The son of a Marvel Comics legend speaks out after one of his father’s most famous characters was appropriated during the January 6 uprising in the American Capitol in Washington DC. As documented in news photos, several of the rioters were seen wearing Captain America symbols, including his distinctive American flag-inspired shield, which was donated to him by his creators, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. (Simon and Kirby died in 2011 and 1994, respectively.)
In a statement released to CNN anchor Jake Tapper – and tweeted by outspoken actor Chris Evans, who plays Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Kirby’s son, Neal, strongly denounced the rioters’ use of Captain America-inspired images and noted that the character’s origins from World War II as a super-soldier against fascism wash. “He was created by two Jewish guys from New York who hated Nazis and hated bullies,” Kirby said in a statement. “Captain American stood up for the underdog and … always stood up for what was fair and never stood back.”
Kirby further said he was “terrified and killed” to see Captain America symbols on T-shirts and flags during the Capitol uprising. ‘These images are disgusting and shameful. Captain America is the absolute antithesis of Donald Trump …. If Donald Trump had the qualities and character of Captain America, the White House would be a dazzling symbol of truth and integrity, and not an exuberant pit of lies and hypocrisy. . ”
Neal Kirby, the son of Captain America, co-creator Jack Kirby, was saddened to see some of the terrorists / rioters wear shirts on January 6 with versions of his father’s creation damaged by the image of the outgoing president . His message to them: pic.twitter.com/RTH9UNs491
– Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) 14 January 2021
Kirby’s statement comes as Marvel Comics is again faced with the skull symbol associated with the Punisher, which was used by the rioters on January 6, as well as members of law enforcement during the Black Lives Matter protests last summer . Actor Jon Bernthal, who played the anti-hero Frank Castle on Netflix Criminal series, expressed his disgust and wrote on Twitter: “These people are being deceived and lost. They have nothing to do with what Frank stands for or what he is about. ”
To date, Marvel Comics has not made any official comment on the Punisher controversy. It is interesting that the topic was discussed in an issue of the year 2019 Criminal cartoon, with a scene in which Castle confronts a group of police officers in New York who claim to be on the same side. After the Punisher bluntly says, “We are not the same,” he suggests a hero whose example they should rather follow. ‘Do your boys need a role model? His name is Captain America, and he would love to have you. ‘
Read more from Yahoo Entertainment