The Four Color Media Monitor

The Colossus of Rhodey provides some details from Captain America #255 from 1981, which shows just what Batman could - and should - be putting across in Frank Miller's upcoming miniseries in which the Masked Manhunter takes on al Qaeda.

As Miller said in an earlier discussion of the book:

The reason for this work, Miller said, was "an explosion from my gut reaction of what's happening now." He can't stand entertainers who lack the moxy of their '40s counterparts who stood up to Hitler. Holy Terror is "a reminder to people who seem to have forgotten who we're up against."

It's been a long time since heroes were used in comics as pure propaganda. As Miller reminded, "Superman punched out Hitler. So did Captain America. That's one of the things they're there for."

And the same goes for many many other superheroes too, Batman included.

Another thing that's needed is to avoid political correctness. As Captain America tells the neo-nazis he's battling in #255, "You bundists disgust me! You're native born Americans, most of you, yet you'd sell out your own country to the most horrific tyrant ever to walk the earth?"

IMO, it would not be PC at all for Batman to voice something similar to any Islamofascists he'd be fighting, which is why for Batman to say, "You Islamic fundamentalists disgust me! You're native-born Americans, most of you ... yet you'd sell out your own country to the most horrific ideology on earth!"?? would be quite appropriate.

And Miller, to say the least, is anything but PC himself, and I certainly hope that'll hold true here as well. But that said, everyone should be on the lookout for if CAIR, which I'd describe as a real life variation on HYDRA or the Kingpin's own mob, is someone we should all keep an eye out for, because it wouldn't be surprising if they were to start complaining if this were too "insensitive". (If they do, all I have to say to them is - sit down and SHUT UP.)

And if this turns out to be the truly bold project it should be, then I do wonder: will Marvel, what with their very bad editors in charge today, be willing for a change to go the bold route many superheroes usually do in their own fictional worlds, and show that they're not afraid to publish a similar story for Captain America, the superhero whose main job it is to battle scum like the al Qaeda? I do hope so.

But to really get such a fearless direction going, that's exactly why the argument in favor of it needs to be stressed, and exactly why it's a good thing that we've got the 'Net to help us out.

Labels: Batman, Captain America, good writers