Comic Book Billionaires or just being rich in general is quickly being undesirable in this mass medium. People have probably heard about how two of the richest superheroes recently went broke. But the truth is, this is barely even the first time stuff like this has happened. I don’t mean in the changing continuity of Marvel and DC, but the alternatives and independents as well. Some series have outright vilified the rich as they step on anybody less fortunate than them. Others show how despite all of this, the wealthy are still aspirational because it’s like winning a game. Of course the fight against such white-collar crime has become popular. But it’s also a big shift from the initial of having people acknowledge their privileges. Because most of it comes down to real world events. Although I’ve got my gripes with this.
Comic Book Billionaires As Supervillains
I’m pretty sure when you see that headliner you see Lex Luthor. It’s from pretty nonsensical beginnings, having a mad scientist be a business genius made him a greater threat to Superman. It gave Luthor real power comparable to the Man of Steel as a foil since Lex has access to help the world in ways Superman can’t. Instead, Luthor uses it to maximize his hold on things. But the Man of Tomorrow is the one resource Lex can’t get a hold of. Overtime this concept builds upon itself, usually commenting on how the wealthy make themselves out to be self-built.
Tragically, Lex Luthor levels of greed and vanity have become a followed example. Often that’s reflected in the alternative and indie scene. For example in Mad Cave’s Hollywood Trash, the rich are presented as the most petty people in the world. They want to look as exceptional at all times, with the slightest tarnish being an over-the-top death sentence. Meanwhile Ahoy’s Billionaire Island shows different flavors of comic book billionaires: old money inheritance, lucky investments, to maximizing profits by buying other people’s efforts. A bunch of personalities that even Lex wouldn’t rub shoulders with because they invest stupidly.
Who Are Still Aspirational
Yet despite all of that, some comics go the extra mile to show how being wealthy means winning a game. In BlackBox Comics’ I.T. The Secret World of Modern Banking, readers experience how private banks are more like casinos. With the winners being the ones who have the time, energy, and resources to take the game to their advantage. The ones who can anyway. Back on Billionaire Island, even with complete transparency, the inhabitants can do just about anything with no repercussions by taking advantage of legal loopholes. With this in mind, the rich can seem godly like in Bad Idea’s Orc Island. All of which comes with the out-of-reach promise of joining this 1% of people with the world’s wealth.
You A Hood Or An Ocean?
So with that scenario, there’s a need to put a cap on white collar crime. DC Black Label’s Rogues puts Flash’s anti-villainous gallery of blue collar thieves together for a heist. What’s their motivation and target? To get escape the capitalist trap where the rich took advantage of their lowered status. Ex-cons without money have it rougher than people think. So they decide to steal from a corporate gorilla mogul who built his home city up just to profit off of its suffering.
Oh yeah, I Am Batman‘s Jace Fox is supposed to be the Batman of the people… In all of the wrong ways. Heck, it’s actually connected to recent developments.
Comic Book Billionaires Broke!… Now What?
See Jace functioning as the Batman of New York has the same problems as Bruce. He’s also rich, he just doesn’t use the Bat family trust fund. But he is benefiting from Lucius’ crimes. Long story short, good intentions but he essentially threw money at problems rather than fix them. One of which was a fatal hit-and-run Jace caused as a teenager. Everything’s set up so that eventually Bruce gets his money back.
Because these aren’t the first times Batman or Iron Man lost their cash. But this a trend that extends to John Ridley’s Black Panther and Ryan North’s Fantastic Four. What? Not all comic book billionaires run businesses.
The point is this trend coincides to shifting attitudes towards real billionaires. While people thought Batman could do more with philanthropy… Oh man I have to say it again. He does do this! Not that it matters, if anybody knows about the Gates foundation and other charities you know that they don’t make a big difference. In fact, their foundations usually have unattainable goals or make economic situations worse. When the real world’s full of Jeff Bezos and Elon Musks, who wants a rich hero?
The Problem With Being Rich
Jokes aside, I have a few gripes with this stance.
I am a fan of Benjamin Percy’s Green Arrow and Christopher Cantwell’s Iron Man. These as well as The Batman movie revolve around acknowledging privilege to be a better example. These are character defining pieces that I can’t help are getting their perspectives flipped. Like the proper heir to a throne is the way to go without actually seeing their tax plan.
In-universe though, this is a problem. If it’s okay to believe Superman exists without being a despot; why is it so wrong for at least one good example of comic book billionaires? Because the world’s problems would be solved? I said one not all. Besides-
The reason Superman can’t make a perfect world applies here too.
Comic Book Billionaires vs. The Real World
I am well aware of the wealth inequality that a number of billionaires take advantage of. But even more so, I’m aware how shallow shrinking heroes bank accounts can be. Why? Because the companies who publish and profit off of them are still hoarding their wealth. I don’t remember any times when Marvel or DC directly helped out the less fortunate, let alone their parent companies. They barely even manage their money to help out some of their creative staff. Layman’s terms, while they’re not as wealthy as those Billionaires on Ahoy’s island, they are as stupid.
All that the mainstream publishers are doing is monetizing a trend… like they always do. Taking away Batman and Iron Man’s money isn’t going to take away Bezos or Musk’s influence. This is just pandering for people to throw their hard-earned cash at during an inflation. Meanwhile, the alts and indies have the excuse of lacking brand recognition. That and they actually have experience backing their stories.
For all of the importance people give to this fad, there really aren’t any insights. No further words.