Money Monday: New Avengers Comic Teaches “Financial Literacy”
June 25th, 2012
Here at Silver Circle we’re producing an independent film, and an accompanying independent web comic in part as an educational tool to expose young readers to the concepts of independent currency, and declaring independence from central banking. I suppose we should not be surprised to see a mainstream comic company using mainstream super heroes to teach kids about mainstream banking. Because that’s exactly what’s happening.
We’ve already seen that Marvel is on the wrong side of the humanity of mutants, petitioning the government to classify their own mutant characters as non-human. But now it seems Marvel Entertainment, in collaboration with Visa, has released a web comic titled “Saving the Day” featuring Spider-Man and the Avengers to teach kids about banking and other financial instruments.
The comic, and the accompanying teacher’s guide is available at www.practicalmoneyskills.ca, and considering the massive funding coming from Visa, and their collaboration with compulsory public schools, there’s a good chance this is the first comic book many kids read.
The basic plot is that Spider Man, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk and Giant-Man must thwart an attempt by Mole Man and his Subterraneans to rob a bank, and along the way the Avengers educate Spider Man about the various forms and functions of the bank itself.
It’s not all bad news. Mostly the message seems to be promoting the importance of saving and budgeting. That’s more financial literacy then they taught us in school. When I was a kid all they taught us about money was how to make change, and how to write a check. But there are a few funny little details in the comic that raise the eyebrows an economics geek like me.
For example, why in the world would Mole Man need US Dollars to build his subterranean kingdom anyway? Odds are the vast mineral wealth accessible to Mole Man and his army beneath the surface of the Earth is worth exponentially more whatever he can haul out of a bank robbery. But let’s not nitpick.
There’s plenty of actual misinformation in the comic. Giant-Man tells Spider Man that if he wants to grow his wealth he should open a savings account to earn the percentage of interest. This of course ignores the fact that interest rates and inflation rates are integrally linked, and if you leave your money in a savings account you’re actually losing purchasing power. If you want to grow your wealth you need to be investing your money, not saving it.
For an example of naked propaganda consider Thor telling Spider Man, “Asgardians save their treasures as well. After all, we are immortal! But yours is a much more helpful and benevolent system!” I’m not sure what the financial system of the Asgardians is in the Marvel Universe, but if it’s anything like the actual Asgardians of Northern European mythology they’d be using gold and silver.
There is a ray of light in this confusing adventure. In one panel Hulk is shrunk by Giant-Man and he trips over a stack of coins sitting at the clerk’s window. Check out the picture. Those sure don’t look like any US coins I’m familiar with.
It sure looks to me like this bank is stocking gold rounds, which is a subtle but significant detail to include. It makes me wonder if the artist didn’t do it on purpose. Hopefully that plants the seed for some kids.
And don’t forget to visit our official website to learn more about the Silver Circle Movie:http://SilverCircleMovie.com
