Marvel Comics Responds to X-Men Gold Art Controversy

The artwork will be removed from future printings.

By Alex Osborn

Marvel Comics has issued a statement in response to the controversial artwork included in X-Men Gold #1.

The issue includes a reference to political protests in Indonesia, as well as a set of numbers that reference a verse from the Qur'an that supports the intolerance of other religions. Marvel released a statement to ComicBook.com to address the fans upset by the artwork, confirming the references were included without their knowledge and will be removed from future printings.

X-Men Gold #1

See Marvel's full statement below:

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.

Indonesian artist Ardian Syaf illustrated X-Men Gold #1 and included references to protests by Muslim Indondesians of the Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. In the comic, Jewish mutant Kitty Pryde is seen speaking to a crowd of humans regarding tolerance. The "Jew" portion of a "Jewelry" sign can be seen next to her head and the numbers 212 and 51 are included in the background, which relate to the aforementioned protests.

The issue also includes a scene that shows Colossus wearing a t-shirt that has "QS 5:51" written on it, which is in reference to a verse from the Qur'an that can be translated as a warning for Muslims not to make Jewish or Christian people their leaders.

X-Men Gold #1 was written by Marc Guggenheim, who is Jewish. Additionally, both Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the creators of X-Men, are Jewish.

For our thoughts on Marvel's new comic series, read IGN's X-Men Gold #1 review.

Alex Osborn is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter and subscribe to his YouTube channel.

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