How would Marvel Universe react to the War on Terror?

[The Ski Mask]

I was thinking about this question when I studying for my Political Science exam. The Marvel universe is similiar to our universe in many ways, all of the world's countries exists plus some extra (ex: Latveria and Wakanda), similiar international organizations (ex: UN), and same personnels exists. (ex: President Bush)

Think about it, President Bush started the War on Terror after 9/11. This war affected all of the world's countries one way or another. How do you think Marvel Universe, particulary the fictional countries like Latveria and Wakanda, would react to the War on Terror.

I think this is how the situation will go...


Wakanda
King T'Challa would probably have a bad reputation in the US government because because Wakanda is not a democracy and have a record of nationalizing foreign companies. Also, a Black militant movement called the Black Panther maybe based upon him. I, however, doubt the US government will do much with Wakanda because T'Challa is a member of the Avenger and Wakanda is an isolationist nation. I also doubt T'Challa will full heartedly supports the War on Terror because he is a pacifist (until recently) and T'Challa may view the war as another excuse for imperialism. Relationship between Wakanda and the US will probably get better after T'Challa's generousity during Hurrican Katrina.

There is no way in hell T'Challa is going to support Iraq.

Wakanda's contribution to the War on Terror will be minimal because the Wakanda military, although high tech, is solely for defensive purposes.

Latveria
People may think that Doctor Doom may probably be funding Al-Quida. However, after I doubt it because of his reaction to 9/11 (Amazing Spiderman v.2 #36) and Doom had nothing against the US government.
Also, Al-Quida, like Stint-Man (burn!!!), is unworthy of Doom's care. Given his reaction to 9/11, he may support the War on Terror because Doom is probably dismayed by the severe lost of innocent lives.

As for Iraq, I don't expect Doom to be apart of the invasion forces because he don't need oil. However, I do except Doom to support the war because there would be one less "theat" to worry about.

Latveria's contribution to the War on Terror will probably be Doombots and extremely deadly weapons that the US Government would not dare to use.

Genosha
Let's see. A country populated by nothing but Mutants, under constant attack by US created Sentinels, immigrant Mutants came here to escape prescution from Homo sapien, and the leader himself hate Homo sapiens. He is obviously upset about 9/11 (Amazing Spiderman v.2 #36). But he would not contribute much to the War on Terror because he will probably be happy about Homo sapiens tearing each other, instead of mutants, apart. Also, there are only 198+ mutants left on the planet. Why would he risk losing more?

I will be very interested to find out how would he react to a possible war between US and Iran. As a Holocaust survivor, he would be outraged by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's remark. Is uranium a metal?

Asgard
Ultimate Thor obviously oppose to any conflict because he is a tree hugging, whale safeing hippy. As for 616 Thor, he obviously will be supportive of the Operation Enduring Freedom because OEF is similiar to his brief stint as the ruler of Earth, where he tried to impose his ideals upon a corrupted people.

I don't know about Iraq, but Thor will probably not care because he didn't have a SUV, he had the Mjolnir. Also, I don't know why, but I think he would be a part of the Weapons Inspection Team.

 

[The Apocalypse]

Osama would have been caught already...

 

[Ahura Mazda]

Umm lets see...

Xavier does world scan.....Sentry grabs OBN....Xavier does another world scan and all pockets are taken over




War on Terror..it would not be a war plus I do not think 9/11 could happen if you had superheroes flying around.

 

[MajinShenron]

War on Terror..it would not be a war plus I do not think 9/11 could happen if you had superheroes flying around.

Well, no one expected a plane to hit a building, I doubt super heroes would be looking for that either.

 

[November Rain]

well wasn't 9/11 shown to occur in a spiderman book, it was either just before or just after the coming home arc..

i have a recollection of seeing dr doom crying.

 

[torkibe]

9/11 was acknowledged as a show of respect for what happened. It was pretty hard to ignore. However, comic books are first and foremost an escape from reality. We lose ourselves in the great battles of our god like heroes, and even the day to day trials and tribulations of a nerdy kid who gotten bitten by a radioactive spider and is trying really hard to keep a normal life. When I escape into that world, I want to forget about the world around me, not be reminded of it. I think comic books should just not deal with it at all.

 

[The Question]

9/11 was acknowledged as a show of respect for what happened. It was pretty hard to ignore. However, comic books are first and foremost an escape from reality. We lose ourselves in the great battles of our god like heroes, and even the day to day trials and tribulations of a nerdy kid who gotten bitten by a radioactive spider and is trying really hard to keep a normal life. When I escape into that world, I want to forget about the world around me, not be reminded of it. I think comic books should just not deal with it at all.

Okay, no. Comic books are not, first and foremost, an escape from reality. They can be, but saying that that is their primairy function limits them terribly. Comics are Juxtaposed pictoral and other imiges in deliperate sequence, intended to convey information and/or and asthetic response in the viewer. That's it. They're not super heroes and super villains or an escape from reality. They can be, but they're much much more than that aswell. If some comics want to deal with the war on terror, then they can and probably should.

 

[November Rain]

indeed, some of the best stories told in comics deal with a hyper-reality situations that we may all end up facing in our lifetimes...

love, loss, betrayal, suffering, teamwork, overcoming the odds, stepping up to the plate etc...

 

[Franklin Richards]

It would have taken S.H.I.E.L.D. about the length of a summer crossover to end the War on Terrorism.

 

[torkibe]

Okay, no. Comic books are not, first and foremost, an escape from reality. They can be, but saying that that is their primairy function limits them terribly. Comics are Juxtaposed pictoral and other imiges in deliperate sequence, intended to convey information and/or and asthetic response in the viewer. That's it. They're not super heroes and super villains or an escape from reality. They can be, but they're much much more than that aswell. If some comics want to deal with the war on terror, then they can and probably should.

Now you're just taking it persoanlly and trying to defend comics as a viable medium. However, as I said, they are FIRST AND FOREMOST an escape from reality. That is what ALL entertainment is. From the greatest novels to award winning movies to saturday moring cartoons. The primary function is to entertain the viewer/reader and allow them escape the dulldroms of daily life. Yes, some comics are all the things you mentioned, but that is simply the parts of a greater whole.

 

[torkibe]

indeed, some of the best stories told in comics deal with a hyper-reality situations that we may all end up facing in our lifetimes...

love, loss, betrayal, suffering, teamwork, overcoming the odds, stepping up to the plate etc...

Yes, they do. But it's not YOUR life. It may be someone you can relate to or believe in, but it's not YOU, and therein lies the escape.

 

[The Question]

Now you're just taking it persoanlly and trying to defend comics as a viable medium.

1) I'm not taking it personally.

2) You don't think it is a viable medium?

However, as I said, they are FIRST AND FOREMOST an escape from reality. That is what ALL entertainment is. From the greatest novels to award winning movies to saturday moring cartoons. The primary function is to entertain the viewer/reader and allow them escape the dulldroms of daily life. Yes, some comics are all the things you mentioned, but that is simply the parts of a greater whole.

They're not first and foremost an escape from reality. They can be. But that is just one aspect of what they are. Besides the peramiters of the medium, no artistic medium is first and foremost anything.

 

[November Rain]

Yes, they do. But it's not YOUR life. It may be someone you can relate to or believe in, but it's not YOU, and therein lies the escape.

the war or terror has nothing to do with my life, nor do the affects of 9/11.

there can be just as much escapism with the news as there is with a comic.

 

[torkibe]

1) I'm not taking it personally.

2) You don't think it is a viable medium?



They're not first and foremost an escape from reality. They can be. But that is just one aspect of what they are. Besides the peramiters of the medium, no artistic medium is first and foremost anything.

I absolutely think it's a viable medium. I defend comic books daily to people who see them soley as childrens play things. However, it doesn't change the fact that the intent of the meduim as a whole is to entertain. Not make a social statement, not change the world, not even be works of art (though some certainly are and some of the artists probably do feel that way).

 

[torkibe]

the war or terror has nothing to do with my life, nor do the affects of 9/11.

there can be just as much escapism with the news as there is with a comic.

Where do you live? On earth? Because if you do, the war on terror certainly has something to do with your life. It may not have touched you directly yet, and God willing it never does, but everything around you is influenced by some way by the war on terror. Have you gotten on a plane lately? Or gone to a major sporting event? How about just watched the news? Don't fool yourself, the war on terror effects you.

 

[The Question]

I absolutely think it's a viable medium. I defend comic books daily to people who see them soley as childrens play things. However, it doesn't change the fact that the intent of the meduim as a whole is to entertain. Not make a social statement, not change the world, not even be works of art (though some certainly are and some of the artists probably do feel that way).

And something that's entertaining can't make a social statement, be a work of art, or change the world? South Park is very entertaining, and it regularly makes social statements. Princess Mononoko is entertaining, and not only does it make social statements but it is an incredibly beautiful work of art. Literature from the Romantic period, such as Frankenstein, are as a whole rather entertaining, and they certainly helped change how we look at the world. An artistic/entertainment medium is not meant to be anything but be a medium. It's not first and foremost anything. If comics awnt to deal with the war on terror, then they can and I personally think they should.

 

[November Rain]

Where do you live? On earth? Because if you do, the war on terror certainly has something to do with your life. It may not have touched you directly yet, and God willing it never does, but everything around you is influenced by some way by the war on terror. Have you gotten on a plane lately? Or gone to a major sporting event? How about just watched the news? Don't fool yourself, the war on terror effects you.

.....no it doesn't.

I don't fly or and I haven't gone to a major sporting event. I don't even drive so it's not affecting my fuel costs.

I can't say my life has changed due to the war on terror. I live in sheffield in the UK.

the whole world doesn't revolve around this subject. mine certainly doesn't. Watching the news sometimes has the same form of escapism than watching fiction or reading a comic.

I can however see where you are coming from though.

 

[torkibe]

And something that's entertaining can't make a social statement, be a work of art, or change the world? South Park is very entertaining, and it regularly makes social statements. Princess Mononoko is entertaining, and not only does it make social statements but it is an incredibly beautiful work of art. Literature from the Romantic period, such as Frankenstein, are as a whole rather entertaining, and they certainly helped change how we look at the world. An artistic/entertainment medium is not meant to be anything but be a medium. It's not first and foremost anything. If comics awnt to deal with the war on terror, then they can and I personally think they should.

You're missing the point. I've already said comic books can do all those things. However, once again, that is NOT what they are primarily intended to do. They are, first and foremost, a form of entertainment. Period. You can lament until the end of time how they have changed the world, but that is not what they are meant to do.

 

[torkibe]

.....no it doesn't.

I don't fly or and I haven't gone to a major sporting event. I don't even drive so it's not affecting my fuel costs.

I can't say my life has changed due to the war on terror. I live in sheffield in the UK.

the whole world doesn't revolve around this subject. mine certainly doesn't. Watching the news sometimes has the same form of escapism than watching fiction or reading a comic.

I can however see where you are coming from though.

And the tube didn't get bombed in London killing hundreds? You are very naive if you think just because you don't live in the U.S. or the middle east that terrorism doesn't effect you. Especially as a single mother. I never said your whole world revolves around it, just that it is effected.

 

[The Question]

You're missing the point. I've already said comic books can do all those things. However, once again, that is NOT what they are primarily intended to do. They are, first and foremost, a form of entertainment. Period. You can lament until the end of time how they have changed the world, but that is not what they are meant to do.

And entertainment can bring up social points, can be a work of art, and can change the world. Comics are meant to be comics. They're not meant to be an escape or social comentary. They're meant to have the possibility to be many things, of which those are only two. To quote Edward R. Murrow:

"To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. Good night, and good luck."

 

[torkibe]

And entertainment can bring up social points, can be a work of art, and can change the world. Comics are meant to be comics. They're not meant to be an escape or social comentary. They're meant to have the possibility to be many things, of which those are only two. To quote Edward R. Murrow:

"To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. Good night, and good luck."

We're going in circles here. You are completely missing the point and it's hurting my head now.

 

[The Ski Mask]

This thread is not supposed to be about the purpose of comic books.

Xavier does world scan.....Sentry grabs OBN....Xavier does another world scan and all pockets are taken over

Can Xavier (before M-Day) really do this?

And...

Do you honestly think the War on Terror can just end when Superman Rip-Off aka Sentry grab bin Laden? Al-Quida is an ideal. Osama's will be replaced by men smarter and more ruthless than he is.

And what makes you think Al-Quida do not have supervillans of their own. I wouldn't be surprise if they have militants as well trained as the Punisher. Or reuseable Suicide Bombers. Oh for crying out loud, the Saudi family once wrote fat and juicy cheques to the Al-Quida.

War on Terror..it would not be a war plus I do not think 9/11 could happen if you had superheroes flying around.

Although Iron Man can safe an airplane from crashing (Ultimate Avenger #1), I don't think he can stop a plane flying into the WTC at high speed.

And Sentry will just ended up crushing the plane in the air when he quickly decreased plane's veocity. (some physic bull I don't remember.)

 

[The Question]

We're going in circles here. You are completely missing the point and it's hurting my head now.

I'm not completely missing the point. I'm disagreeing with you. There's a difference.

 

[Artistsean]

Stan Lee said that he would not like a remake of the first Captain America cover where he is punching out Hitler and replace it with Cap punching out Osamma Bin Ladin. He said it would be in bad taste.
Probably the same with the war on terror.

 

[Ahura Mazda]

This thread is not supposed to be about the purpose of comic books.



Can Xavier (before M-Day) really do this?

And...

Do you honestly think the War on Terror can just end when Superman Rip-Off aka Sentry grab bin Laden? Al-Quida is an ideal. Osama's will be replaced by men smarter and more ruthless than he is.

And what makes you think Al-Quida do not have supervillans of their own. I wouldn't be surprise if they have militants as well trained as the Punisher. Or reuseable Suicide Bombers. Oh for crying out loud, the Saudi family once wrote fat and juicy cheques to the Al-Quida.



Although Iron Man can safe an airplane from crashing (Ultimate Avenger #1), I don't think he can stop a plane flying into the WTC at high speed.

And Sentry will just ended up crushing the plane in the air when he quickly decreased plane's veocity. (some physic bull I don't remember.)

My point was not to claim a methodology but to say given you have heroes preventing people who threaten to conquer the planet the world structure would be diferent and whether this type of terrorism existed or not is in question.