Superheroes and Terrorism

[UCLGeogPhD]

Good Morning/Afternoon (depending on when you read this message),

My name is Nick I would very much like to ask a favor of the members this online community of fellow superhero fans . I'm currently undertaking research at the Geography Department of University College London in order to obtain my PhD. My topic of study is based around the notion of Superhero Comics and themes of Terrorism within the past decade, drawing from ideas within cultural geography and geopolitics .

Now I have my own ideas about historically recent superhero stories and characters that seem to me to deal with themes of terrorism, terrorists, counter-terrorism and political events surrounding these ideas but as a researcher I would also like to reach out to the community of comic readers (i.e. your good selves) and try to get your opinions on this matter as well. I am thus asking for your opinions on what you feel are examples of recent (present to past decade) superhero comics, storylines and characters (Heroes, villains, groups and supporting cast) that, to you as a readers feel, address themes of terrorism and counter-terrorism.

I would like to thank everyone who reads this in advance, and a special thank you in advance to anyone who posts ideas and comics down. If any one wants any further details about the project then please feel free to PM me and I'll answer any questions you may have.

Thanks

Nick

 

[Spider-Fan]

What exactly are you asking us to do? Do you want us discussing these in the thread or in Pming or online messaging?

If you want to interview someone, I'd gladly help you out

 

[UCLGeogPhD]

What exactly are you asking us to do? Do you want us discussing these in the thread or in Pming or online messaging?

If you want to interview someone, I'd gladly help you out

Howdy,
I'm after the opinions of forum users such as your good self on these matters to be suggested here in this thread (for the moment). I'm just after some suggestions from the community on what they feel are key superhero storylines/characters etc that deal with themes of terrorism from the past decade.

In essence I'm trying to reduce an element of bias in my study as well as accept the fact that like most comic fans I haven't read everything, as my current comic buying preferences are expensive enough as it is already . Therefore there will be storys and characters that I haven't been reading that may be of interest to this. Thus to help this I feel the wider community of comic readers is a great group to get their worthy opinions from

 

[Spider-Fan]

There was a Captain America story back when they relaunched it at issue #1 where Captain America joins the war on terror. That is a pretty good run there. I'd also recommend Marvel's Civil War, since Captain America's anti-registration group was essential a terrorist group. The Amazing Spider-Man issue where he visits the WTC wreckage is another good one, though that focuses on patriotism more than terrorism, but it is a good story that shows how we responded to the events of 9/11 (the ultra patriotic feel).

I'll try and think of more for you.

 

[bored]

I think it's become easy for people to look at most comic-book super-villains as exaggerated terrorists (and really, aren't they?), so the whole notion of their existence has become much more intriguing as the global awareness of terrorism grows. You look at somebody like the Red Skull, a classic super-villain, and what are the most recent noteworthy things he's done? Assassinated a major figure in broad daylight, and released a deadly biological weapon (while disguised as a US government official, no less).

Many super-villains really are terrorists escalated to levels suitable to fantasy. Just like real-life "villains" have military backgrounds and mimic their tactics on things like guerrilla warfare, villains from the realm of superhero comics base themselves and their styles off of the level of counter-acting force (that is, superheroes).

Btw, just to be safe, let me know and get my permission if you actually quote something I say in your paper, since you started this discussion for academic purposes. It's definitely a good subject.

 

[Mike_D202]

I think there's some controversy surrounding some of the comics when it comes to superheroes and terrorism. For example, Superman always had to stop Lex Luthor from committing deeds that would be considered "evil," as opposed to Lex Luthor who thought he was saving the world from superheroes whome he thought were the terrorists.

 

[Speedball]

I'm a geography major at my school, and I like your project.
I think if you take a look at comics that were released just after 9/11, you'll find a lot of useful info.
I also think the Ultimates 2 is a good story to take a good look at, along with the Extremis Iron Man story and the newest Invincible Iron Man first arc by Matt Fraction.

 

[UCLGeogPhD]

I'm a geography major at my school, and I like your project.
I think if you take a look at comics that were released just after 9/11, you'll find a lot of useful info.
I also think the Ultimates 2 is a good story to take a good look at, along with the Extremis Iron Man story and the newest Invincible Iron Man first arc by Matt Fraction.

Good to see a fellow geographer out there in the community Thats alot of Iron man to have a look at, thanks for the info Extremis is the recent retcon of Iron Man origin isnt it?

 

[UCLGeogPhD]

I think it's become easy for people to look at most comic-book super-villains as exaggerated terrorists (and really, aren't they?), so the whole notion of their existence has become much more intriguing as the global awareness of terrorism grows. You look at somebody like the Red Skull, a classic super-villain, and what are the most recent noteworthy things he's done? Assassinated a major figure in broad daylight, and released a deadly biological weapon (while disguised as a US government official, no less).

Many super-villains really are terrorists escalated to levels suitable to fantasy. Just like real-life "villains" have military backgrounds and mimic their tactics on things like guerrilla warfare, villains from the realm of superhero comics base themselves and their styles off of the level of counter-acting force (that is, superheroes).

Btw, just to be safe, let me know and get my permission if you actually quote something I say in your paper, since you started this discussion for academic purposes. It's definitely a good subject.

I would definately ask permission before I quoted anything . Nothing worse than finding yourself misquoted and to be frank it would unethical research practice to do so anyways. Although to be honest at this stage all I am seeking to do is understand and work out what the comics community feel are the superhero comics which best engage with their understandings of terrorism.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

Garth Ennis's run on the Punsher dealt with Terrorism a lot. Check out his stories "Mother Russia" "Man of Stone" "Valley Forge" and also his run on the Boys with deals with a post 9/11 world, (however,the Brooklyn bridge is destroyed not the Twin Towers).