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Duck and Cover – Government Created Comics

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The United States Government isn’t a stranger to using media to educate the public whether it’s through modern new media such as videos or blogs, or in the past posters and even comic books.

According to the book The Ten-Cent Plague by David Hadju, J. Edgar Hoover plotted out comic books to help sway public opinion about crime.  Some people might refer to these works as educational pieces, others might call them propaganda.

The University of Nebraska at Lincoln has a large collection of these interesting bits of history and have digitized them for public consumption.  You can visit their website, UNL Libraries Digital Collections: Government Comics Collection, to check out 183 different examples of these nuggets of history.

Expect a review of all 183 pieces on their website with some historical context starting in the next few weeks.

Choice Quotes

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Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield?

President Obama – I’ll risk my reputation giving a Presidential pardon to Captain America… because frankly, the Registration Act seemed un-American to me… but until Congress changes the laws, that’s the most I can do.

The Last Days of American Crime #1

Graham – Turns out Diesel is easier on the environment.  I read that — Gospel truth.  Not that it matters much anymore — but it’s interesting.  Stuff is easier on the environment and it’s the stuff nobody uses.  Suicidal.

and

Shelby – The days of Americans getting away with prideful arrogance for simply being American — far over.  It’s the decline.  Look around you’re soaking in it.

and

Kevin Cash – Behind all your liberal posturing, when it’s time to blame a bullshit crime on an imaginary man — that fucker will always be imagined black.

Choice Quotes

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Avengers: The Initiative #28

The Hood – Arizona’s out.  Too friendly with the targets. And California’s a bunch of left bleedin’ hearts.  We could try Washington, or Montana…

and

Victoria Hand – Butterball… what can I say?  He’s a surprise hit.  Middle America loves him.

Norman Osborn – Of course.  He’s fat and stupid.  Just like them.

Dark Reign: The List – X-Men

Victoria Hand – But… Director Osborn– Why?  There’s no strategic or political or military virtue in–

Norman Osborn – Because Namor screwed me over!  So now he gets a message!  Nobody does what he does and gets away clean.  Revenge doesn’t need strategic or military virtue.

Uncanny X-Men #515

Namor – Is this place… a refugee camp?  A reservation?  Are you a hotel, a hostel, a fortress?  Perhaps a compound.  Or a sovereign state…?

Hank McCoy – Or a prison.

and

Professor X – No jetpack this time?

Cyclops – You want to save the jetpack for big entrances, Charles.  Besides, we’re trying to convince the U.S. we’re not a bigger threat than Castro — We can settle for the unspectacular.

Choice Quotes

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DMZ #44

Cult Leader – The question is, do you think it can come back?  Do you think it can ever be the same again?

Tony – … probably not.

Cult Leader – I think you’re right.  I think whatever happens, whenever it happens, this city’ll be another Mogadishu, another Monrovia, another Port-Au-Prince.

Tony – That’s harsh.

Cult Leader – The sun is setting on America.  We’re just another failed state, our major cities turned into ghettos.

Fables #87

Bigby – There was no big threat.  No secret, evil group of all-powerful liberals.

Snow – Literals.

Bigby – Right.  Literals.

Green Lantern Corps. #39

Senator Diro – We now have powers — powers to protect ourselves from aliens — all aliens.  We want you and your ring off our world.

Arisia – Get your hands off me — you racist bastard.

Uncanny X-Men #514

Emma Frost – This is was, you cretins– and you’re either with us of against us.  Make up your minds and get out of the way.

Choice Quotes

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Captain America: Reborn #2

Norman Osborn – The only key that isn’t a bullet to the head. I mean.  Not that the man who helped kill Captain America should be expecting anything but an execution.

Crossbones – Right.  Was there some trial I slept through?

Norman Osborn – Trial… now who’s the comedian?  You’re an enemy combatant who committed a terrorist act on domestic soil… No one has even suggested there would ever be a trial.

Dark Reign: Zodiac #2

Zodiac – America the beautiful?  The founding fathers? The constitution? It’s all a scam.

and

Zodiac – Cause enough chaos in the world and there’s room to do anything.  Now let’s find out just how much room…

War of Kings #6

Crystal – Transforming all species against their will would not have resulted in peace.  Can’t you see that?  We don’t have the right.  It’s a tyranny comparable to Vulcan’s aggression.  Sometimes being a King is about having the strength to make a hard decision.  And sometimes.  It’s about having the strength not to.  You are a King.  My lord… not a God.

We Want to Believe in Heroes

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It’s been two years since the beacon of American ideals, Captain America, was gun down on the steps of a court house as he awaited trial for crimes against the United States.  This summer he will be Reborn.

Marvel comics today announced what it’s been teasing for the past few months, the return of one the original Captain America, Steve Rogers.  July 1 is the launch of Captain America: Reborn.  A five part limited series that sees the return of Steve Rogers to the Marvel Universe.

In issue number 25, Captain America was gunned down by an assassins bullet while awaiting trial for acts of terrorism against the United States Government.  In a story line mirroring the political headlines of the time, a tragic 9/11 like event leads to a super hero registration act similar to the real world Patriot Act. This divided the Marvel Universe resulting in a “Civil War” with Captain America leading the rebel heroes.

The death of an American icon was an amazing act of symbolism for it’s time, Marvel editor Tom Breevort has this to say:

“The tenor of the world now is when we’re at a point where we want to believe in heroes. Someone who can lead the way,” said Breevort. “It just feels like the right time.”

Captain America was created in the early part of World War II and advogated for the United States to enter the war, close to a year before Pearl Harbor.  He’s fought Hitler, Tojo, terrorists, and the numerous costumed baddies over the years.

After his assassination Cap’s partner from World War II, Bucky Barnes took over the mantel and struggled to fill the void left and live up to his predecessor’s ideals.  It has not been revealed how Steve Rogers’ return will affect Bucky’s mission.

Check out the full interview with editor Tom Brevoort, writer Ed Brubaker, and artist Bryan Hitch.

Marvel has released this variant cover.

“We got very fortunate in that the death of Cap garnered so much mainstream media attention and affected so many people,” reflects Brevoort. “I think [that was] both because of what Captain America symbolizes even to people who haven’t been following his adventures month after month, and that it happened just as there was a shift in the overall tenor of the nation. Cap’s death came to be seen as indicative of some larger truths about the state of [America]. The death of Cap seemed to symbolize the death of hope.

“In terms of bringing Steve back, that too seems to reflect today’s feeling of positivity [and] a world in which we want to believe in heroes again, that good men can triumph and that we can be our own better selves.”

The Sentinel of Liberty was struck down, seemingly ending his life. But can the American Dream really die? Find out this July.

Grant Morrison on Bush, Blair, and Obama

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IGN this week sat down with writer Grant Morrison to discuss DC Comics’ Final Crisis.  I couldn’t help but notice in issue #7 there was a distinct look and feel to the black President/Superman, guess I wasn’t that far off:

IGN Comics: How about the African American Superman/President in Final Crisis #7? It seems like you’re having some fun with the idea of Barack Obama as this conglomeration of hero, leader and celebrity.

Morrison: Completely. What I was thinking, because I wrote that obviously last year, was that Obama was getting in in February, and I realized this comic would be out right around that time. I knew it was going to happen. And so Final Crisis #7 has Darkseid defeated, and the good guys have won and everything is bright and optimistic again, I knew that the feeling in America was going to be the same. When Final Crisis started, I wanted to talk about the kind of crushing horror of the George Bush/Tony Blair axis we all had to live through. Final Crisis was my fictional diary of how it felt to live through the early years of the 21st century.

By the end of that, there’s this wind-of-change feeling that Obama brings to America and by extension everyone else – as to whether things actually change, we’ll see. I wanted to open Final Crisis #7 with that feeling that the weather had changed. And it’s the DC Universe, where anything can happen so here’s a black President Superman and we’re off! I think this guy’s a little better looking than Obama, though. I mean, Obama’s a fine-looking fella, but I don’t think he could fill out that Superman suit. [laughs] This guy is more Muhammad Ali. So we have him, and we also have Beyonce as Wonder Woman. That’s Beyonce at the microphone. [laughs]

Choice Quotes

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Avengers: The Initiative #19

Tippy-Toe Says – Squirrel Girl would rather go naked than wear fur!

and

Skull-Kill Krew – I understand all right.  God doesn’t love you.  He loves America.

Dark Reign: New Nation

Captain America – I believe in an idea… an idea a single individual who has the right heart and the right mind… that is consumed with a single purpose… that one man can win a war.  Give that one man a group of soldiers with the same conviction… and you can change the world.

The Invincible Iron Man #8

Osborn – The Superhuman Registration Database, Stark.  You know the one I mean.  Where is it?  How do I access it?

Stark – It’s — Ah — It’s Not — Osborn.  It’s not your personal file-o-fax.  You can’t just browse it at your leisure.  You need about a half-dozen warrants and probable cause and a federal judge to—

Osborn – Commander.

Stark – … Excuse me?

Osborn – You called me “Osborn.”  I’m trying “Commander Osborn” on for the size at the moment.

Stark – Well.  “Commander.”  You don’t get to go flipping through the database any more than you get to seize someone’s cell phone records or decide to call yourself commander.

X-Factor #38

Madrox – In the end, sometimes the smart thing is to bypass bad habits and learned behavior.  There are entire countries where fighting is the default position.  If you’re willing to put aside that mindset… it’s amazing how much you can accomplish with minimal fuss.

Uncanny X-Men #505

Mayor of San Francisco – This is San Francisco.  The hated and misunderstood have always had a home here.

Choice Quotes

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A very light week for quotes.  There is one thing that consistently crossed my mind reading all of Marvel’s Secret Invasion tie-ins this week.  I couldn’t help but notice similarities between the motivation of the Skrulls and a certain real world religion.

Secret Invasion: X-Men #1

This is Holy war we’ve embarked on.  A crusade.  Only the very best — The bravest, the strongest, the most radiant in virtue — are fit to fight in a crusade.

To break it down more the Skrulls seem to be split into two factions who don’t get along and one is much more extreme and on a quest to liberate humanity from the oppression it views the super human community brings it.

Invading Skrulls = Al Qaeda?

Super Humans = the West/U.S.?

Hmmm….

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