Batman for McCain, Superman for Obama
so i’ve been obssessing about comic books a lot lately, what with all the actual watchable comic book movies that have come out recently. it reminds me of a time when i was younger and spent a lot of time reading them…back before i learned that getting laid was a much better way to spend my time than reading the X-men…regardless after watching the Dark Knight the other night and then rereading Frank Miller’s famous the Dark Knight Returns i started to think about what an insane rightwing lunatic Batman was (especially Frank Miller’s vision of him). and then it made me think about the political affiliations of all my other favorite super heroes. and so here’s what i’ve come up with.
BATMAN
vital stats: parents were killed by a mugger. is obssessed with fighting crime. has some facist leanings (thanks to Frank Miller), a bit unhinged. has a strange relationship with a young boy. is a billionare. is apparently set to take on Al-Qaeda next….yeah seriously…fucking Frank Miller. what an idiot.
verdict- republican
SUPERMAN
vital stats- an illegal alien, has a day job as a reporter. never kills anyone. a man of the people. a bit smug. thinks he knows what’s best for everyone.
verdict- democrat
THE X-MEN
vital stats- outsiders, want us all to just get along, big on diversity, obviously would be supportive of affirmative action, big on dreams, harbor illegal aliens, outlaws. are hounded by the government as a threat.
verdict- democrats
THE PUNISHER
vital stats- ex military, pro gun, supports and inforces the death penalty, a bit of a nutjob, tough on crime
verdict- ultra right wing republican
IRON MAN
vital stats- supported the super hero registration act during Marvel’s Civil War. ex military, billionare, made weapons for the army, fights terrorists.
verdict: republican
CAPTAIN AMERICA
vital stats: fought the Nazi’s in WWII, was leader of The Avengers, the symbol of American Patriotism and Freedom, doesn’t use a gun, took steroids, Captain America opposes mandatory federal registration of all super-powered beings, which he sees as an erosion of civil liberties for the superhero community, and leads the Anti-Registration faction and resistance movement. got assassinated.
verdict: Old School Democrat. the kind that don’t actually exist anymore.
this is seriously the dorkiest thing i’ve ever blogged about.
Tags: comics, nerdy, politicsPosted by justin on 24 Jul 2008 at 08:26 am
this post rules.
I agree with all of your conclusions except for one. Of course everything is open to one’s own interpretation, but I have always seen Captain America as the “living” embodiment of FDR’s New Deal dream for America. The rising tide raises all boats, all for one and one for all, total old school Democratic values. In the comics Cap often fights corruption in government and corporations and is generally seen as the champion of the least among us.
So yeah, while Cap is all about some liberty, I don’t see him being a Libertarian. I mean Cap would champion the concept of paying taxes - everyone chipping in for the good of all - and he would certainly appreciate having roads, fire departments and various other infrastructure elements that Libertarians like to pretend they could live without if - in some alternate universe - they were actually able to rise to power.
Cap is a Democrat through and through - he is the kind of Democrat you rarely see these days - an FDR, JFK, RFK, MLK Democrat who would be sorely disappointed in the spineless Hillary, Reid, Pelosi crowd. So yeah, my verdict on Steve Rogers is - Democrat (just not like most Democrats we are used to seeing in our lifetime).
Yeah, like you said… dorky. But rad.
Batman says that the Joker hates us for our freedom.
after reading what you wrote and thinking about it, you are right. The Cap is def a Dem. a kind of Democrat that doesn’t actually exist anymore, but a Democrat regardless.
Yeah, he is the kind of Democrat that we all hope Obama is but given the reality of our political world today that might be too much to expect from someone. Of course he is better than anyone we have seen in the last couple of decades so that is something at least.
Michael Cain had this really awesome quote where he said, “Superman is the way America sees itself in the world and Batman is the way the world sees America.”