Marvel will be adding Chinese superheroes to their universe to attract Asian fans.
The Straits Times reports Marvel editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski recently confirmed that the comic book giant is making a push into Asia.
Cebulski said that well as releasing mobile games in China, the company also opened Marvel Stores in South Korea and is headhunting for artistic talent in the Philippines.
“We have been making great strides. We try to hire more Asian creators, writers and artists to bring a piece of their culture to Marvel comics,” he said.
Two new Chinese superheroes based in China, Sword Master and Aero, will be introduced and drawn in a manga style. The characters will be inspired by Chinese culture.
“They are going to be heavily based on Chinese culture and mythology, but set in the modern world and they will interact with the other heroes” in the Marvel universe, he said.
Replacing Axel Alonso as editor-in-chief of Marvel, Cebulski recently revealed that he used to write under the Japanese pen name Akira Yoshida.
“I stopped writing under the pseudonym Akira Yoshida after about a year,” he said. “It wasn’t transparent, but it taught me a lot about writing, communication and pressure. I was young and naïve and had a lot to learn back then.”
Asian American comic writers Joshua Luna and Trung Le Nguyen slammed the editor for “yellowfacing”.
In other news, Fresh Off the Boat star Randall Park will feature in Marvel’s upcoming Ant-Man And The Wasp as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jimmy Woo.
