Authoritarian Counties and Heroes - Chinese Justice League.

[Captain Smith]

Lately the comics have put forward characters from countries that have become rather unpleasant. It was thought awhile ago that free trade and the market would move them towards democracy and that certainly is not happening.

So what do we make of characters of the Chinese Justice League? In their universe, is the government not the horror show we see here? Is Hong Kong flourishing?

Do we expect the heroes to have 'nice' values and fight for human rights or be nationalisitic? If the standard DC folks meet them, how to interact? It's ok to push an asteroid away from Earth but what about human rights?

[Jackalope89]

Lately the comics have put forward characters from countries that have become rather unpleasant. It was thought awhile ago that free trade and the market would move them towards democracy and that certainly is not happening.

So what do we make of characters of the Chinese Justice League? In their universe, is the government not the horror show we see here? Is Hong Kong flourishing?

Do we expect the heroes to have 'nice' values and fight for human rights or be nationalisitic? If the standard DC folks meet them, how to interact? It's ok to push an asteroid away from Earth but what about human rights?

Well, though originally funded by the government, the Justice League of China now has a very complicated relationship with them. Not to mention their Aquaman is actually now a refugee from North Korea. And the "Flash of China" is actually Chinese-American. Splits her time between China and Central City, and is close friends with the other Flashes.

[MajorHoy]

Well, though originally funded by the government, the Justice League of China now has a very complicated relationship with them. Not to mention their Aquaman is actually now a refugee from North Korea. And the "Flash of China" is actually Chinese-American. Splits her time between China and Central City, and is close friends with the other Flashes.

The Great Ten may be the Chinese heroes that you should be asking about.

[j9ac9k]

You'd probably see a Chinese Justice League deal with human rights issues about as often as the you see the JLofA deal with them.

[Digifiend]

Well, though originally funded by the government, the Justice League of China now has a very complicated relationship with them. Not to mention their Aquaman is actually now a refugee from North Korea. And the "Flash of China" is actually Chinese-American. Splits her time between China and Central City, and is close friends with the other Flashes.

Yeah, the JLC did not like what the government was doing, so they went off on their own, and then recruited their Korean Aquaman.

[Noodle]

You'd probably see a Chinese Justice League deal with human rights issues about as often as the you see the JLofA deal with them.

This exactly.

[icefour33]

Buddy, most superheroes are already from the most evil country on the planet and it doesn't seem much better in the fictional universe than it does in the real one and the heroes don't really fight for human in any concrete way.

In fact, the Superman and the Justice League of China comics are far more political than your average DC Comics and do broach issues regarding contemporary Chinese politics.

[Holt]

Should we expect the Justice League of America to have to address the anti-gay and anti-trans laws passed in states these past few weeks?

[Captain Nostalgia]

Lately the comics have put forward characters from countries that have become rather unpleasant. It was thought awhile ago that free trade and the market would move them towards democracy and that certainly is not happening.

So what do we make of characters of the Chinese Justice League? In their universe, is the government not the horror show we see here? Is Hong Kong flourishing?

Do we expect the heroes to have 'nice' values and fight for human rights or be nationalisitic? If the standard DC folks meet them, how to interact? It's ok to push an asteroid away from Earth but what about human rights?

You present an interesting topic of discussion. What would the Chinese Justice League be like assuming it's government is a reflection of the real world.

1) The Chinese government today is the direct descendent of Mao Zedong's government (History's greatest mass murderer) despite Deng Xiaoping shifting the country towards capitalism, it is still a full on totalitarian government.

2) Therefore unlike the United States (Where you can protest in Portland for months on end, and initially be supported by a trendy mayor, despite continuing to vandalize store fronts) in China, if you engage in such behavior, you are quickly swept off the streets and put into a re-education camp (Slave labour camp) to be tortured, beaten, raped, and if your lucky, you might even be designated for organ harvesting. (if western intelligence reports & testimonials are to be believed of course)

There would be no room for ideological decent amongst the Chinese Justice League. If you went against the party line, you would disappear, and they would most likely experiment with you, or input you with some mind control device. Those on the League who remained would be the ones completely loyal to Xi Jinping. They would be true believers, most likely hostile to the west, but afforded lavish lifestyles as a result of their loyalty.

In the United States we can assume that the government and Amanda Waller probably knows the secret identities of most of the members, but monitors them, while letting them live their lives independently.



It's funny because I was thinking the other day, what would happen to Russian superheroes like Red Star & the Rocket Red brigade if they were in Russia today. I assumed that most of the Rocket Red's would be assisting the ground troops in the invasion of Ukraine, but if someone like Red Star dissented, he would most likely have a fateful encounter with polonium.

[Alpha]

I mean, the U.S.A. also has some dubious political coincidences if you believe in conspiracy theories. Look at Jeffrey Epstein's suicide.

[Ascended]

The US has done far worse than "dubious." Conspiracy theory doesn't even come into it.

With the OP....the line blurs, a lot, and disappears completely in some places, but for Western culture being a superhero is on some level a rejection of established institutions and authority. It's an act of positive/responsible rebellion, or at least an acknowledgement that the system is too limited for true justice to always be served. But whether the hero is chased by the cops or awarded the key to the city, you don't put on a mask if you believe the people in charge fully deserve to be, and are capable of getting the job done.

In many other places within the DCU, local heroes tend to be tools of the state, semi-autonomous but ultimately answerable to a political body. When it's done well you get stuff on the level of Red Son, and when it's not you get bad propaganda. I can't speak for the Justice League of China (trade buying, and behind on that) but the Great Ten work directly for the Party, as do the Rockets Red. The ones who operate outside or against their government seem to often be protected by public opinion so strong that openly moving against the hero would spark nationwide revolt. Most UK heroes seem to act independently, but many seem to have a cozier dynamic with the cops than the average American hero (Batman 66-ish). In truth, an American superhero might agree more with a pro-democracy "villain" from another country...but American superheroes generally try to avoid getting directly involved with politics or causing international incidents, which just endangers more people. Which is largely against type, given the core premise of the responsible outlaw, but you can't have brightly colored superheroes going around advocating anarchy and rebellion among the children.

[jetengine]

Lately the comics have put forward characters from countries that have become rather unpleasant. It was thought awhile ago that free trade and the market would move them towards democracy and that certainly is not happening.

So what do we make of characters of the Chinese Justice League? In their universe, is the government not the horror show we see here? Is Hong Kong flourishing?

Do we expect the heroes to have 'nice' values and fight for human rights or be nationalisitic? If the standard DC folks meet them, how to interact? It's ok to push an asteroid away from Earth but what about human rights?

Iirc the Chinese Justice League actually break away from their authoritarian government who instead send their own GLcorp after them.

[king81992]

Should we expect the Justice League of America to have to address the anti-gay and anti-trans laws passed in states these past few weeks?

They should, but a certain group of so called fans would throw a huge temper tantrum. It feels like comics are limited in what they can tackle due to certain fans getting offended.

[Digifiend]

Iirc the Chinese Justice League actually break away from their authoritarian government who instead send their own GLcorp after them.

Correct.

[KurtW95]

You'd probably see a Chinese Justice League deal with human rights issues about as often as the you see the JLofA deal with them.

You can't compare the PRC to the US with regard to human rights abuses and be serious.