7 Weird Facts You Didn't Know About Comic Books
1. Hitler Hated Superheroes; Or, Comics Are Kosher?
During WWII, Allied soldiers loved comic books. The colorful stories helped boost morale, and soon the names and symbols of various characters found their way into secret codes, or painted on the sides of tanks and planes.
Hitler, on the other hand, loathed comics. According to the late comics writer Jerry Robinson (who created the quintessential Batman villain, the Joker), Hitler "said they were Jewish. Little did he know that the creators actually were Jewish." And get this: "Herr Führer" was furious that Superman was not a member of the "superior" race.
Hitler's perception of comics as Jewish, and Superman as non-Aryan, were supported by book bans in Germany and, eventually, in all German-conquered countries. "In fact," Robinson once stated, "Hitler [specifically] banned American comics, at least Superman and superheroes."
Was this because superheroes didn't fit in with the German idea of Aryan perfection? Or was Hitler just sore after millions of people saw Captain America knock him on his can, as depicted on the cover of Cap's first issue? Or following his embarrassing confrontation with the Man of Steel on the cover of Superman #17?
Hitler never knew the true origins of the comics industry, and yet, some weird, anti-Semitic suspiciousness led him to hate both the medium and the characters it depicted. That is, all except one character... Hitler apparently loved Mickey Mouse.