Well I did have a few ideas for this entry but I am a week too late for Easter. My first idea was best resurrections in comics but my employees warned me that was quite a minefield to dance in. Then I was going to write about bunnies in comics. Yet for both this is coming out after Easter and would not be relevant. But it is Tax Day coming up on April 15th. Why not write about the tax dodgers in comics. The millionaires and billionaires that make the comic universes run. There are plenty to write about on both sides of the good/evil coin. I am sure I am going to miss a few but here are some that are in the forefront of my mind.
The first two that come to everyone’s mind are Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark. Both tragic characters that use their money for their own version of justice. Bruce Wayne who was orphaned by crime uses his money to clean up Gotham. He does it through Wayne Industries to create all the gadgets he and his “family” use to combat the evil that permeates Gotham City. Tony Stark was injured and had to create a device to keep shrapnel from hitting his heart. Using his vast fortune he creates a suit of armor and fights evil in his form of justice. Yes both use their ideas to actually try to help mankind but the bulk of their inventions and money are used to fund their crusade of justice.
Then there are the rich guys that actually fund superhero groups. First there is Warren Worthington III AKA Angel from the X-Men who used his money to fund various mutant groups. My favorite group he funded was the Champions. The group that consisted Black Widow, Iceman, Hercules, Ghost Rider, and of course Angel. There is also Kyle Richmond AKA Nighthawk who funded the Defenders. He was the money man but no one listened to him as a leader. He could buy the gadgets but not the respect. Then lastly there is Danny Rand AKA Iron Fist. He used his money to fund both Heroes for Hire and Secret Avengers. Lastly there if Charles Xavier AKA Professor X who used his family fortune to create a safe haven for mutants. He not only created mutant teams but used his family estate as a school for mutants to learn to master their powers. These heroes were not just the money men but they were also participants in the hero action.
A side note to all the previous is the two sides of the coin. Reed Richards AKA Mr. Fantastic and Victor Von Doom AKA Doctor Doom. Reed Richards came from some money but used his inventions to gain the capital to fund the Fantastic Four and even buy the Baxter Building, On the converse there is Dr. Doom who uses his country’s wealth and resources to conquer the world.
There are a couple of others that are not as recognized as rich heroes. Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow was a wealthy socialite until he got stuck on the island and had to learn to fend for himself. He is more of a socialist hero but hey when in Rome. There is also Ted Kord AKA Blue Beetle. He used Kord Enterprises to fund the Beetle gadgets. Well he did until he had to sell to Bruce Wayne.
Let us not forget about the ladies. First off there is Silvija Sablinova AKA Silver Sable. She uses the capital from the business she inherited to fund the Wild Pack. She makes her money through the company and the mercenary profits of the Wild Pack. Then there is Emma Frost AKA the White Queen who is the CEO of Frost International which is a big tech company. She has used the profit to fund the X-Men endeavors.
Let’s not forget the Millionaires on the other side of Justice. There is Norman Osborn AKA (at least) the Green Goblin who uses profits from Oscorp to at least make tech to kill Spider-Man. Lex Luthor is another one who uses his company and inventions to take down Superman. Both brilliant men who could change the world but choose to use their intellect for petty vendettas. Let us not forget about Watchmen’s Ozymandias who used his vast fortune to change the world according to his misguided will.
The richest person in the entire Marvel Universe is T’Challa AKA the Black Panther. It is not his fortune but his country’s yet being the king has its privileges. The money maker for Wakanda is vibranium. It is the most coveted metal in the Marvel universe. That and the inventions his scientists come up with fetch a pretty penny.
Now my two favorite millionaires in comics. First is Richie Rich the poor little rich kid. I grew up reading the adventures of this rich kid. He had everything like planes, cars, a butler and a robot maid. He was not a selfish child for he shared his riches with his less fortunate friends. The other is Uncle Scrooge, the richest duck in Duckburg. He was originally cast as a miser yet as time went on that was softened or even forgotten. He was an adventure-capitalist which means that he gained his fortune through adventure and treasure hunting. If you have read comics for a while, you know the scene of Scrooge diving into his money vault.
Now remember these comic millionaires as you have to pay the government your taxes. I am sure these fictional millionaires have all sorts of loopholes and tax shelters. It is not cheap to be rich in comics.
Thank you again for listening to my ramblings.
Mike
