Despite the obvious disconnect between their ideologies, it seems many of the right-wing extremists who stormed the U.S. Capitol last week take inspiration from a most unlikely icon.
Namely, Captain America.
In the aftermath of the violent uprising, several photos surfaced of rioters in Captain America t-shirts and other gear as they laid siege to the United States Capitol. The son of the Marvel Comics character's co-creator is not having it.
In a statement, Neal Kirby—son of late Captain America co-creator Jack Kirby—slammed the domestic terrorists for appropriating his father's character.
Kirby's statement—obtained by CNN's Jake Tapper—is a searing indictment of the rioters and a declaration that Captain America is the opposite of everything they stand for.
"...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... always stood for what was righteous, and never backed down."
Given many of the insurrectionists carried flags bearing neo-Nazi iconography and wore shirts emblazoned with pro-Nazi slogans, it's easy to see why Kirby was outraged.
Kirby went on to describe the mob's usage of Captain America imagery as "disgusting and disgraceful."
He characterized defeated Republican President Donald Trump as the polar opposite of his father's creation.
"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."
And Kirby clarified precisely how his father and his collaborator would feel about the insurrectionists.
"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."
On Twitter, people applauded Kirby's statement.
And several shared an anecdote from Jack Kirby's life further confirming the insurrectionists and Captain America would never be on the same side.
An encounter Kirby had with Nazi sympathizers back in the WWII era was found to be very apropos.
As for Captain America himself, actor Chris Evans also weighed in on the Capitol riot by retweeting Kirby's statement denouncing the rioters.
Take that, "patriots."
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