The politics of superheroes

Obviously it varies from writer to writer, but there is a general theme going on. I'll kick-off with Spiderman and Batman.

Spiderman is clearly a socialist. His mantra is "with great power comes great responsibility", which is barely a stones throw from "from each according to their ability" part of Louis Blanc's most famous quote.
He is poor despite being a genius and struggles day to day underneath capitalist oppressors (despite having a near monopoly on spiderman pictures, he is woefully under paid by the Bugle who seem to be able to pay whatever they want regardless of demand). Many of his villains are either very wealthy capitalists (Osborn/Green Goblin, Kingpin, Vulture, Tinkerer) or the products of capitalists.

Batman is arguably an anarcho-capitalist. His behaviour clearly reflects individualism at work. His "superpower" is not only his wealth, but his ingenuity. He clearly earns everything he gets, whether through his skills as a business man as Bruce Wayne, or the gadgets he creates. The government is frequently his foe, and the very nature of his existence declares discontent with the status quo.

Any thoughts or other superheroes you guys want to add?

V. Anarcho-Communist. The comic is actually pretty clear on that.

Captain America is a Classical Liberal.

Iron Man was conceived as an Objectivist, but he's clearly not one of those anymore what with the Superhuman Registration Act and Superhero Civil War thing.

"The Question" is explicitly libertarian I believe.

Superman is a capitalist. He represents the classic average American who is an immensely powerful superhero representing the power of America derived from the hard working Americans who make it up.

At 5/6/2012 10:14:04 AM, ConservativePolitico wrote:
Superman is a capitalist. He represents the classic average American who is an immensely powerful superhero representing the power of America derived from the hard working Americans who make it up.

He didn't work his way up. He was born with all of his talents, so he represents the capitalistic aristocracy.

At 5/6/2012 10:20:24 AM, royalpaladin wrote:

At 5/6/2012 10:14:04 AM, ConservativePolitico wrote:
Superman is a capitalist. He represents the classic average American who is an immensely powerful superhero representing the power of America derived from the hard working Americans who make it up.

He didn't work his way up. He was born with all of his talents, so he represents the capitalistic aristocracy.

He is also very pro establishment/ government.

Anyone wana take a stab at Aquaman?

I mean that literally, someone stab him.

At 5/6/2012 6:49:44 PM, airmax1227 wrote:
Anyone wana take a stab at Aquaman?

I mean that literally, someone stab him.

I fuckking love aquaman

At 5/6/2012 6:49:44 PM, airmax1227 wrote:
Anyone wana take a stab at Aquaman?

I mean that literally, someone stab him.

With a swordfish, for irony's sake.

At 5/3/2012 11:42:06 AM, Thaddeus wrote:
Obviously it varies from writer to writer, but there is a general theme going on. I'll kick-off with Spiderman and Batman.

Spiderman is clearly a socialist. His mantra is "with great power comes great responsibility", which is barely a stones throw from "from each according to their ability" part of Louis Blanc's most famous quote.
He is poor despite being a genius and struggles day to day underneath capitalist oppressors (despite having a near monopoly on spiderman pictures, he is woefully under paid by the Bugle who seem to be able to pay whatever they want regardless of demand). Many of his villains are either very wealthy capitalists (Osborn/Green Goblin, Kingpin, Vulture, Tinkerer) or the products of capitalists.

Batman is arguably an anarcho-capitalist. His behaviour clearly reflects individualism at work. His "superpower" is not only his wealth, but his ingenuity. He clearly earns everything he gets, whether through his skills as a business man as Bruce Wayne, or the gadgets he creates. The government is frequently his foe, and the very nature of his existence declares discontent with the status quo.

Any thoughts or other superheroes you guys want to add?

The whole concept of superheroes is elitist and slights the real-world working-class activist-heroes in the trenches around the globe fighting the good fight for their fellow working-class victims of the transnational capitalist power structure.

At 5/6/2012 8:57:35 PM, charleslb wrote:

At 5/3/2012 11:42:06 AM, Thaddeus wrote:
Obviously it varies from writer to writer, but there is a general theme going on. I'll kick-off with Spiderman and Batman.

Spiderman is clearly a socialist. His mantra is "with great power comes great responsibility", which is barely a stones throw from "from each according to their ability" part of Louis Blanc's most famous quote.
He is poor despite being a genius and struggles day to day underneath capitalist oppressors (despite having a near monopoly on spiderman pictures, he is woefully under paid by the Bugle who seem to be able to pay whatever they want regardless of demand). Many of his villains are either very wealthy capitalists (Osborn/Green Goblin, Kingpin, Vulture, Tinkerer) or the products of capitalists.

Batman is arguably an anarcho-capitalist. His behaviour clearly reflects individualism at work. His "superpower" is not only his wealth, but his ingenuity. He clearly earns everything he gets, whether through his skills as a business man as Bruce Wayne, or the gadgets he creates. The government is frequently his foe, and the very nature of his existence declares discontent with the status quo.

Any thoughts or other superheroes you guys want to add?

The whole concept of superheroes is elitist and slights the real-world working-class activist-heroes in the trenches around the globe fighting the good fight for their fellow working-class victims of the transnational capitalist power structure.

I get the feeling you'd like Superman: Red Son.

http://en.wikipedia.org...

At 5/6/2012 10:18:31 PM, Korashk wrote:

At 5/6/2012 8:57:35 PM, charleslb wrote:

At 5/3/2012 11:42:06 AM, Thaddeus wrote:
Obviously it varies from writer to writer, but there is a general theme going on. I'll kick-off with Spiderman and Batman.

Spiderman is clearly a socialist. His mantra is "with great power comes great responsibility", which is barely a stones throw from "from each according to their ability" part of Louis Blanc's most famous quote.
He is poor despite being a genius and struggles day to day underneath capitalist oppressors (despite having a near monopoly on spiderman pictures, he is woefully under paid by the Bugle who seem to be able to pay whatever they want regardless of demand). Many of his villains are either very wealthy capitalists (Osborn/Green Goblin, Kingpin, Vulture, Tinkerer) or the products of capitalists.

Batman is arguably an anarcho-capitalist. His behaviour clearly reflects individualism at work. His "superpower" is not only his wealth, but his ingenuity. He clearly earns everything he gets, whether through his skills as a business man as Bruce Wayne, or the gadgets he creates. The government is frequently his foe, and the very nature of his existence declares discontent with the status quo.

Any thoughts or other superheroes you guys want to add?

The whole concept of superheroes is elitist and slights the real-world working-class activist-heroes in the trenches around the globe fighting the good fight for their fellow working-class victims of the transnational capitalist power structure.

I get the feeling you'd like Superman: Red Son.

http://en.wikipedia.org...

I've seen this before. Always thought it was neat.

Show royal, I bet she'd love it.