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Initially, I envisioned concluding this miniseries with a comparison between Donald Trump and the Red Skull—a character notorious for his extreme ideology and visually striking features. However, as we delve deeper into the chaotic landscape of Trump’s second term, I find myself questioning the effectiveness of such parallels. The supporters within the MAGA movement may even interpret these villainous analogies as flattering. More critically, I wonder if my assessments of Trump might be overstated.
It’s essential to clarify my stance: I maintain that Trump is a more detrimental leader than Lex Luthor, a deadlier figure than the Joker, and a harsher authoritarian than Doctor Doom. Yet, each of these villains possesses distinct traits and ideologies; Trump, in contrast, appears more as a figure responding to external influences than one with intrinsic mastery.
This brings us to our subject today.
For those unfamiliar with the Ventriloquist—a lesser-known adversary of Batman—he made his first appearance in Detective Comics #583-584. The Ventriloquist’s puppet, Scarface, embodies a ruthless mobster who engages in drug trafficking and executes those he considers traitors. The Ventriloquist, whose real name is Arnold Wesker, is characterized as timid and ineffectual, lacking a proper backstory until years after his introduction.
However, sympathy for Wesker may not be warranted.
The phrase “only following orders” carries a familiar ring, harkening back to the Final Report to the Secretary of the Army on the Nuernberg War Crimes Trials. A particularly telling excerpt notes:
“That the incredible massacres [of Eastern European Jews] charged in the indictment had in fact occurred, the documentary proof left no doubt…. Some of the defendants endeavored to deny personal participation in these murders; most leaned heavily on the defense of ‘superior orders’….[T]he Tribunal sentenced [SS Major General Otto] Ohlendorf and thirteen other defendants to death by hanging.” (Pages 189-190)
The defense of merely “following orders” hardly garners sympathy, yet that seems to be the case with Wesker in various interpretations. He is portrayed either as a pawn of Scarface or as a vessel for acting out his violent desires. Ultimately, Wesker becomes dependent on Scarface, so much so that when separated from his puppet, he often collapses or resorts to makeshift substitutes. To him, even a mere sock is preferable to confronting his existence alone.
Turning our attention to Trump, if he ever possessed a genuine idea or achieved a personal milestone, these have been overshadowed by a series of high-profile blunders. His “views” and “principles” seem to shift according to those around him and what he consumes through media.
Oscar Wilde’s assertion that “most people are other people” could not encapsulate Trump’s character more aptly—his extensive privilege has perhaps insulated him from developing fundamental ethics and critical reasoning.
Both Wesker and Trump share a concerning dependence on external influences. A telling moment in Detective Comics #831 highlights this dynamic; when Harley Quinn was first imprisoned, Wesker risked incurring Scarface’s ire to bring her a moment of happiness.
Wesker’s willingness to face abuse, whether it stems from mental illness or a cursed object, just to bring joy to someone else underscores a stark contrast. It reveals two individuals who consistently facilitate unspeakable acts and evade accountability for their actions. However, one of them at least attempts to mitigate his puppet’s more egregious behaviors at a personal cost, and notably, this figure did not ascend to the presidency.
Source
bookriot.com