So, white supremacist Richard Spencer was punched in the head while speaking on camera on the streets in Washington, DC, yesterday. Nick Spencer, current writer of Captain America suggested this was a bad thing. The internet disagreed.

Captain America was created to punch fascists. If you don't understand that, you need to stop writing the book. — David Chapman (@JeditOjanen) January 21, 2017

You write for Captain America… Captain America LITERALLY PUNCHES NAZIS! — Lee (@lee_g_b) January 21, 2017

https://twitter.com/slouched_atlas/status/822750573992742912

https://twitter.com/Endithinks/status/822731760676970496

https://twitter.com/filteredRays/status/822728294512607233

https://twitter.com/Prettylettuce/status/822707976070955008

https://twitter.com/cloudrains/status/822704286169632768

.@nickspencer you made Captain America a Nazi, and now you're mad that a Nazi got punched. Are you just actually a Nazi? — Holden (@HellsBellsAmi) January 21, 2017

https://twitter.com/matthewaraven/status/822688159125434368

See, crap like this is why you never should've been allowed within 100 yards of Captain America @nickspencer. — Nicole (@SpaceAgNicole) January 21, 2017

https://twitter.com/nickspencer/status/822681693156802561

So we went to have a look. Captain America #275 by Joe DeMatteis and Mike Zeck from 1982. As he helps repair a trashed-by-Nazis synagogue, daubed swastikas and all.

Only for Captain America to restate his free speech ideals.

The demonstration goes ahead, but this Nazi – to be fair, there's very little "neo" about him, swastika armband and all – receives a bonk on the head from a thrown bottle.

And it all kicks off. Until Captain America throws his idealism.

It does indeed sound familiar, Bernie, Maybe you've been reading Nick Spencer's twitter account?

Anyway, Cap gets attacked from both side, very literally. And he doesn't even punch the Nazi – or the anti-Nazi, he just moves out of their way… and equates the two.

The conclusion? Condemn Nick Spencer's views all you want – but condemn him for having them when he writes Captain America? Cap has been like this for decades. And Nick Spencer seems perfectly suited to write him.

Anyway, let's ask some of the criminal fraternity what they think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ukFAvYP3UU

Also, I don't think I realised until now just how influenced Dale Keown was by Mike Zeck…