Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
I can't say that I'm a huge comics fan. I had a few when I was a kid, mostly X-Men. I used to watch the X-Men cartoon, too. But what Darin Wagner writes rings true:
You pick up a superhero comic book featuring a childhood favorite of yours, hoping to reignite some of that magic you felt way back when and you see that the opening sequence in the comic deals with an oil rig disaster. You immediately and disappointingly know what’s going to be said, either by your childhood favorite or by some other character given credibility within the story. You turn the page, and sure enough, your childhood favorite grumbles about his/her country’s dependency on oil or how inherently dangerous oil drilling is to the environment and how it’s not worth it or simply mutters to him-or-herself briefly about the evils of corporate America. That’s when you put the comic back on the shelf and your local retailer loses a sale. (Sound familiar? Brightest Day #5 contained a similar scenario featuring Aquaman.)
Does everyone remember how last spring Superman declared he was going to renounce his US citizenship? Wagner doesn't refer to it directly, but does use the following image at the top of his blog post:
(Image copyright DC Comics...obviously)
I think that when Superman "non-violently" protests the mullahs, then goes to the UN to renounce his US citizenship, it's pretty left wing from start to finish.
And, really, non-violent protest? It's not so courageous when you're bullet proof, by the way. And if Superman is "non-violently protesting" while the Basij is killing people in the streets? Kind of pathetic. Hello, super speed and aforementioned bullet proofness? And why is he going to the UN to make this announcement? Seeing the UN as anything other than a joke is obviously liberal.
The only good thing about this whole situation is that clearly Superman thinks Obama is a giant [wussy] jabroni for not having the courage to take a stand for freedom during the "green revolution" in Iran in 2009. It's actually the lame Obama administration that Superman is railing against when he says he doesn't want to be seen as an instrument of U.S. policy. Notwithstanding this, for the reasons I gave in the previous paragraph, the whole thing sounds pretty left-wing.
Wagner has a larger point, though, which is that alienating conservative readers is just bad business:
Everybody knows that when an entertainer goes political, he/she runs the very serious risk of cutting their audience by at least half. The comic book audience has been getting smaller and smaller and I think it’s time to honestly consider that a big part of the problem is the content. It’s gotten so bad that some of the more open-minded liberal comic book readers I know are getting turned off because it’s so obvious what’s been happening. I know that some of you are going to reply with some variation of “I don’t see it” or “This guy is a troll” or “Shut up.”That’s fine, go ahead and exercise that right… but it won’t help the comic book industry or make the audience grow again.
Any comic book fans out there that want to weigh in?
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Comments :
Aug '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
Well, that's a better track record than Hollywood, at least. ;-)
Mar '11
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
As much as I adore Superman and the first two Christopher Reeve films, people forget that Superman was created by two Cleveland New Dealers and Superman's depression era introduction gave rise to a very progressive concept of Truth, Justice and the American Way. Luckily, us right-wingers have hijacked the phrase.
Dec '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
Also, I really wish The Question would get his own comic. He's the only authentically conservative character in DC's stable. I'd even accept a team-up between The Question and Green Arrow (traditionally, the only authentically left-wing character in DC's stable, until every other character started to move in on his action). · Jan 9 at 7:24am
Edited on Jan 09 at 08:20 am
I really hate to break this to you, but the Question is now a female and a lesbian.
Dec '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
I've been enjoying the blog of Jim Shooter--editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics in the 80s. He argues that comics are suffering because of bad story telling, due mainly to the practice of collecting issues in graphic novel format. Each issue no longer contains a clear beginning, middle, and end which confuses and angers new readers. Also, he claims that direct marketing of comic books is limiting the potential audience. Comics just aren't available unless you go to a comic book store. The Internet may solve that problem.
Oct '11
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
Misthiocracy: Superman was never a U.S. Citizen.
He arrived in the United States illegally. He is not the offspring of U.S. Citizens. He's never taken the oath of citizenship, because that would require revealing his secret identity.Jan 9 at 7:20am
Edited on Jan 09 at 08:18 am
OK, fine, but Superman's the one who says he's going to go in front of the U.N. and renounce his U.S. citizenship, not me. Obviously, Superman considers himself a U.S. citizen.
Apr '11
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
Is killing it? It already has. Dave Sim, the author of a masterpiece of comic art, Cerebus, when back in the mid 90s he declared he was not a feminist was the Comic's Journal had a cover of him as a Nazi..
Oct '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
I have been thinking about comics and politics since Ben Shapiro was on the podcast (Ricochet No-Prize for the link). There are two distinct discussions when it comes to comics. The one that is addressed in this thread is content. But the one that has not been talked about is the form itself and I'll touch on that briefly.
Something that Ben said and Rob has echoed is we as conservatives can struggle with content of our message. If you concede that point than it shouldn't be a huge surprise that superhero comics that dwell in fiction tend to be a liberal domain. It's an open market and their content gets promoted and sells. Superman: Red Son is an excellent example of great content with political cant. I'd wager many of the Ricochetoise would enjoy Ex Machina as well, which follows the politics of an independent mayor of NYC with superpowers (trust me).
But when asked about my favorite comics, I throw people off by asking "fiction or non-fiction?" Comics aren't content but another form of media to express ideas and it's powerful. Take this "comic Broadside" of The 9/11 Report.
Apr '11
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
As a regular comic book reader, I've actually found DC to be modestly better at writing politically inclusive comics than Marvel. I've been happily surprised that Grant Morrison's work on Batman has had him be unapologetic about using his business and branding as a force for good in the world. Now no one would mistake Morrison for right-wing, but he understands that entrepreneurship and self-reliance in the face of overwhelming adversity is absolutely core to the character. And, flip of the coin, he writes Superman as the ultimate icon of 'only something bigger and stronger than ourselves can save us...' an FDR style democrat perspective makes a lot of sense for Supes. For those wanting to support HIGH QUALITY comics written by real conservatives, the must read authors are: Bill Willingham, author of the award winning Fables series Doug Ten-Napel, creator of Earthworm Jim and author of countless phenomenal all-ages graphic novels Ethan Nicole, creator of the web superstar comic Axe Cop! Frank Miller, who's Batman Year One story continues to be one of the most influential comics ever written, to say nothing of The Dark Knight Returns Please check them all out! :-)
Edited on Jan 9 at 6:11pmAug '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
Anthony Kaiser
Also, I really wish The Question would get his own comic. He's the only authentically conservative character in DC's stable. I'd even accept a team-up between The Question and Green Arrow (traditionally, the only authentically left-wing character in DC's stable, until every other character started to move in on his action). · Jan 9 at 7:24am
Edited on Jan 09 at 08:20 am
I really hate to break this to you, but the Question is now a female and a lesbian. · Jan 9 at 5:29pm
Oh yeah, I forgot.
DC does it to me again...
On the other hand...
They DID bring Oliver Queen, Hal Jordan, Barry Allen, and (of course) Supes himself back from the dead.
If God reads comic books, then maybe Vic Sage will come back to save the DCU from itself.
Edited on Jan 9 at 6:24pmAug '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
Albert Arthur
Misthiocracy: Superman was never a U.S. Citizen.
He arrived in the United States illegally. He is not the offspring of U.S. Citizens. He's never taken the oath of citizenship, because that would require revealing his secret identity.Jan 9 at 7:20am
Edited on Jan 09 at 08:18 am
OK, fine, but Superman's the one who says he's going to go in front of the U.N. and renounce his U.S. citizenship, not me. Obviously, Superman considers himself a U.S. citizen. · Jan 9 at 5:38pm
"Undocumented Immigrant" maybe ...
Jul '11
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
I read a lot of Spidey way back in the day (late 1970s into the 1980s), and I'd be hard-pressed to point out specific examples of Spidey/Parker having liberal points of view, but I definitely remember a couple of exchanges he had amongst family, and while he was maundering while swinging through NY, that had more than a slight liberal tinge to them.
Parker was an odd duck. He was bright enough to have a strong scientific career, but tossed all of that on the salad pile because of a radioactive spider - and spends much of his time resenting his powers. Almost like he's forced to be more than he should have been, because his abilities demand that he use them, for purposes greater than himself. Almost like a cynical altruist.
But I sold all my comics a long time ago, so I'll be hard-pressed to unearth the "Disco Dazzler" issue where Parker bemoaned the hard-partying disco set, and work a Travolta leisure suit out for a birthday party. Yeesh.
Oct '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
I do disagree. If anything isn't WGPCGR the essence of accountability and/or the inversion of "absolute power corrupts absolutely?"
Peter is an anachronism: He was raised by his elderly aunt and uncle in the swinging sixties so he's old-fashioned. He works, is late on bills, shows American ingenuity in his inventions. And most importantly, he rejects the personal glory and fame that comes with his exploits because of an internal sense of duty. To call him the epitome of liberal guilt would be like calling the behavior of a certain arriviste executive and a decorated soldier the same, and that is not accurate.
Oct '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
Almost as classic as the "Hypno-Hustler."
Edited on Jan 9 at 6:31pmNov '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
Isn't Spiderman now half-black, half-latino, and gay?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2021563/Marvel-Comics-reveal-new-Spider-Man-black-gay-future.html
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
For my money, Watchmen is really dated. A great time capsule of ’80s neuroses and paranoia, though.
Aug '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
Starve the Beast: Isn't Spiderman now half-black, half-latino, and gay?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2021563/Marvel-Comics-reveal-new-Spider-Man-black-gay-future.html · Jan 9 at 6:39pm
That's Ultimate Spiderman, which takes place in an alternate version of the Marvel Universe. In the Ultimate Marvel Universe, Nick Fury looks like Samuel L. Jackson. The Marvel movies are somewhat based on the Ultimate line of comics a little more than the normal line.
Wanna really add to the confusion? Read up on all the difference Marvel universes. Earth-616 is the primary continuity. The Ultimate continuity is Earth-1610.
I especially like Earth-1519, in which all the heroes have become zombies!
Jul '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
Misthiocracy
Albert Arthur OK, fine, but Superman's the one who says he's going to go in front of the U.N. and renounce his U.S. citizenship, not me. Obviously, Superman considers himself a U.S. citizen. · Jan 9 at 5:38pm
"Undocumented Immigrant" maybe ... · Jan 9 at 6:17pm
Given that his planet of origin no longer exists, he's got a pretty solid case for asylum.
Aug '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
The writers tend to be liberal, but most of them are trying to entertain without being on a political mission. When Stan Lee created Iron Man in the te sixties he was enjoying the challenge of making a hero out of a corporate rich guy. Other writers turned him into a radical anti war hippie later. Mark Millar, a self described liberal, talked about making captain America talk more like a a conservative because he felt the character should be that way. On the other hand there are some really bad examples. They've portrayed the tea party as a nazi front. There was an obvious glen beck clone taking sides against the heroes when a villian got into a position of authorityty. They generally use lefty stereotypes of the right when they need political bad guys. The x-men have used a racial civil rights theme from the beginning. In the sixties it was a nice commentary on society, but they keep using it. They use a religious group as the genocidal villian about once a year.
Aug '10
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
That would be breaking the 4th wall. God, after all, is canon in the Marvel universe.
...but I agree bringing the original Vic Sage would be welcome. In his earlier incarnations, he was even written with an Objectivist streak sometimes.
Edited on Jan 9 at 8:51pmApr '11
Re: Is Liberalism Killing Comics?
I second this post. What really made me end my comic reading is the lack of a coherent story line that I would want to read. I have no problem with author being liberal, or trying to discuss their liberal feelings. I just want it to be done in a way that is entertaining, and not cliched. Most of the time you get ham handed lines and dialog between characters, that seems to really come from no where. It really is just laziness. Everyone knows who superman is, so no one feels compelled to develop his character so his dialog makes sense.