tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048006265600046573.post8348838601340403182..comments2020-06-23T18:44:02.034-07:00Comments on Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth: Preamble #3: Pearl Harbor, FDR and the World at WarBen Alpihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349155228789121570noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048006265600046573.post-30923942922253547582011-02-05T10:15:30.983-08:002011-02-05T10:15:30.983-08:00These events already occurred in the "land of...These events already occurred in the "land of the free." In hindsight, such miscarriages of justice seem barbaric. Yet, what would Cap think of events following September 111th. No charges or trials for prisoners accused of crimes. Torture. Outright torture as an interrogation tool.<br /><br />As for the Shield, I will have to check it out. During the early days of comic publishing, characters were often swiped with few changes by unscrupulous publishers or some of an art team would be lured away to replicate their success elsewhere. I am sure that in this regard Captain America is not the "original" comic it is appears to be.<br /><br />And yet, many aspects of Cap are starkly original for the era. It was timely, up to the minute and used real characters and events as backdrops. Simon and Kirby produced artwork which was strikingly bolder and fluid - like nothing published up until to then. This was the first fully realized superhero comic with Simon and Kirby inventing much of the conventions of layout and storytelling that would be used by generations of comic storytellers. ALso, they cut a tremendously lucrative deal for themselves which was a landmark for the industry. Good timing which tapped into anti-isolationist feeling created one of the best selling comics of all time.<br /><br />The Shield, along with many other patriotic heroes, is probably more similar to Cap than different. In a fantasy world, America is besieged by threats from shadowy sources and only the wits, honesty and patriotic might of (fill in the blank) can save the day for decent folk. I would like to see how much of the comics during this period are influenced by film. Did you know that Jack Kirby got his pen name from James Cagney? <br /><br />Luke, thanks for providing links. I will be checking them out.RICK Arthur, Founderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16925622575714675074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048006265600046573.post-37314437943299411862011-02-04T22:28:53.655-08:002011-02-04T22:28:53.655-08:00Let me add to my previous comment. I should have ...Let me add to my previous comment. I should have said when the Shield appeared in Pep Comics. Pep #4 featured the Pearl Harbor story with "Nordics" behind the attack. (Talk about using a code word...)<br /><br />The book with Shield story reprints is still available:<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Patriotic-Comic-Shield-Circle/dp/187979408X<br /><br />A commenter at Amazon wrote:<br /><br />"Story four is a two-part epic. In a tale that pre-dates the attack on Pearl Harbor by over a year, the Shield travels to Pearl to foil a plan of the Mosconians to cause a volcanic eruption that will wipe out the island."<br /><br />I do remember seeing a Captain America story reprinted from WW II with the theme of unfair discrimination against German Americans. Interesting to see a message of tolerance when in some parts of the US hatred was being directed towards "those dirty Huns." And while Japanese Americans were badly treated, rounded up and sent to "relocation" camps, they were not alone; there were also internment camps for German Americans during WW II.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_American_internment<br /><br />Of course, such events would never re-occur in the land of the free, right?Luke T. Bushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04527411288764968714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048006265600046573.post-77869760143164259922011-02-04T21:54:21.577-08:002011-02-04T21:54:21.577-08:00A while back there was a reprint of the original M...A while back there was a reprint of the original MLJ Shield stories that I regret I didn't pick up. As you probably know, the Shield was published 14 months before Captain America. From what I've read, Cap's triangular shield had to be changed to a round one because of complaints from MLJ Comics. Any chance you might discuss the Shield - Captain America connection? I'm not criticizing Simon - Kirby for their creation. After all, one can argue there is really no true "originality," that what makes something original is reworking old concepts. Inspiration can come from anywhere. Look at the old Flash Gordon movie serials and Star Wars.<br /><br />Anyway, getting back to my main point: an early Shield comic depicted an attack on Pearl Harbor before it happened -- but in the comic the attack was made by the Germans.<br /><br />Good luck with this project.Luke T. Bushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04527411288764968714noreply@blogger.com