Dear Marvel Comics,
I was quite shocked to read today that you issued a formal apology, and are subsequently removing some "lettering" from future printings of Captain America #602 for referring to the national Tea Party movement and possible connections it may have with white supremacists. To be honest, I haven't read the issue, and probably still will not, although, I truly do enjoy, from what I have read, what Mr. Brubaker has done with the story since taking the helm on the book. But the apology comes as a shock to me for many reasons.
First, it is appropriate to put a little perspective into this. The panels in the comic in question, due to some lettering that was added in a rush prior to publication (Really?), seem to associate anti-tax protesters with a group called "The Watchdogs," who are white supremacists. The fictional anti-tax protesters carry signs with slogans seen on similar signs during real Tea Party protests. Hence, the Tea Party is in some way associated, or at least some members of the Tea Party, with white supremacy, or are simply just racist. Last weekend, at the first national Tea Party Convention, Tom Tancredo gave a speech in which he blamed ignorant people who "can't even spell the word 'vote,'" for electing President Obama to the White House, and thus the US should instate Literacy Tests to determine whether someone in this country can vote, harkening back to an idea established during the Civil Rights Movement of the 50's and 60's. Most do not need reminding that Literacy Tests were championed by racists, notably white supremacists, to deter or completely deny blacks the ability to vote. Mr. Tancredo aligned the Tea Party this past weekend with sympathies similar to white supremacists, so for a writer or artist in your employ, or even your readers, to draw parallels between the Tea Party and white supremacy does not seem far-reaching, in fact, some would say it's rather pertinent. And not to mention that none in the Tea Party movement demanded an apology from Mr. Tancredo seems telling of their stance with what he said, and more broadly on civil rights in general. Judson Phillips, founder of Tea Party Nation, in a Yahoo! news article did not seem to accept the apology of Joe Quesada, EIC at Marvel Comics. But why isn't Mr. Phillips demanding an apology from Tom Tancredo for touting racist ideals at the convention and tarnishing the Tea Party? To me this seems like blatant hypocrisy. Just because someone criticizes the movement should not beget an automatic apology. Surely, Mr. Tancredo and Mr. Phillips are not about to apologize for their racism and hypocrisy. Marvel should not be apologizing for making a statement.
Mr. Brubaker, as well as other writers, has done an incredible job of taking super hero stories and grounding them in the real world. This isn't necessarily something new, as the Marvel Universe is set on Earth and many heroes have made our modern-day cities their home and ultimately their protectorate for decades. By referencing real-world issues and occurrences you draw the reader more reverently deeper into this fantastic world, creating a connection between the reader and the hero. And now you apologize for it. Why are you not standing up to this? Do you think some poor press by Fox News is going to really hurt your readership? Judson Phillips called the story part of a "political agenda." The Tea Party has a political agenda. When speakers aligning themselves with this political party make racially charged comments they are propagating a political agenda. And Mr. Phillips says nothing. One writer expresses his views on the group and suddenly there's uproar and you back away from your story. Why? You're trying not to make a political statement? Well, guess what? You've been doing it for nearly 50 years in X-Men. Beneath it all, X-Men is an allegory for racial prejudice and hatred since issue 1. And there are countless instances in almost every other comic you've published that deal with racial, ethical, and social issues. Why did you tuck-tail and run from this? Are we just supposed to buy watered-down stories from now on, lacking in substance and relevance to the changing world around us? The fact that you failed to stick up for the story is simply disheartening. It seems you're more worried about losing a couple readers than about telling a compelling story that means something to us, but more importantly, a story that means something to you.
And lastly, it's called the First Amendment! For starters, this Tea Party movement again shows pure and utter hypocrisy by demonizing free speech when they contend to stand up for the truest, purest American values established by our forefathers. Chastising Marvel for an opinion is beyond a double standard. But what's more outrageous is that you are not invoking your right to free speech. And furthermore, you're not standing up for your artists in lieu you may get some bad press. Based on what I know of Ed Brubaker, what I've read on his blog, or on Twitter, I know that he strongly believes what was intended in this story, so it leads me to assume his statement/apology to Fox News was forced. Mr. Quesada should not demand apologies from his employees, but should defend his writers and artists because without them there would be no Marvel Comics. Without Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, without Ditko, Steranko, and Romita, who put their ideals, their beliefs, to paper regardless of whether it was popular, or good politics, there would be no Marvel Comics. You should be standing firm for what you believe in because, I guarantee you, by not doing so you will offend far more of your readership. You've already offended one. Today, I don't know if I can ever buy a Marvel comic again and it saddens me. You have shown me, and maybe others, that you care more about how many people buy your book than the content beneath the glossy cover.
With great sorrow,
Jason Owen
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