The Web of the UN

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The BBC yesterday reported that the UN is to forge ties with the comic book publisher Marvel in an attempt to improve the understanding and image of the organisation among, first of all, American school children. The idea is that Marvel will, free of charge, create a special issue of Spiderman, in which the bookish and timid Peter Parker will fight against the evils of the world alongside UN workers. Although the news will undoubtedly invite witty comparisons between Spiderman’s preferred weapons of webs and the UN’s bureaucracy, it has long been obvious that the perception of the UN in the US is one of scepticism. Thus, the need for image-improvement is perhaps stronger in the US than elsewhere – even if it mainly targets children (and other comic book readers). Such improvements can, hopefully, only add to the picture of an organisation, which’s image is arguably on the rising following the one year anniversary of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has helped stabilising the organisation following a few tumultuous years under Kofi Annan.

Comments

Unknown said…
First the Chuck Norris-Mike Huckabee alliance and now this. Obama better sign Superman up soon. Anytime you get John Bolton to sound rational and informed, I think you're missing the mark:

"You can have Spiderman in a comic book all you want, but it's not going to change public perception."

I think Mr. milk-mustache is right, but if Mary Jane comes on board we might see some real progress.
8 January 2008 at 10:36
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