CW: The following article contains details about antisemitism, racism and bigotry.
Marvel has recently announced a new wave of comic books for fans to enjoy at the end of 2021, including one written by Jed MacKay (“Black Cat”) with art by Kev Walker, Mark Bagley and Joe Bennett. However, after antisemitic art appeared from Bennett, he was dropped from the project and fired from the company.
Marvel Comics has made a name for itself with its flagship titles and the quality of writing and art they all have.
On Aug. 30, Marvel announced eight new “tentpole titles,” flagship series that would define Marvel for 2021 and 2022. Writers like Rainbow Rowell (“Runaways”), Jason Aaron (“X-Men: Schism”) and Benjamin Percy (“X-Force,” “Wolverine”) teaming with fan-favorite artists to define the next generation of comics.
One of the new issues was “Timeless,” a one-shot starring the supervillain Kang the Conqueror as he reveals secrets of the 2022 year of Marvel. It is the one going to be written by fan-favorite writer MacKay as he works with iconic artists like Walker (“New Avengers”), Bagley (“Amazing Spider-Man”) and Bennett.
However, after his firing from Marvel, Bennett was replaced by Greg Land (“Uncanny X-Men”) in the issue.
Bennett, known for his horrific and well-developed images in the “Immortal Hulk” by Al Ewing, was fired from the multibillion–dollar company because of art depicting antisemitic caricatures of both Jewish people and Brazil’s president, as well as humans being exterminated.
This art is not the first time Bennett has been under fire because of antisemitism in his work.
Earlier this year, in the pages of “Immortal Hulk” #43, Bennett drew images framed to say “jewelry” and had the Star of David hanging up. This drew anger from the fans and anger at the apparent response from Marvel letting this happen. Marvel since edited out the art when Marvel moved the issue to their digital store and Marvel Unlimited.
One of Bennett’s constant co-creators, Ewing, has denounced his partnership with Bennett, claiming that this was the “last straw.”
“This isn’t the first issue with Joe that I’ve been made aware of. I’ve spoken behind the scenes, but that’s no comfort to people at the sharp end of this kind of brutal propaganda. My lack of public visibility on this has let people down, and I apologize,” Ewing tweeted on Sept. 2.
“Immortal Hulk is done, but I won’t be working with Joe again.”
This is not the first time that Marvel has come under fire for hidden images in their comics.
In 2016, “X-Men Gold” #1 had a similar controversy for Islamist messages hidden in the background art by Ardian Syaf (“Blackest Night”). The art was edited later, with the anti-Christian messages similarly removed from the comic, like what happened to “Immortal Hulk” #43.
Marvel is a company founded by a Jewish man, the late Stan Lee. If these kinds of images are happening before our very eyes, will there be others? This is a company that has reached millions of readers worldwide.
There should be some kind of review process, but lately, it seems that there is not one. Will Marvel make the same mistake again? And if they do, where will it lead one of the most famous comic companies of all time?
