Post-9/11 Dilemma over the Priority of National Security or Civil Liberties in Marvel Comics (2001-2004)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12797/AdAmericam.23.2022.23.04Keywords:
comics, comic books, history, USA, America, Marvel, 9/11, terrorism, WTC, civil rights, civil liberties, constitution, due process of law, national security, president, George W. Bush, Patriot Act, war on terror, Captain America, DaredevilAbstract
The article contains an analysis of comics from Marvel Comics, published between the second half of 2001 and the end of 2004. With the mixed methods approach (quantitative and qualitative research), the criterion for the analysis is appearance of and references to the socio-political dilemma of the conflict between ensuring national security and respecting civil liberties. It was one of the most important topics of debate for American society after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in the sphere of politics and law in the US. The analysis aims to discover the number of comics that dealt with the subject of this post-9/11 dilemma, as well as to categorize individual stories, with the use of Jonathan Culler’s over-interpretation, as supporting the priority of national security or advocating for the importance of civil liberties. With these data, it will be possible to determine the political tone of individual comics, as well as to establish the views of the artists working for Marvel Comics and their attitudes to the policy pursued by the administration of President George W. Bush. The article uses studies conducted as part of doctoral research from the unpublished dissertation Terrorism, politics, and civil liberties in the American comics after September 11, 2001, based on a comics analysis of Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Image Comics.
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Analyzed comics
Avengers Vol. 3. By Geoff Johns, illustrated by Andy Lanning, Chris Sotomayor, Richard Starkings, and Albert Deschesne, No. #70, Marvel Comics, 2003.
Avengers Vol. 3. By Kurt Busiek, illustrated by Kieron Dwyer, Rick Remender, Patrick Zircher, Scott Koblish, Tom Smith, Richard Starkings, and Albert Deschesne, No. #48 and #55, Marvel Comics, 2002.
Black Panther Vol. 3. By Christopher Priest, illustrated by Sal Velluto, Bob Almond, Jennifer Schellinger and Paul Tutrone, No. #48-49, Marvel Comics, 2002.
Brotherhood Vol 1. By Writer X (not-confirmed pseudonym of Howard Mackie), illustrated by Essad Ribic, Kent Williams, Jon Babcock, Brian Haberlin, Klaus Janson John Sanisci, Igor Kordey, Jeromy Cox and Avalon Studios, No. #1-3, Marvel Comics, 2001.
Captain America and the Falcon Vol. 1. By Christopher Priest, illustrated by Bart Sears, Joe Bennett, Jack Jadson, Transparency Digital, Rob Hunter, Michael Atiyeh, and Dave Sharpe, No. #1-7 and #9, Marvel Comics, 2004 and 2005.
Captain America Vol. 4. By Robert Morales, illustrated by Chris Bachalo, Tim Townsend, Aaron Sowd, Wayne Faucher, Al Vey, Randy Gentile, and Randy Gentile, No. #21-25, Marvel Comics, 2004.
Chamber Vol. 1. By Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Lee Ferguson, Norm Rapmund, Jose Villarrubia, and Dave Sharpe, No. #1-4, Marvel Comics, 2002-2003.
Daredevil Vol. 2. By Bob Gale, illustrated by Phil Winslade, James Hodgkins, Chris Chuckry, Oscar Gongorra, David Ross and Mark Pennington, No. #20-25, Marvel Comics, 2001.
Daredevil Vol. 2. By Brian Michael Bendis, illustrated by Alex Maleev, Matt Hollingsworth, Richard Starking, and Cory Petit, No. #32-37 and #56-60, Marvel Comics, 2002 and 2004.
Deadline Vol. 1. By Bill Rosemann, illustrated by Guy Davis, Dave Stewart and Dave Sharpe, No. #1-4, Marvel Comics, 2002.
Fantastic Four Vol. 3. By Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Marin, Karl Kesel, illustrated by Mark Bagley, Karl Kesel, Al Vey, Scott Koblish, Liquid!, Richard Starkings, Albert Deschesne and Saida Temofonte, No. #51-54, Marvel Comics, 2002.
The Hood Vol. 1. By Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Kyle Hotz, Eric Powell, Brian Haberlin and Randy Gentile, No. #3, Marvel Comics, 2002.
Howard the Duck Vol. 3. By Steve Gerber, illustrated by Phil Winslade, Chris Chuckry, Richard Starkings and Comicraft, No. #2, Marvel Comics, 2002.
Mekanix Vol. 1. By Chris Claremont, illustrated by Juan Bobillo, Marcelo Sosa, Edgar Tadeo and Tom Orzechowski, No. #3 and #5, Marvel Comics, 2002 and 2003.
Mystique Vol. 1. By Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Jorge Lucas, Daniel Perez Sanchez and Randy Gentile, No. #2, Marvel Comics, 2003.
New X-men Vol. 1. By Grant Morrison, illustrated by Igor Kordey, Dave McCaig, Richard Starkings, and Saida Temofonte, No. #129-130, Marvel Comics, 2002.
Peter Parker: Spider-Man Vol. 1. By Zeb Wells, illustrated by Michael O’Hare, Wayne Faucher, Studio F, and Randy Gentile, No. #53, Marvel Comics, 2003.
Secret War Vol. 1. By Brian Michael Bendis, illustrated Gabriele Dell’Otto and Cory Petit, No. #1, Marvel Comics, 2004.
Soldier X Vol. 1. By Karl Bollers, illustrated Scot Eaton, Lary Stucker, and Dan Brown, No. #12, Marvel Comics, 2003.
Weapon X Vol. 2. By Frank Tieri, illustrated Georges Jeanty, Keron Grant, Pop Mhan, Norm Rapmund, Dexter Vines, Barry Kitson, Sean Parsons, Rich Perrotta, Dean White, Scott Elmer, Robin Riggs, John Paul Leon, Tommy Lee Edwards, Melissa Edwards, Pond Scum, Rich Perrotta, Chris Eliopoulos, Tom Chu, Dave Sharpe, and Paul Tutrone, No. 2 #½–1 and #5-14, Marvel Comics, 2002 and 2003.
Weapon X: The Draft – Kane. By R.A. Jones, illustrated Pablo Raimondi, Hi-Fi Design and Paul Tutrone, Marvel Comics, 2002.
Weapon X: The Draft – Marrow. By Christina Z, illustrated Brandon Badeaux, David Newbold, Tom Chu and Paul Tutrone, Marvel Comics, 2002.
Weapon X: The Draft – Sauron. By Buddy Scalera, illustrated Karl Kerschl, David Newbold, Tom Chu and Paul Tutrone, Marvel Comics, 2002.
Weapon X: The Draft – Wild Child. By Matt Nixon, illustrated Ethan Van Sciver, Norm Rapmund, Hi-Fi Design and Paul Tutrone, Marvel Comics, 2002.
Wolverine Vol. 2. By Frank Tieri, illustrated Sean Chen, Norm Rapmund, Saida Temofonte, and Raymund Lee, No. #173-175, Marvel Comics, 2002.
X-Treme X-Men Vol. 1. By Chris Claremont, illustrated by Salvador Larroca, Igor Kordey, Scott Hanna, Liquid!, Randy Gentile and Tom Orzechowski, No. #24 and 33, Marvel Comics, 2003.
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