12 Shocking Real-Life Incidents That Affected Comics
5. The Bombing Of Pearl Harbour And The Popularity of Captain America
Captain America first appeared, socking Hitler and taking on the Axis powers, in December 1940; a full year before the attack on Pearl harbour and Americas entry into the war. Although the character was an immediate sales success, the politically charged motivation behind his creation by two Jewish immigrants became a divisive issue amongst an American public split on opinion - primarily on whether or not to enter the war. Pearl Harbour changed all that and a character that had previously provoked demonstrations and threatening letters came to symbolise and promote the American War effort more succinctly than any other character of the era. If history had panned out differently, it is easy to imagine Cap being lost in the annals of culture; a relic of a particular Zeitgeist, rather than an increasingly relevant character that enjoys a popularity comparable to his wartime heyday and early 60s revival.
As well as the odd article, I apply my "special mind" to scriptwriting for Comics, Films and Games... Oh and I cut down trees, I skip and jump, I like to press wild flow'rs, I put on women's clothing, and hang around in bars.
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