roseembolism (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
roseembolism) wrote2006-06-04 12:06 pm
roseembolism) wrote2006-06-04 12:06 pm
(no subject)
From a discussion on rec.arts.sf.written, came this realization: never mind the wonky physics and costumes, what's really unbelievable in comic books are the politics.
I mean, consider the following incidents, comic book events, translated into real-world terms:
Comic book worlds are silly places. And oddly enough, even if you leave out the revolving-door nature of the prison system (Hello Batman comics, I'm looking at YOU) they seem to be better places to be villains than in the real world. Especially if you're part of the government.
(1) Dr. Doom and his vendetta with the Fantastic Four, which regularly trashes parts of New York. When he's not busy trying to take over the world of course.
(2) Henry Peter Gyrich, and the "Project Wideawake" Sentinel fiasco-err program. In the comics, he survives through several administrations, and his big dumb mutant-hunting robots regularly cause massive property damage.
(3) In DC comics, Gotham suffers a major earthquake. I'm still not sure what declaring Gotham to not be part of the U.S. was supposed to accomplish.
(4) Also in DC, Lex Luthor becomes president. Go fig.
I mean, consider the following incidents, comic book events, translated into real-world terms:
- The dictator of, lets say Bulgaria, repeatedly comes to the US heavily armed, to pursue a personal vendetta with some American citizens. The results of these attacks are massive amounts of property damage and personal injuries. Moreover, after investigation, it's revealed that Bulgaria has been creating weapons of mass destruction and actively planning to use them to gain power. The American and international response? Nothing. (1)
- The head of a secret American agency without authorization, attempts the capture of teanaged alleged terrorists...at a mall. His method? Send heavy tanks after them (not even waiting to let them exit the mall), causing massive property damage, and the potential for massive loss of civilian life. The governments reaction? Keep him in charge of the agency, and ramp up production of the tank project, until they go out of control and threaten all humanity. The reaction to THAT fiasco? Nothing. (2)
- The government's response to the Katrina disaster? President John Gotti declares New Orleans to no longer be part of the United States. Huh? And the political fallout from this massively idiotic idea? Nothing. (3)
- For that matter, President John Gotti. (4)
Comic book worlds are silly places. And oddly enough, even if you leave out the revolving-door nature of the prison system (Hello Batman comics, I'm looking at YOU) they seem to be better places to be villains than in the real world. Especially if you're part of the government.
(1) Dr. Doom and his vendetta with the Fantastic Four, which regularly trashes parts of New York. When he's not busy trying to take over the world of course.
(2) Henry Peter Gyrich, and the "Project Wideawake" Sentinel fiasco-err program. In the comics, he survives through several administrations, and his big dumb mutant-hunting robots regularly cause massive property damage.
(3) In DC comics, Gotham suffers a major earthquake. I'm still not sure what declaring Gotham to not be part of the U.S. was supposed to accomplish.
(4) Also in DC, Lex Luthor becomes president. Go fig.