Hey, you!
Comic Writer. I’m talking to you.
If you’re working on a script right now, and the story does NOT take place in WWII or involve a modern-day terrorist cell, stop using Nazis as an antagonist. It’s boring. Your story is boring. Just stop.
Sure, I may be coming off a bit harsh on this point, but not without reason and experience.
We receive new comics from publishers and independent creators every day. It’s fair to say we sort through at least one hundred comics or more every month. Invariably, we’ll get a few independent submissions where the antagonist is a Nazi. In stories where it makes sense to have a Nazi antagonist, I give the go-ahead for the comic to be reviewed. But then, there are the other types of submissions…
Picture an alien visitor from another world with superhuman powers far beyond mortal Earthlings. That hero settles in an average American town to live a peaceful life. But when trouble strikes, the hero battles villains that pose a dangerous threat and are greater in power and strength than the hero. When we’re introduced to this hero, they’re effortlessly beating up protestors dressed like Brownshirts in a park.
How about another one?
Picture a subverted tale about Santa Claus where the jolly fat man is actually a demonic force who feeds on the misdeeds of naughty children. Think of this Santa as a cross between the traditional figure mixed with Krampus and the Devil. When this Santa returns to his workshop at the North Pole, his henchmen are anthropomorphic reindeer wearing SS uniforms.
Are you getting the picture?
These are descriptions of actual comic submissions we received, and they were rejected accordingly. The stories didn’t provide any context for Nazis or Nazi-affiliated groups to be present. The creators just decided Nazis are bad, and that’s good enough for a worthwhile antagonist.
Sorry, that’s not good enough.
Yes, everybody hates Nazis (except, of course, other Nazis), but context and narrative cohesion matter. If you’re telling a story about a villainous individual or group, there must be a believable reason for Nazis to be present. When a creator submits their work and provides no context other than “Nazis are bad,” that creator demonstrates a lack of creativity and effort in their work. If you, as a comic writer, can’t be bothered to use your imagination, your work is guaranteed to be forgettable.
Does that mean a comic can never contain Nazis? No, of course not, but there are a limited set of circumstances where it makes sense. For example:
World War II: Nazis came to power during the 1930s, so a story set in or around the geo-political landscape of the 1930s and 1940s would be the ideal location for a Nazi-related villain.
Modern Terrorist Groups: Sure, why not. Skinheads are a thing. Neo-Nazis are a thing. If the plot of your story involves one of these groups plotting to assassinate a world figure or attack a gathering of innocent civilians, then you’ve got a read-made Jack Bauer adventure. But take care. The group has to be DOING something villainous. Simply existing is not enough.
For any other story, find a better way to set up your villains. Read a book, preferably something classical (pre-20th-Century). An easy formula for creating your villains is to build a character who counteracts your hero’s strengths and powers.
Do something else, anything else, but don’t bore your audience with Nazis.
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