The son of Marvel Comics legend Jack Kirby has spoken out about Captain America iconography seen being used by Trump supporters storming the Capitol.
Captain America, one of Marvel Comics’ most enduring and iconic characters, was created in 1941 by the late Jack Kirby, along with his partner Joe Simon. When some were seen wearing Captain America’s highly recognizable imagery during the riots at the Capitol Building last week, Kirby’s son spoke up about the “disgusting and disgraceful” use of his father’s co-creation.
CNN Anchor Jake Tapper shared a message from Neal Kirby on Twitter, saying, “Neal Kirby, the son of Captain America co-creator Jack Kirby, was distressed to see some of the January 6 terrorists/rioters wearing shirts with versions of his dad’s creation corrupted by the image of the outgoing president.”
Neal Kirby, the son of Captain America co-creator Jack Kirby, was distressed to see some of the January 6 terrorists/rioters wearing shirts with versions of his dad’s creation corrupted by the image of the outgoing president. His message to them: pic.twitter.com/RTH9UNs491
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 14, 2021
On Jan. 6, supporters of President Donald Trump flooded the Capitol Building as Congress counted the electoral votes to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win. Some of those who participated in the protest, which resulted in damages, injuries and deaths, were wearing symbols of American patriotism. These included the iconography of Captain America, such as his shield, and some altered images that put President Trump himself in Steve Rogers’ role.
In Neal Kirby’s message, he called the incident “an insurrection inspired and fomented by our own president” and said that it would be “the event that haunts me forever.”
“Captain America is the absolute antithesis of Donald Trump,” he wrote. “Where Captain America is selfless, Trump is self-serving. Where Captain America fights for our country and democracy, Trump fights for personal power and autocracy. Where Captain America stands with the common man, Trump stands with the powerful and the privileged.”
Kirby went on to say that his father and Joe Simon, “the creators of Captain America and WWII veterans, would be absolutely sickened by these images. These images are an insult to both their memories.”
During the same incident, some rioters wore the skull icon of the Punisher, another well-known Marvel character who has recently been embraced by activists against the intentions of writer Garth Ennis and others involved in the character’s creation.
Jack Kirby was known for co-creating some of Marvel Comics’ most beloved characters, with Captain America being just one example. Alongside Stan Lee, Kirby also co-created the likes of the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Doctor Doom and the Incredible Hulk. Kirby was also influential in DC Comics, famously creating the New Gods, a lineup which consisted of such characters as Darkseid, Orion, Mister Miracle, Big Barda and Granny Goodness. Kirby passed away on Feb. 6, 1994 at the age of 76.
Source: Twitter
About The Author