Captain America and the Nationalist Superhero: Metaphors, Narratives, and Geopolitics

243 Pages·2012·6.24 MB·English

by  Jason Dittmer

Captain ameriCa

and the nationalist superhero
Massacre in Haditha, by Tanya Tier. (Used with permission from the artist.)
Jason Dittmer

Captain
ameriCa

and the

nationalist
superhero

Metaphors, Narratives,

aNd Geopolitics

Temple UniversiTy press
philadelphia
Temple UniversiTy press
philadelphia, pennsylvania 19122
www.temple.edu/tempress

Copyright © 2013 by Temple University
all rights reserved
published 2013

library of Congress Cataloging-in-publication data

dittmer, Jason.
Captain america and the nationalist superhero : metaphors,
narratives, and geopolitics / Jason dittmer.
p. cm.
includes bibliographical references and index.
isBn 978-1-4399-0976-8 (cloth : alk. paper) —
isBn 978-1-4399-0977-5 (pbk. : alk. paper) —
isBn 978-1-4399-0978-2 (e-book) 1. Comic books, strips, etc.—
history and criticism. 2. superheroes in literature.
3. nationalism and literature. 4. Geopolitics—social aspects.
5. popular culture—political aspects. 6. america, Captain
(Fictitious character) i. Title.
pn6714.d58 2013
741.5′3581—dc23
2012015512

The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the
american national standard for information sciences—permanence
of paper for printed library materials, ansi Z39.48-1992

printed in the United states of america

2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1
For Stephanie, my everything
Contents

acknowledgments ix

1 introducing nationalist superheroes 1
2 Gendered nation-state, Gendered hero 24
3 embodying multiculturalism 46
4 Origins 63
5 narratives of Continuity and Change 83
6 Grounding the nation-state 102
7 Geopolitical Orders 123
8 alternate Worlds 142
9 parody and subversion 160
afterword 181
notes 189
references 207
index 225
Acknowledgments

I

owe special thanks to paul adams, Caroline Bressey, michael Brown, sean
Carter, simon dalby, Klaus dodds, dan hassler-Forest, James Kneale, and
alec murphy for providing feedback on draft chapters. many of the insights
about Canada and Canadian superheroes belong to my friend and collaborator
soren larsen, who partnered with me to conduct the Canadian portion of this
research. he graciously allowed me to use our findings in this book.
i am also indebted to randy scott and the special Collections staff at
michigan state University, to steven hensen and the special Collections staff
at duke University, and to the very helpful staff at the Canadian library and
archives. more generally, i am grateful to the faculties at Georgia southern
University and University College london for their support during this project.
i completed the first draft of this book while i was on a visiting fellowship at the
london school of economics, to which i am grateful as well.
The research findings herein were tested and refined through innumerable conference presentations and at seminars and colloquia at the University of Georgia, Ohio University, the University of sussex, the University of
amsterdam, and Johannes Gutenberg University. i am grateful to all participants for their thoughts and criticisms. research funding was provided by the
British academy, a Canadian high Commission Faculty research Grant, and a
Georgia southern University Faculty research Grant.
i owe the greatest debt of gratitude to my supportive friends and family—
especially stephanie dittmer, who, from the very beginning of this project, was
my unceasing advocate.