Marvel Comics Apologizes for Anti-Christian References Drawn by Muslim Artist in "X-Men Gold"

Leah Marieann Klett : Apr 11, 2017
The Gospel Herald

"This artwork will be removed from subsequent printings, digital versions, and trade paperbacks and disciplinary action is being taken." — Marvel apology

(Indonesia) — [The Gospel Herald] Marvel comics have come under fire after it was discovered that an Indonesian artist inserted 'secret, coded anti-Christian and anti-Jewish messages' in a recent issue to protest the Christian governor of Jakarta. (Photo Credit: Marvel, X-Men Gold, Circled via Gospel Herald)

According to the Jakarta Post, the artwork found in X-Men Gold #1 features several hidden references to passages of the Koran and Muslim protests against the Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.

After fans took to social media to express outrage over the hidden passages, Marvel Comics announced it plans to take disciplinary action against Ardian Syaf, the artist responsible for the drawings, and will remove the artwork from the popular comic.

The Mail online notes that on one of the panels showing a baseball match between the new members of the X-Men, "QS 5:51" - a reference to the surah Al Maidah verse 51 of the Quran - is written on Colossus's shirt.

That section translates: "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."

In addition, the numbers 212 and 51 appear throughout the comic, referencing the mass protests held against Ahok, and another Qur'an verse forbidding Muslims from being led by other Muslims.

In a statement, Marvel Comics also said that the artwork in X-Men Gold #1 was "inserted without knowledge behind its reported meanings."

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The Gospel Herald