The Four Color Media Monitor

This is what the Moscow Times is saying:

A Russian state company that distributes printed publications has asked the federal media watchdog to investigate Marvel comic books for denigrating Soviet symbols and amounting to "propaganda of a cult of violence."

The comics in particular, which show American superheroes The Avengers battling Soviet-symbol-laden self-described "servants of the Russian Federation," promote "violence and cruelty," distributor Rospechat says, the Izvestia newspaper reported Wednesday.

Although the story ends in peace, media watchdog Roskomnadzor has agreed to investigate the books and is considering giving the publisher an official warning, two of which within a year is grounds for revocation of its license, the Ekho Moskvy news outlet reported.

Another dismaying sign communism boomeranged back in Russia. I think the story referenced here is actually a new one, but given how forgiving certain staffers at modern Marvel are of communism, I doubt the story they're up in arms about really puts down communism. Yet maybe it doesn't matter to them because they despise the older stories from the Silver/Bronze Age putting down communism, and it makes little difference what their politics are now.

The accusation of promoting violence sounds like a cheap excuse for an accusation to serve the commies' side, and has nothing to do with the real worries that have long plagued Marvel's storytelling, like the sensationalized examples seen in Mark Millar's Ultimate output. And the worst part is that Marvel will probably cave to their demands like they've done with China, and stop publishing critiques of communism, or won't sell them in Russia anymore, nor will Egmont Corp, which is distributing the stories in question there.

Labels: Europe and Asia, marvel comics, msm propaganda, politics, violence