A comic book that depicts Quebec separatists as the “bad guys” is being compared to anti-Semitic hate literature in a controversial debate making headlines here.
Angry Quebec separatists have denounced the premier issue of Justice League Task Force, a comic book published by the New York-based D.C. Comics.
Denis Lazure, a member of Quebec’s National Assembly, has demanded that the book be banned, likening it to hate literature against Jews.
“If we withdraw hate literature against Jews, we can get literature against the people of Quebec withdrawn,” said Lazure, who belongs to the Parti Quebecois, the provincial party that seeks Quebec’s secession from Canada.
At the heart of the dispute is the June-dated comic book that features a green-skinned Martian Manhunter at the head of an elite group of superheroes dedicated to fighting “radicals who want Quebec to secede from Canada.”
The separatists use a toy warehouse to plot their deeds and distribute weapons to violent groups throughout the province.
The comic book has become the latest focal point for separatists’ anger in their battle against federalism.
Quebec Jewish leaders are not amused by the comparison of the comic book with anti-Semitic or racist hate literature.
Stephen Scheinberg, chairman of B’nai Brith Canada’s League for Human Rights, said that “it trivializes real hate propaganda.
“I don’t know why the Jews had to be dragged into this story,” Scheinberg told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “And I’m not sure why hate propaganda had to be dragged into it either.”
Scheinberg pointed out that Lazure’s comments about banning the book were also inaccurate, since Quebec has not prosecuted anyone for distributing hate propaganda.
AN ‘ERRONEOUS COMPARISON’
The government also has not ordered any such publications withdrawn from shelves, despite B’nai Brith requests, “even when we had a case of the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion’ distributed by a bookstore in Quebec,” said Scheinberg.
“Such an erroneous comparison, of an attempt at humor and adventure with an attempt by those who wish to harm Jews or blacks, is absurd,” Scheinberg said.
Max Bernard, chairman of the Community Relations Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress’ Quebec Region, said, “To call this hate literature demeans the kinds of things that we as Jews have to tolerate.’
“I don’t see the Denis Lazures of this world rise up and decry the (Ku Klux Klan) hate literature that was distributed in Quebec,” he added.
D.C. Comics, which is selling the comic book for $1.25, is owned by Time Warner Inc., the media conglomerate.
Patricia Jeres, D.C.’s manager of marketing and communications, said in New York on Monday, “I would never advocate book-banning.”
However, she added, “I understand (the separatists’) concerns. I will see what we can do to address them.”
The controversy has boosted sales. A mere day after the negative publicity, some Montreal specialty shops were selling the book for $25 and retailers were scouring Ontario for extra copies.
The possibility of banning copies from Canada is being investigated. Federal Justice Minister Pierre Blais denounced the comic book and asked that a copy be sent to federal officials immediately.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
