A Contemplative Response to "GD Gate"

I've been a longtime fan of this site and a avid comicbook reader
since I was five years old.

However, since the original debut of comics such as "Watchmen" and
and "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" the comicbook industry has
been on a downward slide. Since TDKR and Watchmen comics have
become increasingly violent and sexual, flaunting and promoting openly
gay characters and socially liberal ideals. The obvious reason is that
the fans have aged and more mature topics are needed to keep us hooked.
However, as a Christian myself, I admit I take great offense to all of this
and as a result I find myself reading fewer and fewer comics these days.

Marvel's schtick has always been about realism, but comics' current love
affair with all that goes against what the superheroes were created for. These
were characters created for escapism, to "get away" from the harsh realities
of WW2 and The Great Depression. The good guys were morally upstanding,
they always saved the day and got the girl. Although simplistic, the stories were
great. But I am tired of seeing things like Spider-Man "fist bump" Obama, tired
of graphic sex scenes, tired of the swearing and the force fed liberal ideals. I
did not vote for Obama, why should I have to see him in a comic I read? I do not
support gay or lesbian rights, why should I have to see more and more characters
come out of the closet? And why is it the only way to make Batman "grittier" to have
him relish violence and curse more than a sailor? Batman doesn't love violence, he
merely uses it as a tool. And he beats down criminals with his bare hands and hides
in the shadows...isn't that "dark" enough?

The bottom line is this: fellow fanboys and the comics industry need to understand
that there are fans out there that don't appreciate the violence, the sex, the swearing
and the liberal agenda. But we continue to read because we enjoy these characters
and have since we were young. And it's foolish to think that because the name God
wasn't given a specific title that it is not the "Christian God". Isiah 42:8 God states "I am
The Lord God, that is My name." Is any other needed? This man, this comic shop owner
may have blown things out of proportion, I'm inclined to take that side. The term "GD" is
fairly ambiguous and Frank Miller's "I'm the GD Batman is more blatant and offensive
personally. But I respect him for taking a stand on what I believe to be his true issue:
comics stepping all over Christian and basic conservative beliefs and morals. But can we
not simply say "I may not agree with your stance, but I respect it." and leave it at that?
Is it not hypocritical to ask Christians to be tolerant of gays, lesbians and other topics and
philosophies while simultaneously bashing our beliefs? Let's keep in mind that most of our
favorite superheroes were created by jews; Stanley Lieber, Jacon Kurtzburg, William
Eisner, Robert Kahn and of course, Siegel and Shuster. Jews have long had a history of
religious intolerance and it somewhat goes against their creations for them to be used as
social or political puppets, can't we just focus on the action and a good story of our hero
saving the day?

Christian fans are not a "special breed" of fan. We still get the nerd rage when a favorite superhero is butchered on the big screen *cough* Green Lantern *cough*. But we do play
by a different set of morals, beliefs and philosophies. All we ask is when we do stand up against what we believe to be an attack against us, that we're not met with the same hate
and religious intolerence that we're so commonly accused of.

Fans are fans, let's jusy enjoy a good read huh?