Tempest In A Tea Party

Well, by now everybody's read about the latest brouhaha, where several weeks after the fact it was suddenly discovered that an issue of Captain America wasn't exactly complimentary to some political factions.

Now of course, a comic like Captain America should never ever ever get involved with politics. I mean, look at the reaction. Writer Ed Brubaker has said, "When that issue came out we got a lot of . . . threatening letters and hate mail. Some people really opposed what Cap stood for."

Oh, wait, that wasn't Ed Brubaker, that was Joe Simon. And he was talking about reaction to this:

A year before the U.S. entered the war, a sizable group of people wanted the U.S. to stay out of Europe's business, and some groups even sympathized with Hitler. Of course, in hindsight, everyone now thinks Captain America punching Hitler in the jaw is freakin' awesome (which it is). But back in December 1940 (when the issue was released...cover date March 1941), it was extremely controversial, and got the creators death threats. Lord only knows what the reaction would have been like if the internet had been around back then. Demands for apologies, declarations about how offensive it was to have a hero smack around a head of state, nobody ever reprinting the cover of Captain America Comics #1, cats and dogs living together...

Now, let's be clear. I take no sides on the "tea party" business, and I'm in no way comparing them to Nazis. My point is this: from the very moment of his creation, Captain America has been a consciously, explicitly political character. That's his raison d'etre.

Cap has ALWAYS been political:

Cap has ALWAYS been political:

Cap has ALWAYS been political:

CAP HAS ALWAYS BEEN POLITICAL:

Captain America has always been political, and it's pretty foolish to suddenly gasp in shock and complain when, for once, the comic picks on your particular group.

I should also note that this is Marvel, who during the 2008 campaign published a book that said that Obama supporters were Skrull-loving ninnies. I don't recall any apologies, and I don't recall any panels being altered in the trades to avoid offending someone. So, given the respective sales clout between Bendis and Brubaker, I think it's pretty damn hard to argue that somehow Marvel is reflexively knee-jerk towards one political side or the other.

I suppose it is kind of cute that people with real world issues to worry about can get so bent out of shape over a comic book. To those people, I suggest that they do back and read some of the political debates our Founders participated in, where seemingly no insult or calumny was considered too offensive, no insult or insinuation too unseemly for newspapers to print. If you wish to participate in the political arena and emulate the Founders, you had best grow a thicker skin.

For anybody still so offended by Captain America, I might suggest you change your reading material to Archie or Richie Rich, where your tender sensibilities run little risk of being challenged.