10 Biggest Comics Controversies Of 2017

Marvel's major event of 2017 was a hive of controversy for events both within the comic and surrounding it.

Secret Empire told the story of Captain America, now revealed as a secret Hydra spy the whole time, making his move and conquering America for a group that many see as the Nazis of the Marvel Universe.

Marvel of course didn't want people to see that, trying to argue that Hydra were not Nazis and that Captain America as such wasn't either. However, on taking control of the US, Steve Rogers is seen to institute reeducation centres, book burning, increased surveillance, bombing attacks within the nation's borders and even internment camps.

The fan outcry to this plot line, recasting a hero created by Jewish men as, yes, a Nazi, was loud, ranging from sensible, concerned criticisms all the way to death threats to the story creator, Nick Spencer, who responded to all kinds of criticisms with the same attitude.

Marvel came under constant fire with each issue and element of the story that became revealed, just as imagery from the comic was co-opted by the alt-right and neo-Nazis within the real world America, who now felt that Captain America was theirs.

Ultimately, Secret Empire may have sold well in comics, but it didn't do so well in good will with critics and fans.