Jack Kirby’s Son Says Capitol Rioters Defiled Captain America’s Values
Neal Kirby wrote, “Captain America is the absolute antithesis of Donald Trump.”
does not support the attempted coup at the Capitol, according to the son of one of Captain America’s creators. In a lengthy new statement from Neal Kirby, the son of Jack Kirby, who famously illustrated the original Captain America comics, Neal denounces the riot. The statement, titled “Statement to Insurrectionists,” clearly shows that Kirby was particularly infuriated by those in the mob who donned Captain America shields, flags, posters, and wore Captain America-inspired merchandise glorifying Trump,He writes, “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 stood up for the underdog, and, as the story was written, even before he gained his strength and prowess from Army Scientists, always stood for what was righteous, and never backed down.” Captain America has done his fair share of fighting fascism and Nazism in his day, including foe The Red Skull, whom Britannica describes as “a seemingly invincible Nazi whose face literally was a crimson skull.”
Neal continues, “At 72, I have a fairly vivid 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 nation’s Capitol on Jan. 6, an insurrection inspired and fomented by our own president, will be the event that haunts me forever.”He adds, “While watching one of the horrific videos of the storming of the capitol, I thought 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.”He doubles down, writing, “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 privileged. Where Captain America is courageous, Trump is a coward. Captain America and Trump couldn’t be more different.”He ends the statement quite powerfully, writing, “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.”As Neal has reminded us, Captain America does not support Trump, nor the Jan. 6 coup attempt at the Capitol.
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