Contains mentions of self-harm and suicide.
Marvel put Captain America on the map when he was allowed to punch Adolf Hitler in the face, but DC Comics returned Hitler himself to the map decades later. Captain America comics #1 by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby marked the first appearance of the title character, famously gracing the cover by punching the baddest man on the planet right in the kisser. It instantly transformed Captain America into an iconic and unforgettable figure.
However, some readers forgot that getting punched by Captain America wasn't Hitler's only appearance in superhero comics, as DC Comics added their own twist. Adventures of the Outsiders #33 by Mike W. Barr, Alan Davis, Adrienne Roy and John Workman marks the return of Hitler as a clone created by supervillains determined to give birth to a Fourth Reich.
However, when the next issue was promoted, DC promised it would be "not just another story of the Fourth Reich!"Unexpectedly, DC used Hitler's rebirth in subsequent issues to tell a story about the value of redemption for the average person, as well as its infinite potential for change.
How did DC Comics bring back Adolf Hitler after Captain America punched him?
Hitler was cloned by an enemy of foreigners
The Outsiders (which included heroes like Black Lightning) fought Nazi collaborator Baron Bedlam, who had nefarious plans up his sleeve. He cloned Hitler not only in hopes of ensuring world domination, but also in hopes of using his fingerprints to unlock a secret chamber that gives him access to the all-powerful Proton Cloud Generator. While the latter task is successful, world domination is easier said than done as Hitler's clone is a blank slate with no memories of his evil deeds.
To refresh his Führer's memory, Bedlam places Hitler in the care of a Jewish chambermaid, under the impression that she would serve as the clone's great test, hoping that Hitler would kill her when her memories returned. In Adventures of the Outsiders #35, the maid actually saves the clone's life as he chokes on his food. Later, when he sees images of the Holocaust and notices the maid's Star of David necklace, his memories return. However, Hitler is so disgusted by such heinous actions which he shoots himself.
DC Comics uses Hitler to convey an essential message for any superhero story
Redemption is always possible
After destroying the Proton Cloud Generator, Outsiders member Geo-Force kills Bedlam. After the Outsiders find the dead clone, Black Lightning illustrates the book's message at the end, saying:
It seems that both Baron Bedlam and one of the most evil men in history have been given a second chance. Bedlam brought out the worst in himself, but the other... well, if he could fight his evil nature - even at the cost of his own life - I'd say there's hope for the rest of us too.
Using Hitler as a central, redeemable theme is a controversial choice, but the sentiment resonates when readers take Hitler out of the equation.
It's a strangely captivating message that has less to do with Hitler and more to do with the idea that no one is beyond redemption. Using Hitler as a central, redeemable theme is a controversial choice, but the sentiment resonates when readers take Hitler out of the equation. The moral of the story is ultimately that, at least for the most part, everyone is capable of changing themselves and their bad habits. THE DC Comics History suggests that everyone is capable of redemption, even a man as evil or vile as Adolf Hitler, without the need for a quick punch in the face. Captain America.
Adventures of the Outsiders #33 is now available from DC Comics.