Pikatto

I haven’t seriously read comics for many years. By seriously, I mean reading a new issue as it was released every one or two weeks. I remember first losing interest when DC killed off the last son of Krypton and then brought him back a year later. To me – I was a high school student at the time beginning to view the world with a cynical eye – it smacked of pure greed. I finally gave up on comics when Marvel started screwing around with one of my all time favorite superheroes – Wolverine. Because of this Marvel – or DC for that matter – probably doesn’t care what my opinion is. But here it is anyway.

For those of you who read comics you are already aware that March 7th was a sad day. For those of you who don’t, let me fill you in. On March 7th Marvel Comics killed off Captain America. When I first heard of this I figured that it was just another attempt by one of the big comic book publishers to make more money. Evidently I am not the only one to have such a thought. According to Gerry Gladston, co-owner of Midtown Comics in Manhattan, in this article he said:

I was shocked. I was not expecting it. I’d rather they didn’t kill him - but it’s going to mean great sales.

I do believe that Gerry is right, but after digging a little more I discovered that the sentinel of liberty may have been offed for other reasons than pure greed. Cullen, over at Half A Pica Distance seems to think so too.

Then something clenched it for me. One of the characters who was supposed to have died [sic] the horrible explosion that set all of this off, survived. He was apprehended and taken to a SECRET GOVERNMENT CONTAINMENT FACILITY. He was given simple choices, but all his rights were trampled all over. He was considered an “enemy superhero combatant.” And it suddenly came into focus – this series is, at least in part, an underhanded way of bashing the Bush administration’s social policies regarding the War on Terror.

If the writers, artists, and execs at Marvel have a problem with the Bush Administration’s handling of the war on terror that’s fine with me. Everyone is due their own opinion. But to force it upon Marvel fans – rest assured this will affect the entire Marvel universe not just Captain America – is unforgivable.

I don’t and never have read comics for a social or political commentary. I can make up my own mind on those issues. If I want someone to tell me what to think I’ll watch the news.

I read comics to escape and to be inspired by characters like Captain America. Inspired to do the right thing. Perhaps if you hadn’t selfishly killed Captain America you could have inspired some of today’s youth to do the right thing, but it appears you would rather tell them what to think instead – and make a nice profit on the side.