The United States is still in a state of shock following the insurrection that transpired on January 6th, 2021 in Washington, DC at the nation’s Capitol Building. Rioters, who were in fact supporters of the now twice impeached outgoing President Donald Trump laid siege to the building the country’s lawmakers were gathered in. They were carrying signs, confederate flags, nooses, and even symbols of one of the most iconic superheroes from Marvel Comics- Captain America.
In light of this, Neal Kirby, son of Captain America’s co-creator Jack Kirby, released a statement about how exactly his father would’ve reacted to the scene. And also, his own feelings on the chaotic scene.
CNN’s Jake Tapper tweeted the statement, but you can read all of it below:
“My father, Jack Kirby, along with his partner Joe Simon, created Captain America in 1941. Perhaps the most iconic symbol of patriotism since the ‘Spirit of 1776,’ Captain America has stood as a symbol and protector of our democracy and the rule of law for the past 79 years. he was created by two Jewish guys from New York who hated Nazis and hated bullies. Captain America stoo up for the underdog, and a, as the story as written, even before he gained his strenght and process from Army Scientists, always stood for what was righteous, and never backed down.
At 72, I have a fairly visit personal memory of every political and cultural upheaval since Castro’s revolution in the mid – 1950’s. Add to that my father’s stories, and I could probably paint a picture of the battlefields of northern France surrounding the city of Metz in WWII as well. However, the events that transpired at our nations’ Capitol on Jan. 6, an insurrection inspired and fomented by our own president, will be the event that haunts me forever.
While watching one of the horrific videos of the storming of the capitol, I thoguht I noticed someone in a Trump/Capt. America t-shirt! I was appalled and mortified. I believe I even caught a quick glance of someone with a Captain America shield. A quick Google search turned up Trump as Captain America on T-shirts, posters, even a flag! These images are disgusting and disgraceful. Captain America is the absolute antithesis of Donald Trump. Where Captain America is selfless, Trump is self-serving. 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 priveleged. Where Captain America is courageous, Trump is a coward. Captain America and Trump couldn’t be more different.
My father, Jack Kirby, and Joe Simon, the creators of Captain America and WWII veterans, would be absolutely sickened by these images. These images are an insult to both their memories. If Donald Trump had the qualities and character of Captain America, the White House would be a shining symbol of truth and integrity, not a festering cesspool of lies and hypocrisy. Several of our presidents held the same values as Captain America. Donald Trump is not one of them.”
Marvel Studios star Chris Evans retweeted Taper’s original post of this statement. And the following morning, rumors of Evans returning to the role of Captain America are….more believable than ever.
