Right Makes Might?
Posted by Don MacPherson on February 15th, 2010
When I read Captain America #602 a couple of weeks ago, I appreciated the real-world political and social elements that writer Ed Brubaker incorporated into the story. By including the Tea Party movement (or an analogy of it), Brubaker’s script becomes all the more relevant and interesting. Mind you, as much as I enjoyed seeing such poignant and thought-provoking elements in the super-hero story, I was much more disappointed when Brubaker and Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada apologized for that content, claiming it was unintentional and explaining it away as a lettering gaffe. I’m at a loss as to why they were quick to cow-tow to a political movement that probably boasted very few members that are also Marvel readers, and I was thoroughly disappointed that Marvel plans to alter select elements from Cap #602 for eventual collected editions.
So the Tea Party folks saw everything from insults to conspiracies. Marvel apparently saw a PR problem. And I saw much ado about nothing, not to mention corporate interests usurping the integrity of art.
Fortunately, the folks at comics publisher Boom! Studios saw something else: an opportunity.
With this right wingers-versus-comics folk controversy still fresh in people’s minds (both in the world of comics and in the general public), Boom! issued the following news release Monday:
February 15th, 2010 – BOOM! Town, a new imprint of BOOM! Studios, announced today a book of monstrous hilarity, Repuglicans!
If you’re a card-carrying Republican, stop reading now. If not, you must get this book. Pete Von Sholly and Steve Tatham bring you a completely unfair and not balanced take on Republican Party leaders and apparatchiks. Sarah Palin, John McCain, Glenn Beck and others all unveiled as vampires, freaks and zombies. These guys put the “ugli” in Repuglicans.
“This book shows the true face of the right, and it’s not pretty.” says Pete Von Sholly.
“You’ll cringe when you see these creatures of the right!” says Steve Tatham.
Repuglicans comes in a 6” x 9” softcover format, with 128 Pages, priced at $14.99. The Diamond Code for this item is FEB100764.
While I’d argue that Marvel bungled its public-relations reaction to the Cap/Tea Party issue, Boom! Studios capitalized on it, not only promoting an upcoming release but its new underground/indy art-comics imprint, Boom! Town.
Though brief, the news release is deliciously unapologetic, hyperbolic and effective. It boosts the profile of what would’ve likely been an under-the-radar book and takes a political stand even if it’s something of a low-brow approach to satire. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Mad Magazine‘s often been infantile in its lampoons of political and cultural figures over the years, as have any other number of expressions of pop culture. David E. Kelley used his TV shows as a soapbox, and never was it more obvious than with the outrageous and riotous Boston Legal.
The whole situation brings a number of questions to mind. Why did Marvel retreat so quickly from a political stance in one story by one creative team? Yes, including such political content means it runs the risk of alienating some readers, but it also offers the opportunity to attract others. And this time around, it also clearly offered a PR platform to make a wider audience aware of intelligently crafted storytelling in a genre often dismissed by the masses as kiddie fare.
Why was a media company with a history as long as Marvel’s and with resources as extensive as Marvel’s so easily outshone, at least from a PR perspective, by a smaller, younger company?
And most important of all, why do the Tea Party protesters and their supporters ironically try to silence their critics? Here we have people protesting their government — a pure expression of free speech in a democracy — trying to shut down others’ expression of free speech rather than simply debating the issues at hand.
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February 16th, 2010 at 3:47 am
First, the term “teabag” is used as an insult to gays and refers to a sex act. It’s used by Tea Party opponents to belittle the group.
Second, the crowd is described as white and angry. As much as the left tries to portray it that way, it’s just not the case. Check out the pictures from a rally. There’s enough of them going on around the country. Joe Quesada has said that Falcon’s comment reflects his POV and comes up again as the storyline wraps up. We’ll see.
Finally, no one is trying shut down anyone’s expression of free speech. If you’re going to use tea party activists in a storyline, at least portray they correctly.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:14 am
Actually, Rob, teabagging, according to the Urban Dictionary, is “the insertion of one man’s sack into another person’s mouth. Used a practical joke or prank, when performed on someone who is asleep, or as a sexual act.”
It’s not an insult to gays. You’re thinking of the Republican party’s rabid anti-gay marriage stance.
As for the “Tea Party” crowd not being white and angry… if 90% of your base is represented as white and angry, a few token people of color or a few people who aren’t foaming at the mouth about easily fact-checked incorrect talking points aren’t really enough to claim that they’ve somehow been misrepresented.
But you are right about one thing… it’s important to use tea party activists correctly, and just having one nut with a sign does not a tea party rally make. For that, you need at least 100 nuts with signs. Which Fox News will report as 10,000.
Don, as for why Marvel was so quick to shut this down, I forget where I read this today (The Beat? The Bendis Board? One of the many left-leaning political blogs that I read?) but someone who is friends with a higher-up at Marvel described him as “politically, somewhat to the right of Attila the Hun” and implied that the Marvel executives are pretty far right-wing. So this may have been a “Shut this down before we all get fired” kind of thing.
I was disappointed to see Brubaker & Quesada go so quickly to the “We’re so sorry to have offended you raging nut-bags with this non-issue,” but if they were pretty sure they could lose their jobs over it, and it wasn’t their original intent, I can see them deciding not to make a big deal out of it. Especially if such a minor thing could have gotten them fired by reactionary bosses.
And yes, Rob, I *am* being deliberately insulting to the tea party folks. I thought I hated the Republican party, but you guys are taking Sarah Palin seriously, and that’s just sad. And more than a little frightening.
February 16th, 2010 at 6:16 am
I read Quesada’s apology but where’s Brubaker’s apology? If anyone can find a link of his apology, please post it or is Brubaker letting Quesada do all the talking, while he and his pork-pie hat hides behind Joe. Well, here’s some news for you, Brubaker, Quesada is more slimmer now so it won’t be any good hiding behind him.
Now this “Repuglicans!”, really Mark Waid? I thought you’re more creative than that. I suppose it doesn’t get more creative than Waid calling all who protest the out of control Government spending as “lunatics”. How would you like it if John Byrne and Orson Scott Card created a comic called “Democreeps” with Nancy Pelosi on the front unaltered for very scary cover page. Very creative, huh? Good thing I wrote it on my hand so I wouldn’t forget it.
As to why Marvel apologized so quickly, Randy, you actually believe this guy who wrote on some forum that Marvel executives are far right-wing? Oh, you also believe MSNBC is fair and balance. If the Marvel executives are far right-wingers, why did they publish Spider-man comics (others titles too I bet) that gushes over Obama, Captain America suddenly becoming this “ultimate liberal” as Don stated in another article and Glenn Beck-like character sided with a super criminal. Explain that Randy or do you label anyone who disagrees with your politics a far right-winger?
Randy, your post proves once again how full of hate you are. You’re just upset that us Teabaggers get up your face and we are not afraid to just let it out there! I’m going to go back and protest with the rest of the Teabaggers so Randy, don’t get all angry drive your Prius through us. Not because I think you’re homicidal but because you know the faulty brakes and all, so you should get your Prius check.
February 16th, 2010 at 8:32 am
“… but someone who is friends with a higher-up at Marvel described him as “politically, somewhat to the right of Attila the Hun” and implied that the Marvel executives are pretty far right-wing.”
“… Randy, you actually believe this guy who wrote on some forum that Marvel executives are far right-wing?”
It was Rick Ungar, former president of Marvel Productions and Marvel Characters Group, quoted at Robot 6.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Sean wrote:
I read Quesada’s apology but where’s Brubaker’s apology?
Brubaker has publicly promised the lettering for the protesters’ placards will be altered for the collected edition. That amounts to an apology in my book.
Now this “Repuglicans!”, really Mark Waid? I thought you’re more creative than that. I suppose it doesn’t get more creative than Waid calling all who protest the out of control Government spending as “lunatics.”
(1) Mark Waid’s name isn’t on Repuglicans. Yes, he’s Boom! editor-in-chief, but I’m surprised you don’t direct any comments toward the writer and artist actually responsible for the crafting of the book.
A big problem that many have with the Tea Party protesters and Republicans who support them is the fact that those same people called left-wing protesters during the Bush years extremists and lunatics. It’s hypocrisy.
How would you like it if John Byrne and Orson Scott Card created a comic called “Democreeps” with Nancy Pelosi on the front unaltered for very scary cover page.
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if such a followup book emerged, either from Boom! or another publisher. It would be a smart move. The Democrats are certainly rife for spoofing as well.
Oh, you also believe MSNBC is fair and balanced.
No one’s saying MSNBC doesn’t have a particular perspective on the news. But your own statement seems blind to the fact that Fox News is incredibly slanted in the other direction. And it’s the news network claiming “fair and balanced” status in its promos.
If the Marvel executives are far right-wingers, why did they publish Spider-man comics (others titles too I bet) that gushes over Obama, Captain America suddenly becoming this “ultimate liberal” as Don stated in another article and Glenn Beck-like character sided with a super criminal.
Personally, I doubt Marvel execs truly care about the political stances in their comics. Like any other smart businessmen, they’re more focused on whether or not they’re moving product. And that Obama issue of Amazing Spider-Man moved a LOT of product.
Randy, your post proves once again how full of hate you are. You’re just upset that us Teabaggers get up your face and we are not afraid to just let it out there! I’m going to go back and protest with the rest of the Teabaggers so Randy, don’t get all angry drive your Prius through us.
I agree that Randy’s reaction is a bit extreme and that he needs to rein it in, but I understand where it’s coming from: frustration. He’s not only frustrated with the hypocrisy and falsehoods coming from the right, but with the lack of will and leadership coming from the left. And as for your Prius crack… I don’t understand at all why someone’s choice of a car would serve as some sort of political insult. I wish I had a Prius, not because of any environmental priority, but because I want to save on gas. The right’s use of “Prius driver” as an insult is close-minded and serves as yet another obstruction to any real dialogue about problems that both sides must contend with.
February 16th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Randy wrote:
Don, as for why Marvel was so quick to shut this down, I forget where I read this today (The Beat? The Bendis Board? One of the many left-leaning political blogs that I read?) but someone who is friends with a higher-up at Marvel described him as “politically, somewhat to the right of Attila the Hun” and implied that the Marvel executives are pretty far right-wing. So this may have been a “Shut this down before we all get fired” kind of thing.
The quote can be found here.
February 16th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Boom has made it perfectly clear this book is not going to be fair and balanced but unfair and unbalanced. Which is a pretty clever thing to do, however that pretty much means to me they have no intentions of doing one for the Democrats. That’s the feeling I get and for that I’m gonna be dropping all the books I’ve been buying from Boom: Incredibles, Wall-E, Toy Story, etc. I’ve got no problem with targeting a side for fun and satire like Mad has done for years but to get after one side with such hatred which is what I’m feeling is really disappointing. I am by no means a card-carrying Republican but I am a conversative but an open-minded one who would prefer to see the country be in the center. I voted for Bush twice and voted for Obama the last time.
Frankly I’m sick of politics and both RePUGlicans and DemoLIARS. More things seem to get accomplished when the powers are divided. When it’s one sided nothing ever really seems to get done because the minority party ups their rhetoric and it amplifies times 10. If the country would come back to being a god-fearing, work-together, help-your-neighbor country it once was things would improve but instead we’re stuck with greedy, manipulative, power-hungry, hypocritcal people on the right and the left. Instead of having people with ideals like Clark Kent or Steve Rogers who love their country and want to help people we have Lex Luthors and Normas Osborns who want to exploit people for personal gain and want to change the country to a hard right or hard left country. I was taken by suprise at the Captain America issue and the content and it left me shaking my head but it didn’t really leave me angry. I just don’t like that if you’re a protester like those people you are viewed as a redneck and are racist and hate Obama… and probably hate women and gays for that matter and are a nut job. That’s like all the nutty people on the right acted after 9/11 about Muslims: If you see one he’s probably a terrorist. It’s just ridiculous how people like Randy and Sean Limbaugh act. Such fierce hatred for people with whom they disagree. It’s those type of people and attitudes that have the country in such a downward spiral.
February 16th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
What people seem to have missed about Brubaker’s story is that he’s not criticizing the protesters, but rather telling a story about how they’re being manipulated by others — the Watchdogs — to serve their own twisted ends, just as Fox News, Glenn Beck and other conservative icons are manipulating the Tea Partyers (or coverage of the movement) to serve their agendas.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
(1) Mark Waid’s name isn’t on Repuglicans. Yes, he’s Boom! editor-in-chief, but I’m surprised you don’t direct any comments toward the writer and artist actually responsible for the crafting of the book.
I can imagine Waid demanding a book like Repuglicans after hearing Quesada’s apology, while sitting at his ivory tower. Besides, I don’t really know the creators but I’m sure they would be proud of themselves, as they are first people to make fun of Republicans in the media. Guys, Family Guy called, they want you to write for them.
Personally, I doubt Marvel execs truly care about the political stances in their comics. Like any other smart businessmen, they’re more focused on whether or not they’re moving product. And that Obama issue of Amazing Spider-Man moved a LOT of product.
Then why those “far right” Marvel executives supposedly told Quesada to apologize? I’m sure that issues of Captain America #602 are moving a lot product. My copy just move to the trash bin, I mean, recycle bin, don’t want to anger more environmentalists.
After reading Rick Ungar articles on his website, yes, his conservative bashing does not seems like he’s got an agenda.
And as for your Prius crack… I don’t understand at all why someone’s choice of a car would serve as some sort of political insult. I wish I had a Prius, not because of any environmental priority, but because I want to save on gas. The right’s use of “Prius driver” as an insult is close-minded and serves as yet another obstruction to any real dialogue about problems that both sides must contend with
I’m close-minded because I am a conservative after all. As for why Prius is bad car, did I mention about the faulty brakes? Also, it has a slow acceleration, steering is poor and quite expensive, you’re better off buying a Honda Civic Hybrid, does pretty much the same job but it’s more affordable. Anyway, what I don’t like about the Prius is it seems to give the right for people to be smug. They can be as wasteful as any person but they act superior just because they bought a Prius. I feel sometimes that people drive a Prius because their favorite celebrity drives one as well. Personally, I would rather drive a truck, it’s sturdy and gets you elected to the senate.
It’s just ridiculous how people like Randy and Sean Limbaugh act. Such fierce hatred for people with whom they disagree.
I was just responding all of Randy’s hatred. I don’t hate Randy, I fact, I liked it when he was reviewing on Comicpants. It was much better when he was there than the tumbleweeds that currently occupy the site.
Fox News, Glenn Beck and other conservative icons are manipulating the Tea Partyers (or coverage of the movement) to serve their agendas.
You mean I really don’t hate all that Government spending. In fact, there is out of control spending at all, is there? It’s all Fox News fault! They made it up! This will be the last time a Teabag out there! A bit of sarcasm there. Myself and other people I know choose to protest there, not because of Fox News or Glenn Beck, no matter how much he cries out his little puppy dog eyes.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
How do you put paragraphs in italics? If I don’t put any, it will make my post look ridiculous.
Regarding Brubaker’s apology or should I say non-apology, it’s not good enough. Sounds like a half-hearted attempt. He will probably wait a few weeks and hit out at the Teabaggers again on some other of his crime comicbooks he always seems to write.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Randy remains, probably, the comic reviewer with whom I agree the most. He remains my favorite one on the internet, and if he recommends something I always check it out. But I have to agree that he and Sean Limbaugh do both sound nearly equally silly here. And I say this as the most liberally liberal New Yorker around.
Obviously I haven’t read Repuglicans, but it sure doesn’t draw me in based on what I’ve seen. It just seems so easy. The press release there doesn’t seem particularly clever either. I kind of feel like I did this first and last time I attended a meeting of a local atheist group, just sitting there thinking “We’re just sitting around kissing our own asses and agreeing with each other.” It seems like such pointless preaching to the choir. Which I now realize is an awful expression to use after the example I just gave.
And yeah. “Particular persepctive” is being kind. MSNBC is just plain biased towards the left. No doubt about that. But I don’t think they ever stooped as low as “Terrorist fist pound.” Fox News’s equivalent they ain’t.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Sean wrote:
I can imagine Waid demanding a book like Repuglicans after hearing Quesada’s apology, while sitting at his ivory tower.
Well, you have quite a wild imagination, then. There’s no way for Boom! to have rushed a book into production for an April release in just a few days in reaction to a controversy about a comic book published by another company.
Then why those “far right” Marvel executives supposedly told Quesada to apologize?
We don’t know for a fact that’s what happened. It’s supposition posted online by a former Marvel employee.
Myself and other people I know choose to protest there, not because of Fox News or Glenn Beck, no matter how much he cries out his little puppy dog eyes.
If you don’t realize that Fox News is one of several driving forces behind the Tea Party movement, you’re kidding yourself. Fox News correspondents speak at the rallies. Its pundits urge people to attend them. The protests are actively promoted, and afterward, Fox grossly exaggerates attendance figures.
Also, bear in mind I have no vested interest in any of it. I’m not an American.
How do you put paragraphs in italics? If I don’t put any, it will make my post look ridiculous.
I’ve taken care of it. The key is to use HTML code.
Regarding Brubaker’s apology or should I say non-apology, it’s not good enough. Sounds like a half-hearted attempt. He will probably wait a few weeks and hit out at the Teabaggers again on some other of his crime comicbooks he always seems to write.
I think you missed one of the points of my editorial. He and Quesada shouldn’t have apologized at all. It’s a story, it’s a piece of fiction, it’s a work of art. If it offends the politics or sensibilities of some, so be it. It’s a story with a political idea at its centre, so there’s no way that everyone will agree with that political idea. No one’s demanding that you like it. Demanding an apology from someone over something that’s said in a story, in a subjective work of art, is a step toward censorship. Disagree with the idea all you want. Demanding it be silenced flies in the face of a fundamental American (and democratic) ideal: free speech.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Rob, I’ve checked out pictures of rallies and you’re wrong.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
I wish I could post pictures. I found one from 2009 with a protester holding a sign with a picture of Obama with a teabag on his head with the caption “teabagged”. Brubaker has no reason to apologize.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Grasking wrote:
I wish I could post pictures.
I coded a link to the picture in question in your first post, Grasking.
February 18th, 2010 at 6:14 am
Don, I agree that comics should never have to kowtow (yes, that’s the correct spelling…the way you spelled it above means “to pull a female bovine”) to the government or any other political organization. Being that comics readership is so marginal anyways, it’s not even necessary!
Also, I believe that you meant ANALOGUE, not “analogy”. An analogy explicitly compares one thing to another. An analogue is a character, place, or thing meant to represent another. Such as the characters in the “Planetary Brigade”, “Squadron Supreme”, or other non-DC supergroups I can’t think of right now, being analogues (in some instances rather thinly-veiled) of the members of the JLA.
Also, your site is once again being reported as an attack site by Firefox. I had thought the bad old days of you getting hacked were all in the past. Anyways, I’m viewing this in IE, which still works fine. Go to http://www.stopbadware.org/home/reviewinfo?hl=en-US&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyeoncomics.com%2F to request a review of the report.
February 18th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Acespot wrote:
Also, your site is once again being reported as an attack site by Firefox. I had thought the bad old days of you getting hacked were all in the past. Anyways, I’m viewing this in IE, which still works fine.
I’m aware of eyeoncomics being labelled as an attack site, but I’m not sure why. Someone else pointed out that the return of the attack-site label came shortly after I published this post. I don’t know if there’s a connection, or if it`s a return of the problems I had last fall. Site should be fine now, though.
February 19th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
It still is being flagged as an attack site by firefox. And by Google as well. I had to dust off my Internet Explorer and type the url in directly to get here.
Just to note and log.
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:05 pm
A couple of days ago when I logged in, both Avast! and Comodo gave me an attack warning, indicating that a Trojan (!) was attempting to upload itself to my machine. Suffice it to say, I threw up my firewall.
I just wanted to let you know.
March 17th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
I was always interested in comics taking a political stance for the sheer controversial aspect of it, but it’s never been particularly done very well, from what I’ve read in my lifetime. Unless writers can make a political angle in a superhero book convincing, just leave it alone.
As for the Tea Party movement, it should be taken seriously, and this is coming from someone VERY much of “the left.” The people in this “Party” or loose coalition have real grievances against government policies that repeatedly trample on civil rights. However, the answers they normally receive to their grievances mostly come from the far right nut-jobs who blame “elitist liberals” (whatever that means) and illegal immigrants for the nation’s problems. There has been a constant effort since the Great Depression by those in power to equate a constant decrease on social welfare spending as being “anti-government.” Neither party has any illusions about being anti-authoritarian, as both “parties” are part of the same business party. Same goals, just slightly different means or pathways to achieve them. “Tea Baggers” are people like us who have legitimate reasons to be furious. Ironically, it’s a “non-partisan” issue that rarely makes any headlines in the agenda-setting media; the country is equally pecimistic about the current government trends under Obama as they were under Bush.