scott’s work as a military comics historian highlights how culture, storytelling, and global cooperation intersect in times of conflict. For readers interested in diving deeper into Korean War history, international contributions, and the broader cultural landscape, the following resources offer powerful perspectives and stories that expand on these themes.

• Incheon Landing: 75th Anniversary – Honoring History at Incheon Port

• Incheon Landing Operation: 75th Anniversary of the Korean War

• Pusan Perimeter: Korean War History

• Canadian Valor: Honoring Canadian Soldiers in the Korean War 75 Years Later

• 75 Years Later: Honoring the UN Forces’ First Battle in Korea at Osan

• The 75th Anniversary of the Korean War

• Baseball in Korea

• Korean Cinema

• United Nations Involvement: Korean War Memorials in South Korea

• French Military Memorial in Suwon – Korean War

• They Were Chosin – Marine Corps University Press

• Cord Scott on Marine Corps Cartoons from World War I – Stars and Stripes

• Propaganda in Comics – Cord Scott, Comics Forum

Together, these resources offer a fuller picture of how the Korean War and military conflicts have been remembered, retold, and reimagined—from battlefield accounts and memorials to the influence of sports, film, and even comics. They also connect directly to Dr. Scott’s passion for uncovering the cultural layers of history, showing that understanding war is not just about strategy and battles, but about people, stories, and the bridges we build across cultures.

Frequently Asked Questions About Military Comics History and Dr. Cord Scott

Q1: Who is Dr. Cord Scott?

Dr. Cord Scott is a professor with the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and a leading military comics historian. He is the author of Comics and Conflict and has spent his career connecting military history, comic books, cultural storytelling, and diplomacy to show how pop culture reflects and shapes our understanding of war and society.

Q2: What is military comics history?

Military comics history explores how comic books have been used to reflect and influence public opinion during times of war and conflict. From World War II propaganda encouraging Americans to buy war bonds to post-9/11 comics emphasizing patriotism and resilience, the medium has long shaped how people view war, national identity, and global events.

Q3: Why are comics important in understanding history?

Comics are both visual and narrative, making them powerful tools for communicating complex ideas. They often serve as mirrors of society—showing popular attitudes of the time—while also acting as megaphones, pushing cultural, political, or military messages to wide audiences. By studying them, historians like Dr. Scott help us understand not just what happened in the past, but how people felt, reacted, and were influenced by the media around them.