Foxes Targeting The Captain, Again

I can recall hearing stories about Fredric Wertham ( PhD? ) and his book called Seduction of the Innocent which was published in the early 50s and highlighted what he perceived to be anti-American/anti-family/anti-values messages in comics.

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.

A Desire To Politicizie Comics

While Jack Kirby created Captain America as a symbol of America's strength against the horrors of Nazi Germany, he most certainly isn't as modern conservatives portray him to be. The upcoming movie adaptation of the comic - and not the first, though the initial offering was a straight to video disaster - has some within the conservative realm wetting themselves in abject anger. Why? Because Captain America isn't going to be a hyper-partisan, Tea Bagging, right-winger.

If insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, liberal Hollywood directors must be utterly certifiable. How else does one explain Hollywood's penchant for de-Americanizing thoroughly patriotic superhero and/or comic book icons?

Take Joe Johnston. The cinematic genius who gave the world "Jurassic Park 3" is directing a "Captain America" feature that will release in 2011, the 70th anniversary of the Marvel superhero's creation.

Johnston told the audience at Comic-Con 2010 that Cap will not be a "jingoistic American flag-waver" but will instead be "re-interpret[ed]" as a "good person" in the World War II-set film.

From my perspective, and those that have read the Cap comics since childhood, Steve Rogers and his Captain persona have never been about one side of the political spectrum over another. He has defended against the evils of the world for the entire country, not just the Republican party.

But this isn't the first time that conservatives have taken issue regarding a Captain America story.

Tea Baggers Targeting Free Speech

In a recent issue of Captain America ( issue #602 ) writer Ed Brubaker continues a storyline entitled "The Two Americas", and in it, there is a two page spread where Cap and The Falcon are watching a "Tea Party" anti-tax protest. And right on cue, the Tea Baggers are up in arms over the depiction of the protest - even though it's quite accurate.

Occasional contributor to RedState.com, Warner Todd Huston, was not pleased with this issue.

So, there you have it, America. Tea Party protesters just “hate the government,” they are racists, they are all white folks, they are angry, and they associate with secretive white supremacist groups that want to over throw the U.S. government.

Bet you didn’t know that when you were indulging your right as a citizen to protest your government that you were a dangerous white supremacist that wants to destroy the country, did you? Bet you didn’t realize that your reverence for the U.S. Constitution was a subversive thing to do, did you? And I’ll also bet that you never imagined that you’d scare the little blue panties off of Captain America!

Nice going Marvel Comics. Thanks for making patriotic Americans into your newest super villains.

It appears that enough noise has been made by the "grass roots" movement that they have somehow managed to convince Marvel comics ( the largest comic company in the country ) to remove the "offending" pages.

But what Huston is neglecting to tell his readership is that the Tea Baggers are primarily white, they have displayed racial animus, and there have been links to White Supremacists and other shady characters.

I'm just curious as to what the Tea Baggers threatened Marvel Comics with had they not altered the second print run of Captain America #602? These "grass roots" people sure do have some powerful interests behind them, don't they.

Here's an exit question for you - isn't this a direct slight on writer Ed Brubaker's free speech as well as Marvel Comics' right to run their business? After all, there wasn't any libelous speech in the issue, as there is plenty of proof to support the depiction within the comic. Then again, this little PR stunt by the Tea Baggers will likely spark a surge in purchases for Captain America #602 ( both the original and altered versions ) in comic shops across the country and on EBay. In that light, the reactionary stance of the Tea Baggers may just spark a mini-stimulus that will ultimately boost Marvel's profitability.

Good job guys.