PS Magazine, the Preventive Maintenance Monthly (1956 Editions)

The Preventive Maintenance Monthly published 12 editions in 1956. From May 1940 to September 1945, the Army achieved a measure of acceptance and success with the instructional publication Army Motors, which featured initial editions in a rudimentary black and white typewriter format.

Launched in 1951 as the successor to Army Motors, PS Magazine provided maintenance information for a variety of equipment, including weapons, tents, and additional gear, instead of concentrating solely on vehicles.

The Preventive Maintenance Monthly is a collection of technical bulletins from the United States Army, released as a monthly magazine featuring comic book-style illustrations to demonstrate appropriate preventive maintenance techniques. The title of the magazine reflects its role as a supplementary resource to technical manuals and other maintenance publications.

Each edition of PS Magazine featured a color comic book-style cover, frequently created and illustrated by Will Eisner; eight complete pages of four-color comic narrative in the center; and the remainder comprised technical, safety, and policy information printed in two colors to reduce costs. "Joe's Dope Sheet" was the title of the continuity narrative, which featured his previous character.

Every episode presents a consistent cautionary narrative: a soldier who neglects preventive maintenance ultimately recognizes its significance. Eisner exercised significant creative autonomy in developing the continuity section, employing his vibrant comic style to engage the reader.

All the PDFs of the Preventive Maintenance Monthly bulletins have undergone meticulous editing, as many of the older issues had incorrect scaling and white borders.