Superheroes become more likable based on who they're fighting against. Anyone can root for a guy who's trying to stop a kidnapping or a murder or an act of terrorism, but early in the lifespan of comic books heroes were opposed to fight one united enemy for the American public, Nazis.
After the creation of Superman in 1938, superhero comic books were the popular source of entertainment for children and once our country went to war with Nazi Germany during World War II, comic book writers used this war as an opportunity to ground superheroes. Superman, Wonder Woman, and Shazam all went toe-to-toe with Nazis, the war even birthed comic book war heroes like G.I. Combat, The Blackhawks and Enemy Ace. More than anything else, the war brought the American public a new symbol for truth, justice and freedom. Captain America, the literal personification of patriotism, a man so committed to his country he'd risk his life to assure its protection. Sound familiar? Cap was created not only to give the US a metaphorical presence of children during the war, but also to make the US soldiers aspire to keep fighting on. Soldiers in World War II would receive comic books in their care packages to keep up morale in the field of battle, having a soldier powered by his patriotism and courage was inspiring for many troops. Now I'm not saying Captain America comic books won the US the war against the Nazis, but it sure as hell helped! It didn't take fictional villains or bizarre creatures to drive our country, it took but one man in a star-spangled costume against an entire army of goose-stepping fascists. One battle an entire country could get behind.
During the Vietnam War, Marvel created The Invincible Iron Man. Tony Stark was a weapon manufacturer kidnapped by Vietnamese villains and forced to make weapons for them, he luckily escaped by building a suit of technologically advanced armor and going on to upgrade and become a superhero. Later revisions of this character would claim he was captured by Middle Eastern villains during the war in Iraq. During The Cold War Iron Man was Marvel's prominent war-savvy superhero, fighting multiple Soviet spies. One spy happen to be The Black Widow, a character who-unlike any other opposing war soldier-would join the America's governments and fight against her original superiors. An additional hold-over from Vietnam was The Punisher, originally Frank Castle was a Nam' veteran who came home from war to see his family murdered by organized crime, prompting his transformation into a ruthless vigilante. Like Iron Man, "Vietnam" would be later replaced with "Iraq" to keep the character ageless.
Now we've stumbled upon an age where terrorism isn't as black and white as the media let us to believe back in the day. German scientist and anti-KGB spies were never as heavily focused on as innocent civilians in the Middle East or US citizens betraying their country to become terrorists themselves. Its a much different world, and comic book writers understand that. You don't see many Middle Eastern villains in the same majority as Soviets or Nazis because the game of war has completely changed, with "political correctness" being a factor. We actually see more Middle Eastern and Muslim superheroes these days than villains, because comic books are no longer about one Nation A vs Nation B, they are about Good vs Evil, Right vs Wrong, and-sadly-Superhero vs Superhero. Is it for the best? Of course! No question! Yes, war stories can be relatable and inspired and comic books wouldn't be where they are without them, but right now we live in a sensitive age where no one nation is the enemy. Not every Middle Easterner is a terrorist, so heroes fight nationless, colorless, unrealistic villains to prevent anyone from getting offended. Readers today span all religions, races and backgrounds, so comic books have adapted to suit every reader. Now readers can go to war with aliens! Unless fifty years from now aliens integrated with America and became part of the melting-pot. Who would heroes fight then? Natural disasters? Disease? David Goyer? Yeah, probably Goyer.
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