What would be the politics of our favorite superheroes?

[netsurfr42]

While some are quite apparent others might not be.
If you had to classify comic-book characters by their political parties or beliefs where do you think they'd go? Would they get involved?
i'll get started with
like from what I know of green arrow(mainly from JLU) super hard liberal....

While i'd consider placing Batman/Bruce Wayne in a more conservative light... definitely fiscally conservative but pro-gun control

feel free to agree disagree, or bring out other heroes

[The Question]

It's hard to say. Most comics shy away from politics, or at least overtly stating a political affiliation for the characters, and most super heroes have been written by different creators with different political agendas. Like, with Batman, strong arguments have been made for him being a Libertarian and him being a radical leftist. And both make perfect sense for the character. So it's hard to say.

[Thundercrack85]

I'd say they're mostly liberal or moderates, with a few exceptions.

Characters usually reflect the politics of whoever is writing them, unless they make a point to make them different.

Batman is kind of an odd one, with the gun thing. But I don't know if that really classifies as "gun control". After all, it's just him who doesn't use them.

[SV Fan]

The only character I can think of that it seems easy to tell what his ideology politically is Green Arrow. He is a bleeding heart liberal.

[Pink Ranger]

Originally Posted by SV Fan

The only character I can think of that it seems easy to tell what his ideology politically is Green Arrow. He is a bleeding heart liberal.

And of course Hawkman, who Green Arrow calls his polar political opposite, and is I guess a staunch conservative, though I never really got that from anything I read about him.

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Just my opinion from what I've drawn from them...

Liberals: Spider-Man (just get the vibe), Green Arrow (obvious), Daredevil (defense attorney, anti-gun), Reed Richards (extremely intelligent so obviously..), Bruce Banner (hounded by his fascist military dad-in-law), Northstar (gay mutant), Nomad (Jack Monroe... Obvious if you've read his solo series from the early 90's), Professor X... most of the X-Men since they have a history of being a persecuted minority.

Moderate or non-political: Captain America, Superman, Ben Grimm, Batman, Thor

Conservative or Republican: Punisher (big supporter of capital punishment), US Agent (Johnny Walker, brutal version of Cap), Iron-Man (weapons manufacturer and on govt side during civil war), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan, the square opposite of Oliver Queen), Nick Fury (the real one, not Samuel L... military guy), Kingpin (even though he's a villain, he's a shady, free-market, big-business Republican for sure), Norman Osborn for very similar reasons to Kingpin.

[Pink Ranger]

Wolverine would be a total right-winger if he wasn't a mutant. A Canadian mutant no less.

[Thundercrack85]

I'm told Canada has a conservative party.

Then again, I think age would be a factor, considering Wolverine was raised in the 1800's. Canadians from that era had somewhat different views.

Magneto is either a fascist... or a communist, it sort of depends.

Captain America is another odd one. Realistically speaking, he would probably be fairly conservative in some ways, since he's from the forties. Even if he was a liberal by forties standards (and I assume he was a moderate / apolitical).

The most interesting one is Lex Luthor.

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I read in a Cap book once that he tries to stay detached from either political party, because he wants to represent all Americans. In his heart of hearts he's probably left-of-center. He's anti-killing despite his military past, anti-govt side during civil war, very compassionate towards all people and has seen firsthand what can happen when a country is taken over by an extreme right-wing party (that being Germany in WW2).

Wolverine is interesting. He's conservative in some ways (very violent and uncompromising), but also has liberal streaks (very in touch with nature, very open to other cultures (like Japan)). I guess I see him as a libertarian if anything. Dude just wants to do what he wants and everyone else to leave him alone.

[souloffire]

Originally Posted by JJJ's Ulcer

Wolverine is interesting. He's conservative in some ways (very violent and uncompromising), but also has liberal streaks (very in touch with nature, very open to other cultures (like Japan)). I guess I see him as a libertarian if anything. Dude just wants to do what he wants and everyone else to leave him alone.

Didn't realize that "very violent" was a conservative trait.

[Pink Ranger]

Originally Posted by Thundercrack85

Magneto is either a fascist... or a communist, it sort of depends.

Magneto is the picture-perfect example of a charismatic, populist leader in either extremity of the political spectrum (which have more in common with each other than they do their moderate counterparts). He'll say all the right things to his followers, but in practice treats them as nothing more than expendable meatbags when the **** hits the fan.

If I had to choose, I would say he is closer to being a left-wing anarchist revolutionary leader.

[Thundercrack85]

Originally Posted by Pink Ranger

Magneto is the picture-perfect example of a charismatic, populist leader in either extremity of the political spectrum (which have more in common with each other than they do their moderate counterparts). He'll say all the right things to his followers, but in practice treats them as nothing more than expendable meatbags when the **** hits the fan.

If I had to choose, I would say he is closer to being a left-wing anarchist revolutionary leader.

At least until he gets into power.

The political horseshoe theory really seems to hold true. Of course, I think it's meant to be ironic that Magneto at his worst becomes so much like the Nazis he hates.

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Originally Posted by souloffire

Didn't realize that "very violent" was a conservative trait.

Now you know.

Okay let me finesse that, since some people will pick fights over anything. He uses lethal force against criminals, which is a sort of a capital punishment approach and represents the harder and more forceful view that conservatives have towards criminals, while liberal heroes believe in rehabilitation and reformation more.

[Thundercrack85]

Well, again far-left, isn't that different from far-right when it comes to tactics. Look at Communism (or the leftist revolutionaries of France, for a non-commie example). Got quite the body count.

[The Question]

With his love of guns, tough on crime attitude, distrust of the government and law enforcement, and reverence for the military, I'd say that The Punisher is a pretty clear example of a militant libertarian survivalist taken to the furthest extreme.

[Hobgoblin]

I would say that Peter Parker is fairly liberal. His motto lately is "No one dies." Clearly he is anti gun and anti death penalty. He was skeptical of the claim that his powers were based on magic and not on science, as he had always believed.

Still, he has also spoken with God and his clone said outright that he (Ben) was pro-life. On the other-other hand, his other clone, Kaine, is a killer, so maybe I shouldnt include the opinions of the clones.

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Originally Posted by Hobgoblin

I would say that Peter Parker is fairly liberal. His motto lately is "No one dies." Clearly he is anti gun and anti death penalty. He was skeptical of the claim that his powers were based on magic and not on science, as he had always believed.

Still, he has also spoken with God and his clone said outright that he (Ben) was pro-life. On the other-other hand, his other clone, Kaine, is a killer, so maybe I shouldnt include the opinions of the clones.

Huh? When did Ben Reilly indicate a stance on abortion??

[JB-the-Hunter]

Originally Posted by JJJ's Ulcer

I read in a Cap book once that he tries to stay detached from either political party, because he wants to represent all Americans. In his heart of hearts he's probably left-of-center. He's anti-killing despite his military past, anti-govt side during civil war, very compassionate towards all people and has seen firsthand what can happen when a country is taken over by an extreme right-wing party (that being Germany in WW2).

Wolverine is interesting. He's conservative in some ways (very violent and uncompromising), but also has liberal streaks (very in touch with nature, very open to other cultures (like Japan)). I guess I see him as a libertarian if anything. Dude just wants to do what he wants and everyone else to leave him alone.

I would've thought Cap would lean more to the right. Goes to show how politics is just a matter of perception and opinion.

[Hobgoblin]

Originally Posted by JJJ's Ulcer

Huh? When did Ben Reilly indicate a stance on abortion??

I had to do some digging. He mentions his opinion in Spectacular #225, while talking with MJ about her baby potentially having abnormalities.

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Ah okay. I think then his experience as a clone (that many would consider abnormal too) shapes his views on that issue and may make him different from Peter in that regard.

[Hobgoblin]

Originally Posted by JJJ's Ulcer

Ah okay. I think then his experience as a clone (that many would consider abnormal too) shapes his views on that issue and may make him different from Peter in that regard.

He more or less said that. Still, I thought it was worth mentioning. He was Spider-Man for a while, anyway.

[Creator]

Ironically, both Democrats and Republicans are as fictional as comic book characters. Neither truly run the country. The Bankers (Federal Reserve) do.

[Donnie Darko]

Civil War is always a pretty weird political set-up for me because I feel like there are two ways to look at it.

1. It's the Patriot Act. In this case, the Republican heroes side with the government in an attempt to stop potential threats to national security by any means necessary. The Democrat heroes see this as an invasion of personal freedoms and the government overstepping its boundaries. They, in turn, must fight back against a tyrannical government force.

2. It's Gun Control. In this case, the Democrat heroes side with the government in an attempt to stop potential violent threats to citizens by forcing everyone with a power to register and operate within that parameters established by the government. The Republican heroes see this as an invasion of personal freedoms (2nd Amendment) and the government overstepping its boundaries. They, in turn, must fight back against a tyrannical government force.

[Ant-manic]

Ghost (of Thunderbolts and Iron Man fame) is anti-corporation and might be considered an extreme leftist

Falcon is supposed to be a republican; last i heard

U.S. Agent is a hardcore conservative

Stark is more of a hollywood liberal nowadays; having gotten out of the arms race and into clean energy alternatives

i figure that Matt Murdock is a little bit of both because of his catholicism and tendency to stick his neck out for the "little guy"

Henry Pym's a conservative, irrc

[Ant-manic]

Originally Posted by JB-the-Hunter

I would've thought Cap would lean more to the right. Goes to show how politics is just a matter of perception and opinion.

my perception shows me that whenever a challenger to Cap appears, they lean to the right; U.S. Agent, 50s Cap, etc. it's to drive home the point that they are different from Rogers. Steve's an artist with gay and black friends.