So, white supremacist Richard Spencer was punched in the head while speaking on camera on the streets in Washington, DC, yesterday. Nick Spencer, current writer of Captain America suggested this was a bad thing. The internet disagreed.
Captain America was created to punch fascists. If you don't understand that, you need to stop writing the book.
— David Chapman (@JeditOjanen) January 21, 2017
You write for Captain America… Captain America LITERALLY PUNCHES NAZIS!
— Lee (@lee_g_b) January 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/slouched_atlas/status/822750573992742912
Yo @Marvel @nickspencer thinks punching Nazis is bad. Might want to take him off Captain America.
— endithinks🌊 (@Endithinks) January 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/filteredRays/status/822728294512607233
https://twitter.com/Prettylettuce/status/822707976070955008
captain america: *punches hitler in the face*@nickspencer – current cap writer: "idk, i think punching nazis in the face looks bad."
— -bat! (@sleaterkinneyed) January 21, 2017
.@nickspencer you made Captain America a Nazi, and now you're mad that a Nazi got punched. Are you just actually a Nazi?
— Holden (@HellsBellsAmi) January 21, 2017
Captain America wants everyone to say what they want and also punch Nazis in the face
— matthew the raven (@matthewaraven) January 21, 2017
See, crap like this is why you never should've been allowed within 100 yards of Captain America @nickspencer.
— Nicole (@SpaceAgNicole) January 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/nickspencer/status/822681693156802561
So we went to have a look. Captain America #275 by Joe DeMatteis and Mike Zeck from 1982. As he helps repair a trashed-by-Nazis synagogue, daubed swastikas and all.
Only for Captain America to restate his free speech ideals.
The demonstration goes ahead, but this Nazi – to be fair, there's very little "neo" about him, swastika armband and all – receives a bonk on the head from a thrown bottle.
And it all kicks off. Until Captain America throws his idealism.
It does indeed sound familiar, Bernie, Maybe you've been reading Nick Spencer's twitter account?
Anyway, Cap gets attacked from both side, very literally. And he doesn't even punch the Nazi – or the anti-Nazi, he just moves out of their way… and equates the two.
The conclusion? Condemn Nick Spencer's views all you want – but condemn him for having them when he writes Captain America? Cap has been like this for decades. And Nick Spencer seems perfectly suited to write him.
Anyway, let's ask some of the criminal fraternity what they think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ukFAvYP3UU
Also, I don't think I realised until now just how influenced Dale Keown was by Mike Zeck…
About Rich Johnston
Head writer and founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world. Living in London, father of two. Political cartoonist.