An Odd Thought: Heroes and Politics

I was thinking about something that bothers me a little about comics. I want to see more heroes involved in politics.

When Etrigan ran for President, Superman said something about how careful he was about politics because his opinion could sway a lot of people. Fair enough, but that doesn't leave a whole lot of counter to the politics of supervillains. I mean when you've got *Lex Luthor* running for president, you'd think more heroes would be willing to speak out against him.

Why don't more heroes use their public recognition to run for office? It's not really much different than an actor, professional wrestler, or war hero running. It's still a largely democratic process after all. And while a quick rescue might save one person, new policies, legislation and processes could do a lot more longterm help.

DC's a little better about this. The heroes have a better reception in general. Organizations like Checkmate and the Suicide Squad at least work within the government. Jefferson Pierce was in Luthor's cabinet. Oliver Queen's mayor. And pre-crisis had a Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon in Congress, if I'm not misremembering.

But why not more? I get that Clark's afraid of influencing the democratic process, but not every hero has the same outlook as Superman. You'd think a few of them would be thinking more long term.

Marvel really gets me though. SHIELD is all well and good. Reed Richard's work is okay. But you have a government whose administration is occasionally actively persecuting a group of people. You have Sentinels and Genosha and the Mutant Registration stuff in the movies and Civil War... Why aren't there secret mutants in politics fighting this crap?

I'll disclaim that I haven't read Civil War, so I might be completely mistaken, but from the sound of it, there are two sides to this whole issue. Those in the government that are for it, and those on the outside fighting against it.

But I haven't heard anything about people in the government/tied to the government being against it and using politics to fight politics.

I suppose it underlines my personal frustration with Marvel Comics. I never had much of a rebellious stage, and righteous rebellion seems to be the underlying theme to Marvel. Which is fine, but does nothing for me.

Maybe I'm too much of an idealist, but I wouldn't mind my wish-fulfillment fantasies to show the political machine working like it's supposed to. I know it's too much to expect in the real world, but if they want to show an America where good folk are running things and making things better (even if I don't personally agree with the politics expressed), I would be a happy comic fan indeed.