Marvel responded to its second major controversy in two weeks. The first one, last week, was over controversial comments by Marvel executives while this weekend’s controversy involves X-Men Gold #1 artist Ardian Syaf adding Islamic anti-Semitic and anti-Christian messages in the book’s art.
Writer Marc Guggenheim forwarded a link to Marvel’s formal statement in response to this controversy.
Please read. https://t.co/uPE7i1EhEm
— Marc Guggenheim (@mguggenheim) April 8, 2017
Marvel’s statement:
- “The mentioned artwork in X-Men Gold #1 was inserted without knowledge behind its reported meanings. These implied references do not reflect the views of the writer, editors or anyone else at Marvel and are in direct opposition of the inclusiveness of Marvel Comics and what the X-Men have stood for since their creation. This artwork will be removed from subsequent printings, digital versions, and trade paperbacks and disciplinary action is being taken.”
So, what is the hubbub about? A facebook poster was able to summarize it for Marvel with the pages at issue from X-Men Gold #1.
X-Men Gold is a twice monthly shipping ResurrXion comic book for Marvel Now 2017 which will have platooning artists. In addition to Ardian Syaf the two other artists on the series are R.B. Silva and Ken Lashley.
Indicating that Syaf would be the subject of “disciplinary action” seems to indicate that he will be punished HR-wise, sensitivity training perhaps, pay docking perhaps, etc. but it doesn’t seem he’ll lose the art chores on the book. If he was off the book, why not announce it afterall? If Syaf is a freelancer, and not a Marvel exclusive employee, Marvel may have more flexibility on its discipline measures for this seeming first time offense by Syaf at Marvel.
