Is Marvel trying to make a political statement?

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:21 pm

Possibly.. but I can't figure out if it's 'for' or 'against'.

Most are probably aware of Marvel's current storyline 'Civil War'.. basically for the non reader.... the MU has become split down the middle in the war erupting from the superhero registration act, which requires the unmasking and government registration of the well loved costumed vigilantes because of the issues of public safety and property destruction.. It all smacks of the current civil liberties fears going on in America at the moment.

On one side you have pro reg.. Iron Man , and on the other con reg.. Captain America, with all of the heroes falling in to line behind either one of the 'heads resulting in a massive war between the heroes with the pro reg side winning out, and Captain America being killed.

My intitial fears were that because of the outcome of "Civil War", Marvel was toeing the current American government line by favouring infinging on civil liberties in "to ensure safety" (which anyone with half a brain can tell you is a complete misnomer), however I'm not at all sure now because of the latest turn of events..

In the same week that America celebrates it's independance... Marvel are burying Captain America.

To me this is a very telling statement.. Captain America, the symbol of the All American Dream and Mom's Apple Pie is being so publically laid rest at a time when America is celebrating itself and what it 'stands' for.

So what do you think?

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:52 pm

Captain America was killed by his writers not to make a statement but more so to avoid making a statement. Marvel was getting so many reader's requests where left-wingers wanted him to come out publicly against Pres. Bush while right-wingers wanted to see story-lines where he was fighting in Iraq (sort of like he fought nazi's in WWII).

I guess the writers just thought: "Umm, we'll avoid the issue and just kill him instead" Laughing

More of a statement is in a later issue where we see a flashback of Iron Man talking to the, meanwhile, incarcerated Cap America. Where Cap asks Iron Man: "Was it worth it?"

(Iron Man chose to uphold the leuaw (as Stallone's Judge Dredd would say) without any consideration for past friendships or even personal belief. Cap plays the part of the man who fights for what he believes is right.)

At the end of the issue (back in present time and thus with Cap assassinated) Iron Man says: "No, it wasn't worth it."

Mind you, Steve Rogers may have been killed (for the 7th time now, I think Laughing

). Captain America will probably be around again pretty soon. Just like he was after he had been killed (deep-frozen) at the end of WWII.

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:07 pm

The whole "Registration" thing smacks of the X-Men scenario making the mutants register.

So long as Halle Berry gets to wear the tight leather outfit, who really cares.

Cool

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:28 pm

Heyer wrote:

Captain America was killed by his writers not to make a statement but more so to avoid making a statement.

Well i'd say that it's a pretty obsure way of not making a statement, it's very difficult not to draw parallels.

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 10:23 pm

I think spiderman 3 was way over top with the whole patriotic thing.

Theres a scene when spiderman lands on top of a building in front of a flowing American flag and he looks up into the sky and and poses in front of it like a bald eagle with triumphant music heralding his americaness.

It's such a load a of rubbish.. I don't know if stan lee or sam rami is responsible but whoever did it is a tool.

That whole movie let me down actually spiderman was never a nerdy kid. He was a smartass class clown type of guy.. and he was tough.

To me it's all just another toned down family freindly "spielberged" version of something that was once great.

I just hope peeps dont forget about the real spidey.

p.s what was with venoms nerdy human voice.. !?!

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:38 pm

Marvel has done a SUPERB job in making ironman appear to be the biggest douche in the universe.

I used to like tinhead, but now i am eargerly hoping that thor AND hulk beat the hell out of him and every of facist hero they can get their hands on.

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:12 pm

snapdragion wrote:

Marvel has done a SUPERB job in making ironman appear to be the biggest douche in the universe.

I used to like tinhead, but now i am eargerly hoping that thor AND hulk beat the hell out of him and every of facist hero they can get their hands on.

How is he a fascist?

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:38 am

Very interesting debate! I have never been much for super heroes, but this "Civil War" sounds controversial enough to be interesting! I'll have to find a copy and get back on this.

I agree with the fact that America really has two major sides, and a popular thing like superheroes wouldn't be good to take one side over the other. In a way, I think that the fact Capt. America died (I'm taking your word for it) is symbolic of the fact that there is such confusion in America right now. Conspiracies are ripe over whether or not we are sacrificing too many "liberties" for "security", and what the right thing is.

IMHO, ATC, it can easily be stated that Americans at least have changed a lot with each decade, in all ways. A two party system breeds narrow mindedness, and thus we have issues such as this, having to kill an all-American symbol. It's sort of an effigy to a system that is driven by the tradition it was founded on. We (Americans) will quite possibly argue over these things, until it's too late and we are either enslaved or devolved to anarchy.

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:52 pm

The very fact that we need to use satire as a tool for getting our thoughs across indicates a loss of liberties, i reckon. Dont get me wrong, i appreciate the craft but id rather hear a news report,, or watch a good ole episode of south park.

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:05 pm

This is a political statement...

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:56 pm

Random Poll strikes again!!!

Marvel (I can't speak for DC) have been reflecting reality, whether it be politics, culture, racism etc for years. Being a lifelong X-men fan, I've sen all those elements in that comic alone. Like the Legacy Virus reflecting Aids, the anti-mutant movement reflecting racism etc. Ya probably right, and as pointed out, no-one stays dead for long or forever, and Captain America being one of the flagship characters would never be killed off permanently. Makes for a good story, like the Death Of Superman was