Marvel fans are outraged and disappointed by news that the comics publisher is publishing a limited-edition comic book as part of a partnership with Northrop Grumman, one of the largest military contractors and arms manufacturers in the world.
Marvel announced the partnership in a tweet early Friday morning, urging fans to visit its New York Comic Con booth on Saturday afternoon for more details.
Marvel and @northropgrumman join forces! Come check out the #MarvelNYCC booth tomorrow at 3pm EST. pic.twitter.com/pb5V1tj19L
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) October 6, 2017
Marvel was otherwise mum on what the partnership entailed, but Bleeding Cool reported that the publisher is releasing a special edition comic featuring a Northrop Grumman-branded superhero team: the Northrop Grumman Elite Nexus (or N.G.E.N.). Further, the comic will feature the private military contractors’ heroes teaming up the Avengers. See the cover art here.
Fans were incensed by the association of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (The Avengers) with a manufacturer best known for drones and bombers, and several major violations of environmental laws for which the company has paid millions in fines.
Don't know if you saw it, but it's an all-ages promo comic. Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/XP8fSjDrhT
— The Italian Misato Katsuragi (@Blankzilla) October 6, 2017
Fans were particularly incensed by Marvel-produced advertising comparing fictional Stark Industries to Northrop Grumman.
Yes, confirmed Sean Chen. Just opened it up, first page is a full page Northrop Grumman ad pic.twitter.com/4XEqjaQs0Y
— Stephen (@StAdkison) October 6, 2017
Marvel & defense contractor Northrop Grumman are teaming up at #NYCC. This is literally how “Iron Man 2” starts.#WarMachine #TonyStark pic.twitter.com/RqfAryNGsZ
— Santa Claus, CEO (@SantaInc) October 6, 2017
Some fans compared it to Marvel’s “Secret Empire,” a recent, very controversial crossover event in the comics in which Captain America was revealed to be an agent of Hyrdra (in the Marvel universe, an offshoot and continuation of WWII-era Nazis). Others bluntly declared the partnership to be “propaganda for the military-industrial complex.”
Meanwhile, Marvel canceled plans for its “The Punisher” panel this week following the Las Vegas shooting, which left at least 58 dead and hundreds injured.
You can check out some of the responses below.
"Bombing People is Good Sometimes"…
"Tony Stark is a Liberal Pussy"…
and "Foreigners Deserve to Die".— Citizen B (@Citizen__B) October 6, 2017
Companies like Northrop Grumman have their amoral counter-parts in Marvel. Hammer Industries, AIM, Oscorp, etc. They are established as BAD.
— Eggman's Best (@FineUrsine) October 6, 2017
Marvel: our big thing right now is Infinity War
Northrop Grumman: oh, us too— icelevel (commissions open) (@ICELEVEL) October 6, 2017
Every Pakistani funeral we bomb, we'll give the survivors a free copy of Secret Empire
— NovemberLincoln (@NovemberLincoln) October 6, 2017
MARVEL UNIVERSE EDITORIAL: Well, at least we can’t release a more maligned comic this year than Secret Empire
SPECIAL PROJECTS: hold my beer pic.twitter.com/74sM1sTnt9— Doctor Strange in the Triangle of Sadness (@uzionmain) October 6, 2017
it owns that marvel won't do punisher shit because of shootings but they'll do a crossover with the biggest murder company on the planet
— Goth Ms. Frizzle (@spookperson) October 6, 2017
Marvel cancelled the Punisher panel because they thought it would be insensitive after Las Vegas, but this? This isn't insensitive? https://t.co/3tB93JNvon
— Gerry Conway Stands With Ukraine (@gerryconway) October 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/stevewmorris/status/916350338415898624
fascinated by Marvel's pivot from mishandled fascist subtext to outright propaganda for the military-industrial complex.
— Gavia Baker-Whitelaw (@Hello_Tailor) October 6, 2017
What in the ever-loving hell, Marvel. https://t.co/aJVsYd3EZm
— Katie Schenkel (@JustPlainTweets) October 6, 2017