Are Economists and Merchants Cowardly Scum? Annihilation Says So

This weekend while I was re-reading Keith Giffen's cosmic epic Annihilation, I noticed some interesting social and economic commentary.

Cover to Annihilation #5, art by Gabriele Dell'Otto

For those of you who haven't read it, Annihilation is the story of the Negative Zone tyrant Annihilus and his genocidal campaign to exterminate all life in the universe. Standing in his way is an army composed of the several cosmic heroes and the military might of the Kree, a militaristic race often featured in Marvel comics. Naturally, a grand battle ensues where the fate of the entire universe is at stake.

But there's only one problem. The Kree are controlled by House Fiyero, a clan within the Kree empire composed of merchants and commerce analysts. Traditionally, this clan controls the Kree economy but because of trying times, they control the doings of the entire empire. This includes all military operations and the war against Annihilus.

But the hero of the Kree people, Ronan the Accuser, doubts the ability and the fortitude of House Fiyero's leadership. He believes that people concerned with the economy are not suitable to lead his people, especially in times of war. He thinks the economically focused House Fiyero will lead the Kree people to disaster. Eventually, he's proven right when House Fiyero chooses to ally themselves with Annihilus for personal and economic gain. Ronan then does what he does best (accusing, that is) and promptly sentences the traitorous members of House Fiyero to a crispy death. Ronan then seizes control of the Kree empire for himself and mounts a glorious attack against Annihilus.

Annihilation depicts House Fiyero (the group in Kree society concerned with all things related to economy and commerce) as a clan of traitorous, cowardly, incompetent, and petty individuals. Is that how economists should be portrayed in comics?

I ask you, good readers. What better symbolizes the economist?

This?

Cover to Annihilation: Ronan #1, art by Gabriele Dell'Otto

or this?

This is the Cowardly Lion

Please let me know what you think.

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Economics and Ethics

This is the name of a new blog, which aims to:

Showcase and discuss new work in ethics-and-economics by scholars around the world,

Discuss ways to include treatments of ethics in economics education,

Announce new projects and initiatives in ethics-and-economics, including calls for papers for books, journals, and conferences,

Highlight the often ignored or overlooked ethical aspects of economic arguments, whether in the world of academia or policy, and

Have a good time!

Among the founders is Mark D. White, professor of Political Science, Economics and Philosophy at the College of Staten Island. Professor White is also an ardent comic book fan, having written essays and served as an editor for books such as Batman and Philosphy: The Dark Knight of the Soul and Watchmen and Philosophy: A Rorschach Test.

All of this is worth checking out. Enjoy!!

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