CAPTAIN AMERICA: A 70-YEAR SALUTE
It was 70 years ago this month that Captain America, the greatest of all the patriotic-themed superheroes, first hit newsstands with a red, white and blue shield gripped in his gloved hand. He also gets his own feature film this summer, “Captain America: The First Avenger,” and to mark the moment, we’ll be talking to writers, artists, actors, directors and musicians about the star-spangled icon’s legacy and future. Today: Scott Ian of Anthrax
Scott Ian (Megaforce)
There’s a long connection between the world of rock and the universe of comics, so it’s no surprise that music stars such as Scott Ian of Anthrax have some deep feelings about the 70th anniversary of Captain America. The 47-year-old guitar hero grew up loving Marvel Comics, and when he reflects on the long publishing odyssey of Steve Rogers and his flag-wearing alter ego, it leads him to thoughts about the shifting view of patriotism and the geopolitical winds of change:
“Back when Captain America first appeared in comics, the concepts of good and evil regarding war were much different than they are today,” Ian said. “World War II was not a religious war. We weren’t dealing with radical fundamentalism. These days in the U.S.A., a patriotic hero seems to be considered nationalistic or jingoistic rather than someone to look up to and rally behind, whereas our ‘enemies’ have plenty of patriotic heroes that they will follow to the death. Seems backwards to me. Then again, we’re talking about comics, not reality, right?”
Ian said he hopes the future of the hero is defined by his past: ”I’d like to see him keep fighting for his core values. Truth, justice and the Captain American way.”
The Queens, N.Y., native was a founding member of Anthrax, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and ramping up toward an April 23 meeting of “the Big Four” — the thrash-metal touring collective that also includes Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth — for their first U.S. team-up appearance in a concert in the low-desert city of Indio. The band’s songbook includes tracks such as “Bring the Noise,” ”Antisocial,” “Madhouse,” and the 1980s song “Indians,” which features this line: “Prejudice, something we all can do without/’cause a flag of many colors is what this land’s all about.”
A scene from the upcoming film "Captain America: The First Avenger" (Marvel Studios)
Ian said the temperament and origin of Captain America — he was a weak draft-reject who volunteers for a dangerous experiment and ends up transformed into a super-solider — made him the most appealing of the masked men in the Marvel universe.
“Cap was always the voice of reason,” Ian said. “Whether he was fighting street crime with the Falcon or taking on intergalactic threats with the Avengers, he always came at it from the everyman point of view because that’s who he was. He was just regular old Steve Rogers. I guess for me he was the most real, or reachable of the superheroes, even more so than Spider-Man. The idea of his being injected with a serum that made him a super-soldier seemed real to me and that reality made me want more for myself. Plus, getting a shot seemed a lot better than getting bitten by a spider!”
– Geoff Boucher
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The reason it is considered jingoistic is because the USA has set up all the conditions necessary for the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and it has become our own self fulfilling prophesy. Before the establishment the Israel, Arabs, Jews and all the other ethnic groups in the region got along just fine and lived together in relative peace. We overthrew democratic and nationalist states in the region who wanted to control their own oil supply in favor of dictators and monarchs willing to allow Big oil to control the pipelines…we supported and financed Saddam from 1980 to 1988…we financed and supplied weapons to the Afghani "freedom fighters" during the Soviet occupation. Our self serving Big oil based policies are at the root of all the radicalism and terrorism in the region. The world not a comic book and its never as simple as Good versus Evil…Scott Ian…GROW UP!!!…oh yeah, I forgot…you play for a band called Anthrax at the age of 47…never mind…just try reading a history book or two.
How bout picking up a book yourself. That region of the world has never been peacefull. Besides, anthrax and captain america kick ass!
You do not have a clue buddy. Before the Balfour agreement and World War 1 is was indeed peaceful under the Ottoman Empire.
There are plenty of videos online showing Palestine as a beautiful multicultural oasis in the 1920's and 1930's. Do the research and you will find them.
Before WW1 the Middle East was stable and relatively peaceful and all the ethnic groups of Palestine got along just fine…you read a book because you are obviously ignorant and operating on western propaganda.
Read some history about the region especially the period before WW1…you are wrong. Check out Scott Ian's hateful lyrics from the band SOD…Storm Troopers of Death…Speak English or Die. Why don't you think for yourself?
It's called tongue-in cheek humor, dipstick
I've taken two classes on the Middle East…one specifically on Palestine before WW2…where did you get your information?