Joe Quesada, Editor-in-Chief... Grand Appeaser

Joe Quesada, Editor-in-Chief... Grand Appeaser

Today I'm going to put on my grown up pants and deliver the news without my 2 cents (which I left in my over-opinionated college know it all pants with the holes in the knees and the yellow residue on them because I haven't washed them in years.

Editorial Opinion
By MrJosh - Feb 12, 2010 08:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Marvel Comics
Source: Yahoo News

That's right folks... and the reason I'm doing this is because this newest information comes straight from the Grand Poobah's mouth and does clarify things upon which a lot of us were speculating.

First, to clarify what the story arc is actually about and shed light on why supporters of the Tea Party movement would be upset and offended, the issue follows Capt. America and Falcon as they head out to locate and neutralize a "right wing, anti-government, White Supremist Militia called the Watchdogs.

Now here's where things get sticky... in the cell where Cap and Falcon stumble upon a protest that is rumored to be populated with members of the Watchdogs, one of the secondary artists at Marvel took it upon him/herself to draw in a singular protest sign "Teabag the libs before the libs Teabag you" that identifies this group as the Tea Party. The bit with Falcon's comment doesn't help (and it turns out that Cap comes up with the idea to disguise Falcon as an IRS agent with the hope that the presence of a black gov't agent will ignite their anger), but in it's self is not intrinsic to the debate... without the direct reference to the Tea Party it is all irrelevant.

People in the entertainment industry are going to inject their views and beliefs into their work, it's inevitable, we all (including myself) have to deal with it or take a long walk off a short cliff. The other side of the coin is (and I'm talking to people in entertainment now) if you fail to do it in a clever and subtle way you are inviting backlash from those who disagree with you. As much as the consumers shouldn't be surprised by propaganda in entertainment, people in entertainment shouldn't be surprised when people are clever enough to figure out what you're doing.

In addressing the issue Joe Quesada says that there was "zero discussion to include a group that looked like a Tea Party demonstration" into the comicbook and that he could "absolutely see how some people are upset about this..." "Quesada then went on to say that Marvel would "apologize for and own up to" a series of "stupid mistakes" that led to them "accidentally identifying" one of the members of the protest group "as being a part of the Tea Party instead of a generic protest group." He explained that they were on deadline to get the issue to the printer for publication, and in the course of sending it off it was noticed that the signs in the scene contained no words or phrases. He said the editor then asked the letterer to "fudge in some quick signs" and that in the "rush to get the book out of the door," the letterer "looked on the net and started pulling slogans" from signs captured in photographs at Tea Party protests in order to make them appear "believable."

In reaction to Joe's statement the founder of the Tea Party, Judson Phillips, decided to stand his ground by saying the apology "sounds less like a genuine 'we're sorry' than it does a 'we're sorry we got caught' statement... When I was a child in the '60s Captain America was my favorite superhero," he said. "It's really sad to see what has traditionally been a pro-America figure being used to advance a political agenda."



If people wish to debate the issue please do, but remember we're not discussing which political affiliation has the most racists, womanizers, corporate whores, liars, cheater or backstabbers because they both do... we're not debating which political philosophy is more enlightened because they are like Yin and Yang, a country full of war-mongering republicans will destroy itself and a country full of tree hugging democrats will be destroyed. We are discussing the "Bully Pulpit" better known as the entertainment industry and the responsible use of it.
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BarneyStinson
BarneyStinson - 2/12/2010, 9:03 AM
trying to think of a witty comment other than first
MrJosh
MrJosh - 2/12/2010, 9:27 AM
Thanks for not fisting me Barney
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 2/12/2010, 9:34 AM
I agree Multi..they should never have apologized!
ManhuntersBastardChild
ManhuntersBastardChild - 2/12/2010, 9:35 AM
i remember reading about this a day or two ago somewhere...?
BarneyStinson
BarneyStinson - 2/12/2010, 9:42 AM
that works, i was commenting on the article yesterday about free speech and being able to say what you want no matter who you offend. I think it's wrong that Marvel backed down, apologized or what ever it is you call it. i don't see it as them using their powers as a "mass media enterprise" to further their political agenda. i see it as them depicting a real life situation in a fantasy world.
Betty
Betty - 2/12/2010, 10:10 AM
boring!
Wadey09
Wadey09 - 2/12/2010, 10:20 AM
@Tea
hey at least you were gonna be mentioned in a comic!
then Marvel woulda made a movie out of it somehow!
MrJosh
MrJosh - 2/12/2010, 10:23 AM
and that means royalties!
Phinehas
Phinehas - 2/12/2010, 11:42 AM
Marvel knew what they were doing. Anybody with half a brain would know that using those paticular slogans would pigeon-hole that group and immediatley be identified as Tea Party. Then, apologizing for it shows that they are duplicite and spineless.
I think they are politically wrong, but they shouldn't apologize for it unless they mean it. And they don't.
Shaman
Shaman - 2/12/2010, 2:19 PM
THEY APPOLOGIZED!?!?!?!?!?!? What was that aboot, eh? And i thought i was a nice fellah. Kraft Dinner any-budday? *blinks repeatedly beedy eyes*
OdinsBeard
OdinsBeard - 2/12/2010, 2:58 PM
who cares? anyone looking for life changing political insight from a comic book needs to reassess their priorities. Who cares if cap is a liberal book? who cares if its conservative? when it come to punching the red skull in the face i could care less what political views are expressed in a comic.

it's entertainment - don't like it? go make your own.

after this uproar - sounds like these tea(douche) bags had it coming. god damn no one can say anything in this world without some "official" "organization" putting out a statement demanding an apology. get over yourselves and enjoy a comic for what it is - FICTIONAL entertainment.

i bet 99% of this party has never picked up a comic - then all of the sudden; "WHAT?!?!?! they took a jab at us??????? NOOOOOO!!!!!!"
Phinehas
Phinehas - 2/13/2010, 11:31 AM
Sheesh, what did the Tea Party do, crap in your Cheerios, OdinsBeard?
This article doesn't say anything about an apology "demanded". Just a statement put forth by the leader expressing his displeasure.
I totally identify with the Tea Party's discontent.
foxfan
foxfan - 2/15/2010, 5:17 AM
joe quesada can be so lame. what a lie! a little rumbling and he makes this garbage up because he lacks any courage to stand by his move. the move to put the signs in was lame and heavy-handed, but this creative weaseling out of it is even worse. i REALLY wish that guy was just drawing and not editing b/c he's a terrific artist.
McLovin
McLovin - 2/22/2010, 6:31 PM
I'm with the "All Father" on this one.
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