Former Marvel Comics Artist Blamed Jews For His Firing
Image by Twitter/@io9
By Talya Zax April 13, 2017
Ardian Syaf, the Indonesian artist recently fired by Marvel over his inclusion of allegedly anti-Semitic and anti-Christian symbols in the newly-released “X-Men Gold #1,” told an Indonesian newspaper that Jews were to blame for his firing.
Syaf made the comment in an April 12 interview with Jawa Pos. Heat Street, translating that conversation, wrote that Syaf brushed off his termination by saying “But, Marvel is owned by Disney. When Jews are offended, there is no forgiveness.”
Heat Street reported that Syaf continued to explain that he was neither anti-Semitic nor anti-Christian, because if he were, he would not have worked for Marvel. (The comics conglomerate has recently drawn attention for beginning to feature more diverse superheroes, a move that a Marvel executive recently, controversially mused might explain a downturn in sales.)
“X-Men Gold #1” featured a number of details that Indonesian readers suggested expressed opposition to non-Muslims holding leadership positions in government. That issue is currently prominent in Indonesia, where the Chinese Christian Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, currently Governor of Jakarta, is running for a bitterly-contested re-election and facing the prospect of a blasphemy trial.
For full details on the controversial imagery in “X-Men Gold #1,” see Matthew Gindin’s explanation for the Forward.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
