From the Tumblr of bansheewhale; presented without comment.
In honor of Jewish Comics Day, I would like to present to you a short compilation of Jewish superheroes beating the shit out of Nazis/Nazi analogs.
Tag Archives: antisemitism
‘Antisemitism Problem’ In Marvel Movies? No, but…
Over at ComicMix, writer Mindy Newell takes The Jewish Daily Forward to task for its piece, “Do Marvel Movies Have An Anti-Semitic Problem?” Newell minces no words, calling it “the dumbest article I’ve ever read on their site.”
The Forward article by Susan Mohall seems to hinge on Magneto, identified in the movies and (most) comics as a Jewish Holocaust survivor, being a villain as well as the nefarious HYDRA organization having its Nazi roots effaced. Newell quickly dismantles their Magneto argument and, in terms of HYDRA, goes on to say:
Oh, Susan. I guess you never saw Captain America: The Winter Soldier and you never have watched Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. HYDRA evolved, my dear. It’s gotten smarter, its adapted, it’s gotten smoother – just as our own rat-fuckers learned from Watergate – but it is certainly is still fascist, and it’s certainly not “shy[ing] away from its Nazi roots.”
For what it’s worth, Hal Jordan’s partial Jewish heritage was never featured in the Green Lantern movie, and Ben Grimm’s Jewish background has never been noted in any Fantastic Four movie. Then again, neither has Bruce Wayne’s potential tie to the Christian Sir Gawain of Grail Legend or, say, Colossus of the X-Men’s atheistic Communist roots.
Perhaps the issue that Mohell misconstrued was less some form of antisemitism in these superhero films but, instead, a compulsion towards secularizing their characters? (Even Thor, a “god,” isn’t worshiped…)
Is television’s Matt Murdock (aka Daredevil) the first of these cinematic characters we’ve seen seek spiritual help from a real-world religious institution?
Even More Foreskin Man
Following on the initial discussion of the comic book Foreskin Man and the Anti-Defamation League’s denouncement of it as anti-semitic, several responses have appeared online.
First, there’s the blog The Truth Will Set You Free: In God We Trust, whose “About Us” page describes the site as having “a desire to expose America’s fraudulent monetary system and the evil of charging interest on money loaned” as well as “a quest for truth and justice in all aspects of life and human culture with a special focus on political and economic justice – free from racism and oppression.” Contributor Andie531 speculated that Foreskin Man may be “just another Jewish invention,” reasoning that the creators Hess, Barretto, Sololiwski, and supporter Schofield all have apparently Hebrew surnames. Essentially, the blog accuses the ADL of creating its own artificial opposition, though the site does not outright say to what end the ADL would want this.
Next, law blog Above the Law speaks with anti-circumcision proponent Andrew Sullivan about Foreskin Man. Despite being “the most prominent supporter of circumcision bans,” Sullivan opposes the comic book:
“It’s maddening and sickening at the same time. Given these themes behind the movement, despite my conviction that male genital mutilation is a violation of human freedom, I’d vote against it now. The contempt for religious freedom and the use of this kind of anti-Semitic dreck – Monster Mohel anyone? – have pushed me over the edge. One day, a rational, calm and tolerant campaign to prevent the routine mutilation of male infants will emerge. But not this one. It’s despicable.”
Lastly, The Mary Sue: A Guide to Geek Girl Culture also decries the message of Foreskin Man but lauds the environment in which such a work is created:
It’s sad when you see a beloved medium used to spread a hateful message (even when it’s weirdly ineffective), but we would all be poorer without free speech. Because free speech also allows us to mock others.
The site’s coverage has led to over two dozen comments on the comic, the ADL, and free speech. The Mary Sue is part of the Abrams Media Network.
More Foreskin Man
Following Rao’s previous posting on the topic, the comic book Foreskin Man has been declared anti-semitic by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), reports Comic Book Resources’ Robot 6 news blog:
This is an advocacy campaign taken to a new low. This is a sensitive, serious issue where good people can disagree and which the Jewish community feels is an assault on its values and traditions going back thousands of years and centered in the Hebrew Bible. It is one thing to debate it, is another thing to degrade it. “Foreskin Man,” with its grotesque anti-Semitic imagery and themes, reaches a new low and is disrespectful and deeply offensive.
The ADL’s complete statement on Foreskin Man can be found here.
Foreskin Man
In January of 2011, the MGM Bill was presented to the United States Congress as well as 14 state legislators including in Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington. Known in full as the Bill to End Male Genital Mutilation, MGM is an attempt by those known as Intactivists to put an end to baby circumcision in the United States.
And they have a comic book, Foreskin Man.
Both issues #1 and #2 of Foreskin Man are available for free online and tell the story of Miles Hastwick’s superhuman crusade to stop dastardly circumcision at the hands of those like Dr. Mutilator or Monster Mohel. And, before one leaps to claims of antisemitism, it may be worth noting that mgmbill.org is endorsed by groups including Jews Against Circumcision and the Israeli Association against Genital Mutilation who are against performing a bris, for what it’s worth.
Rao wonders, who would win in a fight — Foreskin Man or Shaloman? And with whom would the Jewish Hero Corps stand?