PS: The Preventative Maintenance Monthly illustrated magazine for US Army mechanics, radio maintainers, and other specialists has come to an end. The magazine’s cartoon mascot Master Sgt. Half-Mast announced in January 2024 that the publication, which began in 1951, was coming to an end. The last issue was published on September 30.

More commonly known as PS Magazine, it was a monthly, pocket-sized magazine with comic book art that illustrated preventative maintenance, safety tips, and supply procedures. The magazine was published by the US Army Sustainment Command at Redstone Arsenal base in Huntsville, Alabama. It was in print from ’51 to 2019 and continued as an online publication until its conclusion.

The magazine’s roots go back to World War II when Will Eisner was drawing the instructional title, Army Motors. Years later during the Korean War, the Army needed a new publication with instructional material, so they turned to Eisner’s American Visuals Corporation, and PS Magazine was born.

Eisner acted as art director on PS Magazine from its first issue through the end of ’71. Several other well known comic artists have also contributed to the magazine, including Murphy Anderson, Joe Kubert, Dan Spiegle, Mike Ploog, Alfredo Alcala, Scott Madsen, and Malane Newman.

Master Sgt. Half-Mast was accompanied by many other characters like Privates Dope and Fosgnoff who provided cautionary tales for soldiers who didn’t obey instruction manuals. Connie and Bonnie were initially civilian characters who became professionals in 1980 when more women were joining the Army. Others included Master Sgt. Bull Dozer for Engineers, Percy the Skunk for the Chemical Corps, Sgt. First Class Windy Windsock for Aviation, and others.