The push by some residents of Texas (and othe states) to secede from the United States and create "their new government" -- continuing the "Civil War" narrative that I believe will dominate our pop-culture for some time -- has already been foreshadowed in the Marvel comic book "Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates." To give you more perspective, this comic basically features the Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor) of a more "realistic" comic book universe.
In the storyline "Divided We Fall," Washington D.C. (including a president that looks like Obama) has been bombed into a crater by outside warring forces -- this area is now known as "Ground Zero". America is in a panic, and a bunch of states secede from the U.S., including Texas. Each issue includes a "map" so you can follow along.
By Issue #14 the United States is divided as follows:
"Anti-government militia hot spots":
Montana, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Georgia
"The West Coast":
California, Oregon, Washington (there is a refugee zone in Southern California)
"Great Lakes States" (status unknown):
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
"Sentinel-controlled no-man's land" (abandoned by the U.S. Government):
New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Oklahoma
"New Republic of Texas" (nuclear-armed nation):
declared state of independence; Dallas is capital city
"Eastern Seaboard Control Zone" (secured under National Guard under emergency powers committee):
New England, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia
All other states are "U.S. Government Control Zones"
By the most recent issue, #17, Texas has been taken back, the Great Lakes States have formed their own independent nation, the "anti-government militia hot spots" are still causing trouble...and, well, Captain America has been kicking ass as the new president, voted in during a "special election."
So what we essentially have is "white knight" Captain America, backed by the military/CIA type group S.H.I.E.L.D., stepping in to bring "order" back to the United States (by this time the story title has changed to "United We Stand.")
Meanwhile, Thor's son, Modi, wants to go back to the "old ways" and create a Norse paradise; stop me if you've heard this one before. So he manipulates the "anti-government militia hot spots" people into forming what is basically a fascist army using the "Hydra" (coded Nazi) symbol.
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| Modi: combines Lucifer/"Evil Businessman" look, plus Hitler theatrics |
Modi, in my view, represents this Nazi impulse to go back to a Nordic Golden Age -- in this story, the "militia people" (as indicated on the map) are equated as following a Nazi-like spirit (Hydra). Regard the following passage:
I find it fascinating that this entire storyline, that began earlier this year, seems to mirror or even predict some of our current events.
The point is -- many comics on the shelves right now contain tons of commentary, imagery, and symbology on not only current events but even more esoteric matters. I think comic books have always had some of those elements -- perhaps they, like sci-fi novels and movies, are more "palatable" and playful mediums within which to discuss these topics.
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