Captain Euro
Encyclopedia
Captain Euro is a fictional comic book
-style superhero
character, created in 1999 as a way to promote the European Union
, and specifically the Euro
, the single European currency that arrived in 2002. The character has been featured on a website, captaineuro.com, since 1999, but has not appeared in any actual comic books. The website's contents are available only in English
.
The campaign, website and all the characters were created by Nicolas De Santis
of the consulting firm Twelve Stars Corporate Vision Strategists for the EU. Twelve Stars was already working for the EU in various projects, including with the European Parliament
.
The Captain Euro character dresses in a costume which features elements of the flag of Europe, including the twelve stars motif. Elements of the character are clearly reminiscent of Marvel Comics' Captain America
(the similar "Captain" moniker and patriotic costume) and Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Captain Scarlet
(which also features a team of international adventurers operating from a central base).
. After a motor accident one of his knees was replaced with a metal alloy joint, but he is otherwise "in peak physical condition".
He runs the Twelve Stars Organisation, a group which seeks to "defend the security of Europe and uphold the values of the Union".
His team-mates include his sidekick Europa (real name Donna Eden), an environmentalist
and archaeologist, and assistants Erik, Helen, Marcus, Lupo the dog and the computer system Pythagoras I.
The website claims that "they are the new ambassadors of global peace bearing the European message with them wherever they go." They also apparently represent Europe at sporting events, "competing in a number of championships and triumphing in the name of Europe."
The major foe of the organisation is Dr. D. Vider (full name: David Viderius), a "ruthless speculator" and "former financier" who hopes to divide the European Union so that he can more easily conquer it.
mocked the character upon its release in 1999, writing that Captain Euro has "the sort of history only a marketing company besieged by focus groups could devise." Quoting from the character's description that "participation in an experimental language programme enabled Adam to become a polyglot", Glaister dryly remarked, "Ah - so that's how to become a good European."
Eurosceptic
politician and commentator Daniel Hannan
, writing in 2011, criticised the Captain Euro literature as possibly "sinister". He described the Dr. D. Vider character as having "a hooked nose and a goatee beard, like some anti-Semitic caricature from the Völkischer Beobachter
", and stated that D. Vider's real first name, David, and his occupation in finance could also be considered indicators that the villain is meant to be Jewish. Hannan also criticised the general concept of using comic-book characters to promote the EU, writing, "The notion that the government should get at parents through their children is a characteristic of authoritarian states, not liberal democracies."
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
-style superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
character, created in 1999 as a way to promote the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, and specifically the Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
, the single European currency that arrived in 2002. The character has been featured on a website, captaineuro.com, since 1999, but has not appeared in any actual comic books. The website's contents are available only in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
The campaign, website and all the characters were created by Nicolas De Santis
Nicolas De Santis
Nicolas De Santis is the Secretary General of Gold Mercury International, a non-profit, think tank and award organisation founded in 1961. Based in London, Gold Mercury specialises in global governance and ethical leadership....
of the consulting firm Twelve Stars Corporate Vision Strategists for the EU. Twelve Stars was already working for the EU in various projects, including with the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
The Captain Euro character dresses in a costume which features elements of the flag of Europe, including the twelve stars motif. Elements of the character are clearly reminiscent of Marvel Comics' Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
(the similar "Captain" moniker and patriotic costume) and Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Captain Scarlet
Captain Scarlet (character)
Captain Scarlet is the fictional main character in Gerry Anderson's British Supermarionation science fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and its CGI remake Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet....
(which also features a team of international adventurers operating from a central base).
Fictional character biography
Captain Euro (real name Adam Andros) is the son of "a famous European Ambassador", a professor of palaeontology and a polyglotPolyglot (person)
A polyglot is someone with a high degree of proficiency in several languages. A bilingual person can speak two languages fluently, whereas a trilingual three; above that the term multilingual may be used.-Hyperpolyglot:...
. After a motor accident one of his knees was replaced with a metal alloy joint, but he is otherwise "in peak physical condition".
He runs the Twelve Stars Organisation, a group which seeks to "defend the security of Europe and uphold the values of the Union".
His team-mates include his sidekick Europa (real name Donna Eden), an environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
and archaeologist, and assistants Erik, Helen, Marcus, Lupo the dog and the computer system Pythagoras I.
The website claims that "they are the new ambassadors of global peace bearing the European message with them wherever they go." They also apparently represent Europe at sporting events, "competing in a number of championships and triumphing in the name of Europe."
The major foe of the organisation is Dr. D. Vider (full name: David Viderius), a "ruthless speculator" and "former financier" who hopes to divide the European Union so that he can more easily conquer it.
Reception
Dan Glaister of The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
mocked the character upon its release in 1999, writing that Captain Euro has "the sort of history only a marketing company besieged by focus groups could devise." Quoting from the character's description that "participation in an experimental language programme enabled Adam to become a polyglot", Glaister dryly remarked, "Ah - so that's how to become a good European."
Eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
politician and commentator Daniel Hannan
Daniel Hannan
Daniel John Hannan is a British journalist, author and politician who is currently a Member of the European Parliament, representing South East England for the Conservative Party and the European Conservatives and Reformists political group...
, writing in 2011, criticised the Captain Euro literature as possibly "sinister". He described the Dr. D. Vider character as having "a hooked nose and a goatee beard, like some anti-Semitic caricature from the Völkischer Beobachter
Völkischer Beobachter
The Völkischer Beobachter was the newspaper of the National Socialist German Workers' Party from 1920. It first appeared weekly, then daily from February 8, 1923...
", and stated that D. Vider's real first name, David, and his occupation in finance could also be considered indicators that the villain is meant to be Jewish. Hannan also criticised the general concept of using comic-book characters to promote the EU, writing, "The notion that the government should get at parents through their children is a characteristic of authoritarian states, not liberal democracies."