China Daily Global Edition (USA)
LOCAL HEROES US comic book giant Marvel has launched its first two Chinese-superhero comics, Sword Master and Aero. They feature art by Guangzhou-based artist, Gunji. Xu Fan W reports.
hile most of the stories that Marvel has told during its 79 years center around larger-than-life superheroes, the company’s long-standing principle — which reflects that of founder Stan Lee — is that the settings and characters in the Marvel universe, for the most part, should reflect the world outside fans’ windows.
Now, that window has opened a little wider to include China, a relatively young market for Western, adult-oriented comic content.
The comic-book giant released its first two Chinese superhero comics, Sword Master and Aero, under the stewardship of NetEase Comics in May.
To date, the two tales, which are rooted in Chinese myth but depict the country’s modern urban life, have accumulated 32 million and 20 million “clicks”, respectively.
Chen Xiaoyun, who’s perhaps better known by her pseudonym, Gunji, recalls the “incredible” feeling she experienced when she was asked to participate in the creation of Sword Master, in an email interview with China Daily.
“It was a regular day, and I was busy drawing drafts of Guiyi Qitan (The Collection of Weird Things, an online comic series about supernatural creatures like mermaids and a man who transforms into a dog). Surprisingly, I got a call from an editor at NetEase, who asked if I would be willing to draw a Chinese-superhero story for Marvel,” recalls Gunji.
Feeling excited, but anxious, she agreed to take the new job, which has breathed fresh life into the artist, who jokes that her record for staying home without going out is more than a month.
In the past, the Guangzhou-based artist would finish a comic on her own, doing all the work from start to finish, including writing, storyboarding, drawing the panel images and uploading the new content online.
Sword Master, however, relies a lot more heavily on teamwork.
After collaborating and finalizing the plotline with her editor and the scriptwriter, Shui Zhu, Gunji draws drafts and sends every new chapter to Marvel. She then has to wait for the United States-based team members to agree on the plan.
Besides the language barrier, the time difference also adds challenges. Drawing the comics consumes a lot more time than her usual work.
Inspired by ancient myths about Fu Xi, Nyu Wa and Shen Nong — three ancient demigods, who emerged from chaos to bring civilization to Chinese tribes — Sword Master centers on the fictional role of Lin Lie, a chosen hero who is a descendant of Fu Xi.
Lin is the son of an archaeologist. He discovers an ancient artifact that gives him incredible powers but also unwittingly unleashes an evil tied to his own family’s past.
“If we want to create a Chinese superhero, we have to explore our own history and culture deeply. That’s how the Sword Master tale was spawned,” explains Gunji.
“The core of the work is built on highlighting Chinese elements. It reflects normal, everyday Chinese life and the look of our rapidly evolving cities, as well as the trendy pastimes enjoyed by Chinese youngsters,” adds the artist, who was born in the 1980s and is a graduate of the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.
She says she hopes the work will act as a window into China for overseas comic-book fans and will help them learn more about, and update their views of, this fastdeveloping country.
Speaking about the reason Marvel picked her for the role, the cartoonist attributes much of the credit to her 10-volume comic series, Paomian Chaoren (InstantNoodle Superman).
Published between 2009 and 2010, the series revolves around a boy who can possess super powers after eating the eponymous food. As one of China’s first superhero-themed comics, Paomian Chaoren won a Golden Dragon Award, the top honor at the China Animation & Comic Competition, in 2012.
Gunji is a fan of Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Doctor Strange and Captain America. Her knowledge of Marvel superheroes comes mainly from the company’s cinematic universe.
Over the past 10 years, 19 Marvel films were imported to Chinese-mainland theaters and raked in nearly 13 billion yuan ($1.9 billion).
“I’m really looking forward to the day when I might see the characters that come from my pen appear on the big screen to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with other Marvel superheroes,” says Gunji.
The second of the two series, Aero, recounts the story of an architect, who possesses the ability to control air currents. Along with Sword Master, an English language version of the comic series will be published in the US next spring.
who’s better known by her pseudonym, Gunji, attends an exhibition of Marvel’s superheroes. If we want to create a Chinese superhero, we have to explore our own history and culture deeply.”