The modern American Right has kept up Wetham's traditions and helped to burnish his legacy in recent years by claiming that Hollywood - the ever present "boogyman" for all the reactionary lot who look to place blame on other people rather than examining the environment they live in - and the larger comic producers in America are, in essence, pushing anti-American propaganda on our children.
We've seen this in conjunction with the last Superman film and with an issue of Captain America where he and The Falcon witness an "anti-tax" ( Tea Party ) rally.
And now that the later is slated for a world-wide feature film release in the near future, the modern American Right are concocting the latest "controversy" because of how the film will be marketed outside the US.
How do you sell a movie called "Captain America" to an overseas market? In South Korea, Russia and the Ukraine, apparently, the answer is you don't even try.
The film "Captain America: The First Avenger" will have its title truncated to, simply, "The First Avenger" in those three overseas markets, according to Marvel Studios insiders. The choice was made by Marvel, Paramount Pictures' international team and distributors in those three countries based on market research results. Those involved in the decision are being careful to frame the move as a matter of brand management and consumer awareness and not as a decision tilted by cultural or political winds.
Seems that "capitalism" and a successful business model take a back seat when the word "America" is involved. Nevermind the fact that the comics have referenced Steve Rogers as "Cap" - leaving off the "America" last name - for longer than I and many of the comics new found Right Wing detractors have been alive, but the very message behind the Captain America film and what he was created to stand for will likely mesh quite well with the comics, as did the Superman films - even the last one. And while that a message was one of hope, equality, justice, and truth, it all takes a back seat in favor of pushing a failed ideology.
For anyone that has read either of the above mentioned series or seen any of the Superman films, the heroes in question don't aid and comfort American exclusively. Superman has saved many many foreigners and I can recall Captain America being part of a crew of superheroes that were quite responsible for helping save the entire universe during the Infinity Gauntlet storyline. And for any twitchy wingnuts reading this, that included people of ALL socio-political ideologies.
For the modern American Right, in order for any character in any story ( regardless of medium ) to be of any intrinsic value, it must be painted in Red, White, and Blue, sing the National Anthem - complete with hidden verse - read the Bible, attended only a "Christian" church service, vote Republican, and carry around a picture of Sarah Palin in their back pocket which they will ultimately look upon and ask for guidance in a time of distress.
I'm looking forward to the film, but also know that the producers and on-air personalities at Fox"News" are waiting with baited breath for their time to offer "thoughtful commentary" on the Captain American feature once it makes it's debut.
It's pretty much a given that Glenn Beck will have a nice "chalkboard session" on how Fredrick Wertham predicted the "evils" of to Stan Lee, director Joe Johnston and will somehow tie this all back to Frances Fox Piven.
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