Armageddon Diplomacy
Considering the progressively progressive political atmosphere in the US and abroad, and the first step Superman took to reconcile his socio-political positioning on the world stage by announcing he’d renounce his US citizenship, one can’t help wonder where this idea is heading and what future ramifications it might hold for the Superheroes. Here’s a two page short depicting something we might well eventually see from DC Comics, perhaps in the not too distant future.
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Hi Robert. I know it’s a leap but Kal-El didn’t merely make trips all over the world. By suggesting he’s willing to renounce his US citizenship, he’s showing a willingness for extreme (and somewhat negative) measures in order to avert a destructive global conflict. The question then is how extreme he’s willing to be in order to make a statement… which btw is considered a positive right to protest in all western democracies. Regarding Iran, the source of the conflict seems to go back to cultural differences that long predate American policy there, though we certainly had a hand in how things have shaped up. It’s just not clear that we could have better results, regardless of the policy.
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Given that Superman (though a fictional character) is for peace amongst all people, why would he feel that when ORDERED to not take a stand, he would be prepared to sit down and take it.
Guess that doesn’t fit with the “America, fuck yeah!” mentality.
Would you prefer “Tool of Ronald Reagan” Dark Knight Returns Superman?
I guess it’s okay for a whole load of soldiers to die in a pretty pointless war, but when a fictional character declares he’s no longer an American citizen it’s a big deal.
Priorities are out of whack these days. Things like this don’t help at all.
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If Superman were real, I don’t think we would see him renounce his US citizenship, and certainly would not burn the flag in Iran. These things would insult the memory of his adoptive parents, Ma and Pa Kent, and that is something that he would never do. I think he would use his influence to restore the values of truth, justice, and the American way from the bully pulpit. In the comics, the president would always take into account what Superman’s opinion would be on issues ranging from crime to international relations. Seriously, if he truly existed don’t you think we would inspire us all to a higher plane?
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A) Nice touch having Diana burn the U.K. flag. Very current.
B) Now I’ve got this mental picture of Batman hanging snarling Hasidic thugs off gargoyles on building ledges, demanding to know the whereabouts of the Elders of Zion.
c) I’m still not sure I get it. Are the DC Trinity supporting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and anti-western sentiment to quell potential uprising in a move along the lines of Neville Chamberlain? Is it more a critique of right wing ballyhooing, by taking the story to its most politically convenient conclusion? Is this more a John Lennonesque call for unity through the destruction of the notion that they hold national allegiance, with Ahmadinejad used simply to establish the setting?
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1) Love the artwork, Michael. Gene Colan would be impressed! Tho I’d hate to have to ink those beautiful tones. (They shouldn’t be.)
2) I second Frank on point c) in that I don’t get the inclusion of Achmaimadoucheajad and no other leaders. (I noticed Tehran was spelled “Teheran”, as in “teehee” or maybe “te-hey!”; subtle comedic satire?) Then again, I’m a mugwump so politics have always befuddled and escaped me.
Superman used to be the ultimate “amicus humani generis” but instead appears to be morphing into another coryphaeus. Probably explains why I haven’t been interested in reading his adventures since the mid ’80s. (But if you drew them, regardless of the politics, I’d buy ‘em like a fat guy addicted to M & Ms!)
Best,
Mike -
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Michael,
Mazel Tov! Your daughter must have given birth the night you rode with me to Jerusalem. Did you get back before the happy moment?
I’m sorry that we didn’t get to complete the real story behind “AD”. I would think that you could still do it as originally planned, or at the very least, you could draw a new panel of what the “live action” would have looked like.-
Thanks Rafi. In the end I was able to finish the job in the way we discussed it when you visited: http://bit.ly/jUcyBA
Glad to see you’re home safe and well. Wonderful to see you again.
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As usual, I am late to the party. And, as usual, I don’t get it. What I *do* get, though, is that the days of Julius Schwartz and Paul Levitz (to say nothing of Superman’s creators) and long, long behind us. That DC comics (aka Time-Warner) will do whatever it takes to sell product and that there is no sense of ethics or responsibility beyond that. Which means, at some point, Superman and/or other liscenced characters will have word baloons coming out of their mouths explaining why Jews must be expelled from the country, or killed, or whatever else might be in vogue at that time. It’s not much of a leap.
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Hello Mike, You had me on the first page, though the 2nd “splash” page” has me in a disconnect. I can see Kal-El making trips all over the world. What I cannot see happening like you project here is Supes seemingly endorsing such a negative viewpoint though I can appreciate your desire to create “talking points” regarding the anger which resides in Iran ever since the 1953 coup engineered by the USA over-throwing that democratically elected government to re-install the Shah (King) which has led to where we are today regarding Iran