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From: martillo@ihuxt.UUCP (Yehoyaqim Shemtob Martillo)
Newsgroups: net.comics,net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Marvel Comics, Jews and Other Ethnic Groups (Oz)
Message-ID: <399@ihuxt.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Apr-84 11:26:13 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxt.399
Posted: Tue Apr 10 11:26:13 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Apr-84 05:42:21 EST
References: <395@ihuxt.UUCP>, <1854@rlgvax.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 65


>I'm sorry.  I don't want to write this, I will regret writing this, but
>I cannot be silent.  I am Jewish, I am (at times) too sensitive to peoples
>reaction to Jews.  I do not deny my heritage.  I also think that comic
>books, ESPECIALLY those from Marvel, are for ENTERTAINMENT purposes and
>do NOT have to deal with the real world in any way, shape or form.

I agree but after Marvel was brought to my attention, I read them for
approximately 2 years.  Marvel does not aim to be pure entertainment. I
have noticed some strong tendencies to preach on political issues.  This
preaching is not purely entertainment.  Captain America is the worst
offender.  Recently, there was a What If story which dealt with a
confrontation between the original Captain America (who is also the
current Captain America) and the McCarthyite Captain America of the 50's. 
McCarthyism was a disgusting political philosophy but it was not
antisemitic and although Joe McCarthy was guilty of many offenses, he
probably was not guilty of personal antisemitism.  Charging McCarthyism 
with antisemitism was part of a Soviet disinformation campaign to draw
attention away from the antisemitism of the Slansky trials.  Seeing a
children's entertainment medium purveying Soviet disinformation (albeit
historic) is quite distressing.

The USA deserves much honor that during that tense period of the cold war
there were very few open expressions of antisemitism although at that time
period many Jews were taking part in mindless leftist and communist
political movements.  If a comparable number of Jews known to be Jews were
taking part in similar movements in France at that time period, there
would have been pogroms.

>Anytime MARVEL has shown a different culture it has been for one reason and
>one reason ONLY: To have a slightly different plot line to keep a story
>interesting.  I do NOT believe that they are trying to make ANY point
>what so ever.  That is why so many of us "older" readers are looking to
>the alternate comics for our enjoyment.

Recently, there was a Captain America story in which the whole plot was
devoted to the conflict between American and Indian culture.  In the
story's culmination Captain American humbled himself before the Spirit of
the American Indians.  In treating the characters as symbols (which was
the author's intention) the author was preaching a specific point.

>Marvel has been better then most "main stream comics" (read: DC and Marvel)
>in showing various ethnic groups.  Sgt Fury and his Howling Commandos had
>just about every group that you cared to mention.  THE TOMB OF DRACULA had
>an EXCELLENT Jewish subplot at one point.  The most recent Moon Knight was
>very good, although somewhat inaccurate.  My point is, I don't think the
>writers at Marvel try to discriminate against various enthnic groups.  They
>write "entertaining" stories about people that are over 6' tall, weigh at
>least 190 lbs and are either rich and super strong, or are at least super
>strong.  To complain that they are insensitive to Jews is like accusing them
>of being insensitive to short, fat, weak people.

Since I am trying to research this question as part of my job at WOJAC,  I
would be interested which issues of TOD and Sgt. Fury you are describing. 
I was not accusing Marvel of antisemitism or conscious discrimination but
rather of ignorant insensitivity.  You yourself state that the Moon Knight
issues were somewhat inaccurate.  If I were to write a comic book about
Blacks, I would try at the very least consult with some knowledgeable
Blacks in order to get the facts right.  Thereby I might avoid offending
the Black community.
-- 

                    Yehoyaqim Shemtob Martillo

  (Some ideas are so stupid only intellectuals can believe them)