During World War II many pop culture mainstays — even Bugs Bunny — took direct aim at the Axis powers through their work.

Artists like Dr. Seuss couldn’t go off to war, but they used their influence to mock the Nazis and cheer up Americans stateside.

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Some of their World War II-era creations have been dubbed offensive in recent years, like Dr. Seuss’ anti-Japanese cartoons for the New York newspaper PM.

Today, Bugs and his pals might be blasted as ignorant, or worse, for treating America’s most notorious enemy — radical Islamic terrorists — in such a satirical manner.

Achmed began as a parody of Osama bin Laden, but in recent years he evolved to mocking generic terrorists.

It’s similar to what Jeff Dunham has faced since debuting his Achmed the Dead Terrorist puppet following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Only Dunham refuses to put the puppet down. His fans won’t allow it. And, needless to say, the spread of Islamic terrorism has made his satire all the more timely.

The popular ventriloquist returned Sunday on Comedy Central with a new comedy special co-starring Achmed and other Dunham puppets. “Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood” features not only Peanut, Walter, Bubba J. and other Dunham staples, but the skeletal terrorist, too. His signature line? “I’ll keeeeeel you!”

Few other comedians attack terrorism with such alacrity. And the public took notice. One Achmed video scored more than 100 million views on YouTube back in 2009. Achmed began as a parody of Osama bin Laden, but in recent years he evolved to mocking generic terrorists.

Dunham tried to backpedal a bit on the character, telling Parade Magazine earlier this year that the character isn’t actually a Muslim.

“You can tell because on his [buttocks], it says: ‘Made in China,’” he cracked.

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The character hit a nerve in our politically correct culture all the same. Could it be why the new comedy special was originally slated to air on NBC but now will be shown on Comedy Central?

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Many of Dunham’s political peers, like Bill Maher and Jon Stewart, are commonly described as brave for their humorous observations. Yet they often tackle subjects from angles politically correct souls already agree with in near lock step. Some of Dunham’s shtick can be unsophisticated, his ability to churn laughs from stereotypes feels rusty at times, even old-fashioned. His Achmed puppet represents a genuinely subversive strain of humor in modern culture, a true rarity.