Jump to content

Arnie Roth (character): Difference between revisions

Edit links
This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Tag: Reverted
No edit summary
Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(33 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{good article}}
{{Short description|Marvel Comics character}}
{{Short description|Marvel Comics character}}
{{Infobox comics character
{{Infobox comics character
Line 17: Line 18:
| alter ego =
| alter ego =
| alter_ego =
| alter_ego =
| full_name = Arnold "Arnie" Roth
| full_name = Arnold Roth
| full name =
| full name =
| species =
| species =
Line 28: Line 29:
| powers =
| powers =
| partners =
| partners =
| Accomplice =
| IOM_alter_ego =
| IOM_alter_ego =
| IOM_full_name =
| IOM_full_name =
Line 51: Line 51:
}}
}}


'''Arnold''' "'''Arnie'''" '''Roth''' is a [[fictional character]] created by writer [[J. M. DeMatteis]] and artist [[Mike Zeck]] who appears in [[American comic books]] published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The character first appeared in ''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'' #268, published in April 1982. Arnie is a childhood friend of Steve Rogers, the civilian identity of the costumed [[superhero]] [[Captain America]]. Decades later, the pair became reacquainted after Arnie is targeted by Captain America's adversaries [[Helmut Zemo]] and the [[Red Skull]]. Later in his life, Arnie would assist with the "Captain America [[Hotline]]" created to field tips pertaining to national security before dying of [[bone cancer]].
'''Arnold''' "'''Arnie'''" '''Roth''' is a [[fictional character]] appearing in [[American comic book|American comic books]] published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The character was created by writer [[J. M. DeMatteis]] and artist [[Mike Zeck]] and first appeared in ''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'' #268, published in April 1982. Arnie is a childhood friend of Steve Rogers, the civilian identity of the costumed [[superhero]] [[Captain America]]. Decades later, the pair are reacquainted after Arnie is targeted by Captain America's adversaries [[Helmut Zemo]] and the [[Red Skull]]. Later in his life, Arnie would assist with the "Captain America [[Hotline]]" created to field tips pertaining to national security before dying of [[bone cancer]].


Arnie was the first openly gay character to appear in an American [[superhero comics|superhero comic]]. The character was conceived by DeMatteis as part of his effort to develop Captain America's supporting cast and explore how the character "had surrounded himself with people who represented American diversity", though as a result of editorial dictates at Marvel and the restrictions of the [[Comics Code Authority]], DeMatteis was forced to communicate Arnie's sexuality exclusively through imagery and subtext. Though the tragic bent of stories featuring the character has been the subject of criticism, he has been praised as a positive media representation of gay men in the context of a 1980s media landscape characterized by homophobia and backlash against gay men amid the [[HIV/AIDS crisis]].
Arnie was the first openly gay character to appear in a mainstream [[superhero comics|superhero comic]]. The character was conceived by DeMatteis as part of his effort to develop Captain America's supporting cast and explore how the character "had surrounded himself with people who represented American diversity", though as a result of editorial dictates at Marvel and the restrictions of the [[Comics Code Authority]], DeMatteis was forced to communicate Arnie's sexuality exclusively through imagery and subtext. Though the tragic bent of stories featuring the character has been the subject of criticism, he has been praised as a positive media representation of gay men in the context of a 1980s media landscape characterized by homophobia and backlash against gay men amid the [[HIV/AIDS crisis]].


==Fictional character biography==
==Fictional character biography==
{{See also|Captain America#Fictional character biography}}
{{See also|Captain America#Fictional character biography}}


Arnold "Arnie" Roth was born in the 1920s on the [[Lower East Side]] of [[New York City]].<ref name="Appendix"/> A childhood friend to [[Captain America|Steve Rogers]], Arnie frequently protected the weak and infirm Steve from local bullies, though the pair drifted apart as teenagers.<ref name="Appendix"/>{{sfn|Stevens|2015|p=141}} During [[World War II]], Arnie joined the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] while Steve received an experimental serum that turned him into the costumed [[superhero]] [[Captain America]]. Arnie was able to discern that the [[secret identity]] of Captain America was that of his erstwhile friend after seeing the hero in [[newsreel]] footage. Sometime after the war, Arnie began a long-term romantic relationship with a teacher named Michael Bech, but also developed a [[Problem gambling|gambling problem]].<ref name="Appendix"/><ref name="BookRiot"/>
Arnold Roth was born into a [[Jews|Jewish]] family in the 1920s on the [[Lower East Side]] of [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]].<ref name="Appendix"/> A childhood friend to [[Captain America|Steve Rogers]], Arnie frequently protected the weak and infirm Steve from local bullies. After becoming aware of his homosexuality as a teenager, Arnie began to pursue girls and cultivated a persona as a playboy to compensate, causing him to drift away from the introverted Steve.<ref name="Appendix"/>{{sfn|Stevens|2015|p=141}} During [[World War II]], Arnie joined the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] while Steve received an experimental serum that turned him into the costumed [[superhero]] [[Captain America]]. Arnie was able to discern that the [[secret identity]] of Captain America was that of his erstwhile friend after seeing the hero in [[newsreel]] footage. Sometime after the war, Arnie began a long-term romantic relationship with a teacher named Michael Bech, but also developed a [[Problem gambling|gambling problem]].<ref name="Appendix"/><ref name="BookRiot"/>


Some time later, a middle-aged Arnie is approached by [[Helmut Zemo]] with an offer to pay off his gambling debts in exchange for Captain America's secret identity.<ref name="Uproxx"/> When Zemo kidnaps Michael to force Arnie's cooperation, Arnie appeals to Steve for help, though in an ensuing confrontation between Captain America and Zemo wherein the consciousnesses of Arnie and Michael are placed into mutates controlled by [[Arnim Zola|Primus]], Michael is killed.<ref name="Appendix"/><ref name="CriticalEssays"/> Though Arnie recovers physically from the ordeal, he is soon targeted by the villainous [[Red Skull]] as part of a plot to destroy the lives of Captain America's closest friends. As part of his torture at the hands of Red Skull, Arnie is dressed as a clown and forced to participate in a performance in which he disparages his sexual identity and Michael; Captain America intervenes and rescues Arnie, and assures him that his identity and love for Michael are not shameful.{{sfn|Stevens|2015|p=141}}{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=30}}
Some time later, after a now-middle aged Arnie discloses that he knows Captain America's secret identity following a night of drinking, he is approached by [[Helmut Zemo]] with an offer to pay off his gambling debts in exchange for the information.<ref name="Uproxx"/> When Zemo kidnaps Michael to force Arnie's cooperation, Arnie reconnects with Steve to appeal for his help, though in an ensuing confrontation between Captain America and Zemo wherein the consciousnesses of Arnie and Michael are placed into mutates controlled by [[Arnim Zola|Primus]], Michael is killed.<ref name="Appendix"/><ref name="CriticalEssays"/> Though Arnie recovers physically from the ordeal, he is soon targeted by the villainous [[Red Skull]] as part of a plot to destroy the lives of Captain America's closest friends. As part of his torture at the hands of Red Skull, Arnie is dressed as a clown and forced to participate in a performance in which he disparages his sexual identity and Michael; Captain America intervenes and rescues Arnie, and assures him that his identity and love for Michael are not shameful.{{sfn|Stevens|2015|p=141}}{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=30}}


Arnie recovers but leaves New York to move to [[Florida]], where loses the weight he has gained in his middle age, and one point works as a [[publicist]] for the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]].<ref name="Appendix"/><ref name="MarvelEncyclopedia"/> Years later, an aged Arnie returns to New York to assist with the "Captain America [[Hotline]]" created by Steve to field tips pertaining to national security,{{Sfn|Rizzo|Licari|2021|p=100}} becoming the manager of a [[costume shop]] used as a [[Front organization|front]] for the operation. After Steve discloses that he is dying due to a breakdown of the serum that gives him his superpowers,{{efn|The character would recover after being cryogenically frozen in ''Captain America'' #444 (1995).{{Sfn|Rizzo|Licari|2021|p=122}}}} Arnie confides that he has himself been diagnosed with terminal [[bone cancer]], and has little time left to live. Arnie is hospitalized shortly thereafter; in their final moment together, Steve kisses Arnie on the forehead and thanks him for his years of friendship, and Arnie dies.<ref name="Appendix"/>
Arnie recovers but leaves New York to move to [[Florida]], where he loses the weight he has gained in his middle age, and one point works as a [[publicist]] for the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] as a member of the Avengers Support Crew.<ref name="Appendix"/><ref name="MarvelEncyclopedia"/> Years later, an aged Arnie returns to New York to assist with the "Captain America [[Hotline]]" created by Steve to field tips pertaining to national security,{{Sfn|Rizzo|Licari|2021|p=100}} becoming the manager of a [[costume shop]] used as a [[Front organization|front]] for the operation. After Steve discloses that he is dying due to a breakdown of the serum that gives him his superpowers,{{efn|The character would recover after being cryogenically frozen in ''Captain America'' #444 (1995).{{Sfn|Rizzo|Licari|2021|p=122}}}} Arnie confides that he has himself been diagnosed with terminal [[bone cancer]], and has little time left to live. Soon after, Arnie is hospitalized. In their final moment together, Steve kisses Arnie on the forehead and thanks him for his years of friendship; Arnie dies shortly thereafter.<ref name="Appendix"/>


==History==
==History==
Line 77: Line 77:
}}
}}


Marvel Comics editor-in-chief [[Jim Shooter]] instituted a "No Gays in the [[Marvel Universe]]" policy in the 1980s, in response to public backlash against a scene in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|Hulk]]'' #23 (1980) in which [[Hulk|Bruce Banner]] is accosted and threatened with rape by two men at a [[YMCA]].<ref name="Prism"/><ref name="NotAllSupermen"/> LGBT expressions in comic books were also restricted by the [[Comics Code Authority]], a system of comic book content regulation.<ref name="Routledge"/> Consequently, the sexual orientation of LGBT characters in comics published by Marvel could for many years only be communicated through subtext, as in the case of [[Northstar (character)|Northstar]] in ''[[Alpha Flight]]'', and [[Mystique (character)|Mystique]] and [[Destiny (Irene Adler)|Destiny]] in ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]''.<ref name="NotAllSupermen"/>
Marvel Comics editor-in-chief [[Jim Shooter]] instituted a "No Gays in the [[Marvel Universe]]" policy in the 1980s, in response to public backlash against a scene in ''[[The Rampaging Hulk|The Hulk]]'' #23 (1980) in which [[Hulk|Bruce Banner]] is accosted and threatened with rape by two men at a [[YMCA]].<ref name="Prism"/><ref name="NotAllSupermen"/> LGBT expressions in comic books were also restricted by the [[Comics Code Authority]], a system of comic book content regulation.<ref name="Routledge"/> Consequently, the sexual orientation of LGBT characters in comics published by Marvel could for many years only be communicated through subtext, as in the case of [[Northstar (character)|Northstar]] in ''[[Alpha Flight]]'', and [[Mystique (character)|Mystique]] and [[Destiny (Irene Adler)|Destiny]] in ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]''.<ref name="NotAllSupermen"/>


J. M. DeMatteis began writing ''Captain America'' in 1981, with [[Mike Zeck]] serving as illustrator. DeMatteis stated that he was interested in depicting "what's behind the mask" and exploring Steve Rogers as a man over the hero of Captain America, and to this end focused on developing the character's supporting cast.<ref name="JM1"/> Throughout his run, he wished to depict how Steve represented the "[[Big tent|broad tent]] of America"<ref name="Youtube"/> and how he "had surrounded himself with people who represented American diversity", such as his Jewish girlfriend [[Bernie Rosenthal]], and his African American friend and superhero partner [[Falcon (comics)|Sam Wilson]].<ref name="JM1"/> Reflecting on the creation of Arnie Roth in this context, DeMatteis stated that it "made sense to me that he would have a gay friend, too. I wasn't trying to hammer anyone over the head with it, it just seemed like a natural thing."<ref name="Youtube"/> The character's name is likely a reference to cartoonist [[Arnold Roth]].<ref name="Appendix"/>
[[J. M. DeMatteis]] began writing ''Captain America'' in 1981, with [[Mike Zeck]] serving as illustrator. DeMatteis stated that he was interested in depicting "what's behind the mask" and exploring Steve Rogers as a man over the hero of Captain America, and to this end focused on developing the character's supporting cast.<ref name="JM1"/> Throughout his run, he wished to depict how Steve represented the "[[Big tent|broad tent]] of America"<ref name="Youtube"/> and how he "had surrounded himself with people who represented American diversity", such as his Jewish girlfriend [[Bernie Rosenthal]], and his African American friend and superhero partner [[Falcon (comics)|Sam Wilson]].<ref name="JM1"/> DeMatteis added that it "made sense to me that he would have a gay friend, too. I wasn't trying to hammer anyone over the head with it, it just seemed like a natural thing."<ref name="Youtube"/> The character's name is likely a reference to cartoonist [[Arnold Roth]].<ref name="Appendix"/>


Owing to the restrictions imposed on him by Shooter and the Comics Code Authority, Arnie's sexuality is never overtly stated within the text of comic itself; the character initially refers to Michael as his "roommate".{{sfn|Stevens|2015|p=141}} DeMatteis adopted a strategy of making Arnie's sexuality "clear in the context of the story"<ref name="Youtube"/> through conspicuous subtext and imagery, such as Arnie and Michael sitting next to each other on a bed,{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=30}} and hugging when they are reunited.<ref name="BookRiot"/><ref name="Routledge"/> In the aftermath of Arnie's forced performance in the Red Skull storyline, the subtext is rendered almost overtly, with Captain America directly likening his relationship with Bernie Rosenthal to Arnie's relationship with Michael.{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=30}} According to DeMatteis, his original draft of the scene overtly stated Arnie's sexuality, though the "powers that be" objected to the scene, and "a page or two of the story was rewritten by other hands".<ref name="JM1"/>
Owing to the restrictions imposed on LGBT characters by Shooter and the Comics Code Authority, Arnie's sexuality is never overtly stated within the text of comic itself; the character initially refers to Michael as his "roommate".{{sfn|Stevens|2015|p=141}} DeMatteis made Arnie's sexuality "clear in the context of the story"<ref name="Youtube"/> through conspicuous subtext and imagery, such as Arnie and Michael sitting next to each other on a bed,{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=30}} and hugging when they are reunited.<ref name="BookRiot"/><ref name="Routledge"/> In the aftermath of Arnie's forced performance in the Red Skull storyline, the subtext is rendered almost overtly, with Captain America directly likening his relationship with Bernie Rosenthal to Arnie's relationship with Michael.{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=30}} According to DeMatteis, his original draft of the scene overtly stated Arnie's sexuality, though the "powers that be" objected to the scene and "a page or two" of the comic was revised without his input.<ref name="JM1"/>


===Publication history===
===Publication history===
Arnie Roth made his [[first appearance]] in ''Captain America'' #268 (1982) as an unnamed pedestrian who happens to see Steve Rogers on a date with Bernie Rosenthal. He is formally introduced in ''Captain America'' #270 (1982), where he is [[Retcon|retroactively established]] as Steve's childhood friend.<ref name="Appendix"/>{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=xvii}} Arnie departed ''Captain America'' in issue #306 (1985) and would not return until ''Captain America'' #431 (1994), written by [[Mark Gruenwald]] and drawn by [[Dave Hoover]]. The character would continue to make appearances in the comic until his death in ''Captain America'' #443 (1995). ''The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe'' speculated that the character's death was likely a consequence of Marvel's [[floating timeline]], and the reality that it was increasingly implausible for a character born in the 1920s to be alive in stories set in the modern era.<ref name="Appendix"/>
Arnie Roth made his [[first appearance]] in ''Captain America'' #268 (April 1982) as an unnamed pedestrian who happens to see Steve Rogers on a date with Bernie Rosenthal. He is formally introduced in ''Captain America'' #270 (June 1982), where he is [[Retcon|retroactively established]] as Steve's childhood friend.<ref name="Appendix"/>{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=xvii}} Arnie departed ''Captain America'' in issue #306 (June 1985) and would not return until ''Captain America'' #428 (June 1994), written by [[Mark Gruenwald]] and drawn by [[Dave Hoover]]. The character would continue to make appearances in the comic until his death in ''Captain America'' #443 (September 1995). Stuart Vandal of ''The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe'' speculated that the character's death was likely a consequence of Marvel's [[floating timeline]], and the reality that it was increasingly implausible for a character born in the 1920s to be alive in stories set in the modern era.<ref name="Appendix"/>


In 2013, Arnie appeared in a [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]] to Steve's childhood in ''Captain America'' volume 7, issue 3, written by [[Rick Remender]] and penciled by [[John Romita, Jr.]]<ref name="Appendix"/>
In 2013, Arnie appeared in a [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]] to Steve's childhood in ''Captain America'' volume 7, issue 3, written by [[Rick Remender]] and penciled by [[John Romita Jr.]]<ref name="Appendix"/>


==Reception and legacy==
==Reception and legacy==
Arnie Roth was the first openly gay character to appear in an American [[superhero comics|superhero comic]],{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=29}}<ref name="Oxford"/> and has been praised as a generally positive representation of gay men in mainstream media of the era. Comics scholar Lee Easton writes that despite the "clichés of [[Media portrayal of LGBT people|dead lovers and tragic endings]]" prevalent in stories featuring the character, critics have nevertheless regarded him as "quite progressive in the context of America in the 1980s".{{sfn|Easton|2017|p=128}} Aaron Tabak of ''[[Geeks OUT]]'' writes that Arnie represents "comic-book idealism at its best spirit, however imperfectly executed it may be", noting that while the character is largely rendered as a passive victim who requires saving by the heterosexual Captain America, his story represents "as blatant a critique of homophobia and AIDS hysteria as mainstream comics could allow."<ref name="GeeksOut"/> Eileen Gonzalez of ''Book Riot'' similarly characterizes Arnie's story as "not perfect" in light of its focus on tragedy and reliance on subtext, but praised the depiction of Arnie and Michael as "a down-to-earth, devoted couple without even a whiff of the stereotypes that still dictated how gay men were portrayed."<ref name="BookRiot"/>
Arnie Roth was the first openly gay character to appear in a mainstream [[superhero comics|superhero comic]],{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=29}}<ref name="Oxford"/> and has been praised as a generally positive representation of gay men in mainstream media of the era. Comics scholar Lee Easton writes that despite the "clichés of [[Media portrayal of LGBT people|dead lovers and tragic endings]]" prevalent in stories featuring the character, critics have nevertheless regarded him as "quite progressive in the context of America in the 1980s".{{sfn|Easton|2017|p=128}} Aaron Tabak of ''[[Geeks OUT]]'' writes that Arnie represents "comic-book idealism at its best spirit, however imperfectly executed it may be", noting that while the character is largely rendered as a passive victim who requires saving by the heterosexual Captain America, his story represents "as blatant a critique of homophobia and AIDS hysteria as mainstream comics could allow."<ref name="GeeksOut"/> Eileen Gonzalez of ''Book Riot'' similarly characterizes Arnie's story as "not perfect" in light of its focus on tragedy and reliance on subtext, but praised the depiction of Arnie and Michael as "a down-to-earth, devoted couple without even a whiff of the stereotypes that still dictated how gay men were portrayed."<ref name="BookRiot"/>


Media scholar Richard A. Hall praised the "powerful" climax to the Red Skull storyline, describing it as "a cry, not just to Captain America, but to the readers as well. One would be extremely hard-pressed to find any example in all of 1984 American popular culture containing such a powerful plea to the heterosexual community."{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=30}} Media scholar J. Richard Stevens noted how Arnie's inclusion in ''Captain America'' added "context and depth to Rogers's character", as "the loyalty and devotion Rogers showed Roth demonstrated his unqualified acceptance and belief in freedom."{{sfn|Stevens|2015|p=142}}
Media scholar Richard A. Hall praised the "powerful" climax to the Red Skull storyline, describing it as "a cry, not just to Captain America, but to the readers as well. One would be extremely hard-pressed to find any example in all of 1984 American popular culture containing such a powerful plea to the heterosexual community."{{sfn|Hall|2019|p=30}} Media scholar J. Richard Stevens noted how Arnie's inclusion in ''Captain America'' added "context and depth to Rogers's character", as "the loyalty and devotion Rogers showed Roth demonstrated his unqualified acceptance and belief in freedom."{{sfn|Stevens|2015|p=142}}


Easton notes that the relationship between Arnie and Steve "reverses stereotypes while reinforcing those of hegemonic masculinity", noting that while as children Arnie takes the traditionally masculine role as Steve's protector, as adults it is the "soft, less fit, and more vulnerable" Arnie who must be protected by Captain America.{{sfn|Easton|2017|pp=119, 127}} Tabak similarly notes how this role reversal and Arnie's awareness of Captain America's secret identity repurposes "imagery and language of [[Closeted|the closet]] and of [[coming out]] [...] towards a superhero's own 'closeted' identity", noting how "invoking that similarity between the superhero experience and that of gay men in America serves to enrich the bond between Arnie and Steve".<ref name="GeeksOut"/>
Easton notes that the relationship between Arnie and Steve "reverses stereotypes while reinforcing those of [[hegemonic masculinity]]", noting that while as children Arnie takes the traditionally masculine role as Steve's protector, as adults it is the "soft, less fit, and more vulnerable" Arnie who must be protected by Captain America.{{sfn|Easton|2017|pp=119, 127}} Tabak similarly notes how this role reversal and Arnie's awareness of Captain America's secret identity repurposes "imagery and language of [[Closeted|the closet]] and of [[coming out]] [...] towards a superhero's own 'closeted' identity", noting how "invoking that similarity between the superhero experience and that of gay men in America serves to enrich the bond between Arnie and Steve".<ref name="GeeksOut"/>


DeMatteis stated that he personally regards the backstory of the [[Bucky Barnes (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Marvel Cinematic Universe incarnation]] of [[Bucky Barnes]], which re-imagines the character as Rogers' childhood friend, as influenced by Arnie Roth,<ref name="Youtube"/><ref name="JM2"/> with some critics noting similarities between the characters.<ref name="BookRiot"/><ref name="Uproxx"/>
DeMatteis stated that he personally regards the backstory of the [[Bucky Barnes (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Marvel Cinematic Universe incarnation]] of [[Bucky Barnes]], which re-imagines the character as Rogers' childhood friend, as influenced by Arnie Roth,<ref name="Youtube"/><ref name="JM2"/> with some writers noting similarities between the characters.<ref name="BookRiot"/><ref name="Uproxx"/>


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 107: Line 107:
<ref name="BookRiot">{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Eileen |title=Marvel's First Gay Couple, Arnie and Michael: A Love Story |url=https://bookriot.com/marvels-first-gay-couple-arnie-and-michael-a-love-story/ |website=Book Riot |access-date=June 12, 2023 |date=July 27, 2018}}</ref>
<ref name="BookRiot">{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Eileen |title=Marvel's First Gay Couple, Arnie and Michael: A Love Story |url=https://bookriot.com/marvels-first-gay-couple-arnie-and-michael-a-love-story/ |website=Book Riot |access-date=June 12, 2023 |date=July 27, 2018}}</ref>


<ref name="CriticalEssays">{{cite book |last1=Walton |first1=David |page=166 |chapter='Captain America Must Die': The Many Afterlives of Steve Rogers|editor1-last=Weiner |editor1-first=Robert |title=Captain America and the Struggle of the Superhero: Critical Essays |url=https://archive.org/details/captainamericast00wein |url-access=limited |date=2009 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-0786437030}}</ref>
<ref name="CriticalEssays">{{cite book |last1=Walton |first1=David |page=166 |chapter='Captain America Must Die': The Many Afterlives of Steve Rogers|editor1-last=Weiner |editor1-first=Robert |title=Captain America and the Struggle of the Superhero: Critical Essays |date=2009 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-0786437030}}</ref>


<ref name="GeeksOut">{{cite web |last1=Tabak |first1=Aaron |title=Forgotten Gay Characters: Captain America's Gay Pal, Arnie Roth |url=http://geeksout.org/blogs/aaron-tabak/forgotten-gay-characters-captain-americas-gay-pal-arnie-roth |website=[[Geeks OUT]] |access-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415090502/http://geeksout.org/blogs/aaron-tabak/forgotten-gay-characters-captain-americas-gay-pal-arnie-roth |archive-date=April 15, 2018 |date=June 3, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="GeeksOut">{{cite web |last1=Tabak |first1=Aaron |title=Forgotten Gay Characters: Captain America's Gay Pal, Arnie Roth |url=http://geeksout.org/blogs/aaron-tabak/forgotten-gay-characters-captain-americas-gay-pal-arnie-roth |website=[[Geeks OUT]] |access-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415090502/http://geeksout.org/blogs/aaron-tabak/forgotten-gay-characters-captain-americas-gay-pal-arnie-roth |archive-date=April 15, 2018 |date=June 3, 2014}}</ref>
Line 132: Line 132:


===Bibliography===
===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Easton |first1=Lee |editor1-last=Eckard |editor1-first=Sandra |title=Comic Connections: Analyzing Hero and Identity |date=2017 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |isbn=978-1475828030 |pages=115–132 |chapter=Teaching the Body of the Nation: Captain America and Masculity}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Easton |first1=Lee |editor1-last=Eckard |editor1-first=Sandra |title=Comic Connections: Analyzing Hero and Identity |date=2017 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |isbn=978-1475828030 |pages=115–132 |chapter=Teaching the Body of the Nation: Captain America and Masculity}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Hall |first1=Richard A. |title=The American Superhero: Encyclopedia of Caped Crusaders in History |date=2019 |publisher=[[ABC-Clio]] |isbn=978-1440861239}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Hall |first1=Richard A. |title=The American Superhero: Encyclopedia of Caped Crusaders in History |date=2019 |publisher=[[ABC-Clio]] |isbn=978-1440861239}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Rizzo |first1=Marco |last2=Licari |first2=Fabio |title=Marvel's Captain America: The First 80 Years |date=2021 |publisher=[[Titan Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-1787737174}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Rizzo |first1=Marco |last2=Licari |first2=Fabio |title=Marvel's Captain America: The First 80 Years |date=2021 |publisher=[[Titan Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-1787737174}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Stevens |first1=J. Richard |title=Captain America, Masculinity, and Violence: The Evolution of a National Icon |date=2015 |publisher=[[Syracuse University Press]] |isbn=978-0815633952 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Stevens |first1=J. Richard |title=Captain America, Masculinity, and Violence: The Evolution of a National Icon |date=2015 |publisher=[[Syracuse University Press]] |isbn=978-0815633952 }}
{{Refend}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
Line 152: Line 154:
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1982]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1982]]
[[Category:Fictional American Jews in comics]]
[[Category:Fictional American Jews in comics]]
[[Category:Fictional gay males]]
[[Category:Fictional gay men]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from New York City]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from New York City]]
[[Category:Fictional United States Navy personnel]]
[[Category:Fictional United States Navy personnel]]
[[Category:Fictional World War II veterans]]
[[Category:Fictional World War II veterans]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics LGBT characters]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics LGBTQ characters]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics military personnel]]

Latest revision as of 08:44, 13 November 2024

Arnie Roth
Arnie in Captain America #270 (June 1982)
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First comic appearanceCaptain America #268
(April 1982)
Created byJ. M. DeMatteis & Mike Zeck
In-story information
Full nameArnold Roth
Place of originNew York City
Team affiliationsAvengers Support Crew
Supporting character ofCaptain America

Arnold "Arnie" Roth is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer J. M. DeMatteis and artist Mike Zeck and first appeared in Captain America #268, published in April 1982. Arnie is a childhood friend of Steve Rogers, the civilian identity of the costumed superhero Captain America. Decades later, the pair are reacquainted after Arnie is targeted by Captain America's adversaries Helmut Zemo and the Red Skull. Later in his life, Arnie would assist with the "Captain America Hotline" created to field tips pertaining to national security before dying of bone cancer.

Arnie was the first openly gay character to appear in a mainstream superhero comic. The character was conceived by DeMatteis as part of his effort to develop Captain America's supporting cast and explore how the character "had surrounded himself with people who represented American diversity", though as a result of editorial dictates at Marvel and the restrictions of the Comics Code Authority, DeMatteis was forced to communicate Arnie's sexuality exclusively through imagery and subtext. Though the tragic bent of stories featuring the character has been the subject of criticism, he has been praised as a positive media representation of gay men in the context of a 1980s media landscape characterized by homophobia and backlash against gay men amid the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Fictional character biography

[edit]
See also: Captain America § Fictional character biography

Arnold Roth was born into a Jewish family in the 1920s on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City.[1] A childhood friend to Steve Rogers, Arnie frequently protected the weak and infirm Steve from local bullies. After becoming aware of his homosexuality as a teenager, Arnie began to pursue girls and cultivated a persona as a playboy to compensate, causing him to drift away from the introverted Steve.[1][2] During World War II, Arnie joined the U.S. Navy while Steve received an experimental serum that turned him into the costumed superhero Captain America. Arnie was able to discern that the secret identity of Captain America was that of his erstwhile friend after seeing the hero in newsreel footage. Sometime after the war, Arnie began a long-term romantic relationship with a teacher named Michael Bech, but also developed a gambling problem.[1][3]

Some time later, after a now-middle aged Arnie discloses that he knows Captain America's secret identity following a night of drinking, he is approached by Helmut Zemo with an offer to pay off his gambling debts in exchange for the information.[4] When Zemo kidnaps Michael to force Arnie's cooperation, Arnie reconnects with Steve to appeal for his help, though in an ensuing confrontation between Captain America and Zemo wherein the consciousnesses of Arnie and Michael are placed into mutates controlled by Primus, Michael is killed.[1][5] Though Arnie recovers physically from the ordeal, he is soon targeted by the villainous Red Skull as part of a plot to destroy the lives of Captain America's closest friends. As part of his torture at the hands of Red Skull, Arnie is dressed as a clown and forced to participate in a performance in which he disparages his sexual identity and Michael; Captain America intervenes and rescues Arnie, and assures him that his identity and love for Michael are not shameful.[2][6]

Arnie recovers but leaves New York to move to Florida, where he loses the weight he has gained in his middle age, and one point works as a publicist for the Avengers as a member of the Avengers Support Crew.[1][7] Years later, an aged Arnie returns to New York to assist with the "Captain America Hotline" created by Steve to field tips pertaining to national security,[8] becoming the manager of a costume shop used as a front for the operation. After Steve discloses that he is dying due to a breakdown of the serum that gives him his superpowers,[a] Arnie confides that he has himself been diagnosed with terminal bone cancer, and has little time left to live. Soon after, Arnie is hospitalized. In their final moment together, Steve kisses Arnie on the forehead and thanks him for his years of friendship; Arnie dies shortly thereafter.[1]

History

[edit]

Context and development

[edit]
See also: LGBT themes in comics and LGBT themes in American mainstream comics
Picture of J. M. DeMatteis at Etna Comics in 2018
Picture of Mike Zeck at Wizard World in 2013
Arnie Roth was created by writer J. M. DeMatteis (left, pictured 2018) and artist Mike Zeck (right, pictured 2013).

Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter instituted a "No Gays in the Marvel Universe" policy in the 1980s, in response to public backlash against a scene in The Hulk #23 (1980) in which Bruce Banner is accosted and threatened with rape by two men at a YMCA.[10][11] LGBT expressions in comic books were also restricted by the Comics Code Authority, a system of comic book content regulation.[12] Consequently, the sexual orientation of LGBT characters in comics published by Marvel could for many years only be communicated through subtext, as in the case of Northstar in Alpha Flight, and Mystique and Destiny in Uncanny X-Men.[11]

J. M. DeMatteis began writing Captain America in 1981, with Mike Zeck serving as illustrator. DeMatteis stated that he was interested in depicting "what's behind the mask" and exploring Steve Rogers as a man over the hero of Captain America, and to this end focused on developing the character's supporting cast.[13] Throughout his run, he wished to depict how Steve represented the "broad tent of America"[14] and how he "had surrounded himself with people who represented American diversity", such as his Jewish girlfriend Bernie Rosenthal, and his African American friend and superhero partner Sam Wilson.[13] DeMatteis added that it "made sense to me that he would have a gay friend, too. I wasn't trying to hammer anyone over the head with it, it just seemed like a natural thing."[14] The character's name is likely a reference to cartoonist Arnold Roth.[1]

Owing to the restrictions imposed on LGBT characters by Shooter and the Comics Code Authority, Arnie's sexuality is never overtly stated within the text of comic itself; the character initially refers to Michael as his "roommate".[2] DeMatteis made Arnie's sexuality "clear in the context of the story"[14] through conspicuous subtext and imagery, such as Arnie and Michael sitting next to each other on a bed,[6] and hugging when they are reunited.[3][12] In the aftermath of Arnie's forced performance in the Red Skull storyline, the subtext is rendered almost overtly, with Captain America directly likening his relationship with Bernie Rosenthal to Arnie's relationship with Michael.[6] According to DeMatteis, his original draft of the scene overtly stated Arnie's sexuality, though the "powers that be" objected to the scene and "a page or two" of the comic was revised without his input.[13]

Publication history

[edit]

Arnie Roth made his first appearance in Captain America #268 (April 1982) as an unnamed pedestrian who happens to see Steve Rogers on a date with Bernie Rosenthal. He is formally introduced in Captain America #270 (June 1982), where he is retroactively established as Steve's childhood friend.[1][15] Arnie departed Captain America in issue #306 (June 1985) and would not return until Captain America #428 (June 1994), written by Mark Gruenwald and drawn by Dave Hoover. The character would continue to make appearances in the comic until his death in Captain America #443 (September 1995). Stuart Vandal of The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe speculated that the character's death was likely a consequence of Marvel's floating timeline, and the reality that it was increasingly implausible for a character born in the 1920s to be alive in stories set in the modern era.[1]

In 2013, Arnie appeared in a flashback to Steve's childhood in Captain America volume 7, issue 3, written by Rick Remender and penciled by John Romita Jr.[1]

Reception and legacy

[edit]

Arnie Roth was the first openly gay character to appear in a mainstream superhero comic,[16][17] and has been praised as a generally positive representation of gay men in mainstream media of the era. Comics scholar Lee Easton writes that despite the "clichés of dead lovers and tragic endings" prevalent in stories featuring the character, critics have nevertheless regarded him as "quite progressive in the context of America in the 1980s".[18] Aaron Tabak of Geeks OUT writes that Arnie represents "comic-book idealism at its best spirit, however imperfectly executed it may be", noting that while the character is largely rendered as a passive victim who requires saving by the heterosexual Captain America, his story represents "as blatant a critique of homophobia and AIDS hysteria as mainstream comics could allow."[19] Eileen Gonzalez of Book Riot similarly characterizes Arnie's story as "not perfect" in light of its focus on tragedy and reliance on subtext, but praised the depiction of Arnie and Michael as "a down-to-earth, devoted couple without even a whiff of the stereotypes that still dictated how gay men were portrayed."[3]

Media scholar Richard A. Hall praised the "powerful" climax to the Red Skull storyline, describing it as "a cry, not just to Captain America, but to the readers as well. One would be extremely hard-pressed to find any example in all of 1984 American popular culture containing such a powerful plea to the heterosexual community."[6] Media scholar J. Richard Stevens noted how Arnie's inclusion in Captain America added "context and depth to Rogers's character", as "the loyalty and devotion Rogers showed Roth demonstrated his unqualified acceptance and belief in freedom."[20]

Easton notes that the relationship between Arnie and Steve "reverses stereotypes while reinforcing those of hegemonic masculinity", noting that while as children Arnie takes the traditionally masculine role as Steve's protector, as adults it is the "soft, less fit, and more vulnerable" Arnie who must be protected by Captain America.[21] Tabak similarly notes how this role reversal and Arnie's awareness of Captain America's secret identity repurposes "imagery and language of the closet and of coming out [...] towards a superhero's own 'closeted' identity", noting how "invoking that similarity between the superhero experience and that of gay men in America serves to enrich the bond between Arnie and Steve".[19]

DeMatteis stated that he personally regards the backstory of the Marvel Cinematic Universe incarnation of Bucky Barnes, which re-imagines the character as Rogers' childhood friend, as influenced by Arnie Roth,[14][22] with some writers noting similarities between the characters.[3][4]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The character would recover after being cryogenically frozen in Captain America #444 (1995).[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Norvo (March 30, 2023). "Arnold Roth". The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Stevens 2015, p. 141.
  3. ^ a b c d Gonzalez, Eileen (July 27, 2018). "Marvel's First Gay Couple, Arnie and Michael: A Love Story". Book Riot. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Andreakos, Jimmy (June 8, 2016). "Captain America May Never Have A Boyfriend, But He's Long Had A Gay Best Friend". Uproxx. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Walton, David (2009). "'Captain America Must Die': The Many Afterlives of Steve Rogers". In Weiner, Robert (ed.). Captain America and the Struggle of the Superhero: Critical Essays. McFarland & Company. p. 166. ISBN 978-0786437030.
  6. ^ a b c d Hall 2019, p. 30.
  7. ^ Fentiman, David, ed. (2006). Marvel Encyclopedia, New Edition. DK. p. 302. ISBN 978-1465478900.
  8. ^ Rizzo & Licari 2021, p. 100.
  9. ^ Rizzo & Licari 2021, p. 122.
  10. ^ Mangels, Andy (2006), In and Out: A Brief History of Marvel's 2006 Gay Policies, Prism Comics, archived from the original on March 16, 2010, retrieved June 11, 2023
  11. ^ a b Hanley, Tim (2022). Not All Supermen: Sexism, Toxic Masculinity, and the Complex History of Superheroes. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 134. ISBN 978-1538152744.
  12. ^ a b Bramlett, Frank; Cook, Roy T.; Meskin, Aaron, eds. (2017). The Routledge Companion to Comics. Routledge. p. 297. ISBN 978-0415729000.
  13. ^ a b c DeMatteis, J.M. (July 3, 2011). "Stars and Stripes". J. M. DeMatteis's Creation Point. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d DeMatteis, J.M. and Tano, Duy (October 14, 2021). JM DeMatteis on Captain America, Spider-Man, Duality, and Progress (Video). The Comics Cube. Event occurs at 12:06. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  15. ^ Hall 2019, p. xvii.
  16. ^ Hall 2019, p. 29.
  17. ^ Roberts, Holly (March 7, 2022). "Queering Marvel's America: Arnie Roth vs the Censors". The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  18. ^ Easton 2017, p. 128.
  19. ^ a b Tabak, Aaron (June 3, 2014). "Forgotten Gay Characters: Captain America's Gay Pal, Arnie Roth". Geeks OUT. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  20. ^ Stevens 2015, p. 142.
  21. ^ Easton 2017, pp. 119, 127.
  22. ^ DeMatteis, J.M. (April 27, 2016). "3001: A Space Oddity". J. M. DeMatteis's Creation Point. Retrieved June 12, 2023.

Bibliography

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arnie_Roth_(character)&oldid=1257113124"