Marvel has found themselves in trouble once more after fans discovered anti-Semitic and anti-Christian messages in a recent comic book issue.
For everyone, the number “212” holds no special significance. Neither does the number “51.” But for comic book artist Ardian Syaf, who slipped the numbers into Marvel’s newest X-Men comic book, they represent an anti-Semitic, anti-Christian message.
Syaf is Indonesian artist, and in Indonesia, “212” denotes a mass protest against Jakarta’s Christian Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. Meanwhile, as the comics news websites Bleeding Cool and ComicBook.com explain, the number 51 refers to verse in the Quran (Chapter Surah 5, verse 51).
That section translates, according to Qur'an.com: “Oh you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you, then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.” The numbers 212 and 51 also make appearances, themselves references to the mass protests and another Quran verse forbidding Muslims from being led by other Muslims. There’s also an image of Kitty Pryde, a known Jewish character, whose head obscures a Jewellery shop sign so just the word “Jew” is prevalent. Marvel has since released a statement on the matter, reading: “The mentioned artwork in X-Men Gold #1 was inserted without knowledge behind its reported meanings.@MarkPaniccia Are you aware that Adrian Syaf included bigoted messages in X-Men Gold #1? This shouldn't be allowed. https://t.co/qIyjYgqT5Q pic.twitter.com/drPjBFWYsh
— DJ Rogers (@faluians) April 8, 2017
Writer @mguggenheim reveals the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants coming to “#XMen Gold”: https://t.co/jqM2LYI6Hq— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) April 5, 2017
“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.”
The statement stating that disciplinary action would be taken. It's unknown whether or not Marvel has taken action, but Syaf has taken to Facebook to say that his career was over.
The X-Men were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, who were both Jewish, while Marc Guggenheim, who wrote the issue, is also Jewish. Guggenheim pointed fans towards Marvel’s official statement on Twitter.
Meanwhile, the comic book makers found themselves in trouble recently following an executive's comments alluding to diversity being reason for the falling sales in comics.
