Son of ‘Captain America’ co-creator condemns US Capitol rioters who used the superhero’s symbols
Neal Kirby, son of Captain America co-creator Jack Kirby, lambasted the Trump-fueld rioters who used highly recognizable symbols of the superhero during the deadly attack at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, which left at least five people dead.
Captain America is one of Marvel Comics’ iconic characters created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon in the early 1940s, which became extremely popular during World War II. The character is a known “symbol of freedom” according to Marvel.
Neal said in a statement, which was shared by CNN’s Jake Tapper on Twitter, that as he watched the horror unfold at the US Capitol, he noticed that some of them wearing what seems to be Captain America shirts, and believes he saw someone with a Captain America shield. He also saw images online that turned up President Trump as Captain America on different merchandise.
“These images are disgusting and disgraceful,” Neal said. He said that the creators, who were both World War II veterans, “would be absolutely sickened by these images.” Those images, he said, are an insult to their memories.
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
Neal also described the superhero as one who “stood up for the underdog, and, as the story was written, even before he gained his strength and prowess from Army scientists, always stood up for what was righteous and never backed down.”
He pointed out the reasons why Captain America and Trump couldn’t be more different. “Captain America is the absolute antithesis of Donald Trump. Captain America is selfless, Trump is self-serving.”
He continued, “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 privileged. Where Captain America is courageous, Trump is a coward.”
As the events at the Capitol was unfolding, even Captain America himself, Chris Evans, tweeted, “So many people enabled this.”
Some of those who stormed the US capitol wore costumes like Abraham Lincoln, a Viking, a Bald Eagle and Lady Liberty. One even came dressed in an animal skin costume.
One particular protester, now known to Pinoys as “Walis Man” who is believed to be Filipino, was photographed inside the Capitol Rotunda brandishing a walis tambo (broom) that bears a sign that resembles Captain America’s shield, with mostly what President Trump’s narrative was in the past several months, including “False media,” “Mail-in fraud,” “Pandemic hoax,” and “Coup flu fighter.”
Neal, 72, noted that he has personal memory of every political upheaval since the 1950s plus his father’s stories of the first and second world wars. But what transpired on Jan. 6 at the Capitol was the one that would haunt him forever.
Before signing off his statement, Neal took a swipe at the outgoing President, who recently became the first US President in history to be impeached twice. “Several of our presidents held the same values as Captain America. Donald Trump is not one of them.”
Comic book artist and writer Jack Kirby was known for his notable works, co-creating X-Men, Fantastic Four, Doctor Doom and the Incredible Hulk. He passed away on Feb. 6, 1994 at the age of 76.
Banner image photos from AFP and Jared Holt
