Culture

Marvel Is Copping A Massive Backlash After Teaming Up With A Major Weapons Manufacturer

This seems like a poor choice.

by Tom Clift  7 October 2017

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Marvel Comics are facing a massive backlish from fans on social media, after announcing a partnership with “defense systems manufacturer” Northrop Grumman.

The publishing giant recently revealed that it was “joining forces” with the world’s fifth largest defence contractor on a special edition comic, in which The Avengers team up with a brand new superhero team, the awkwardly named Northrop Grumman Elite Nexus (or N.G.E.N). According to Marvel, the group consists of “a team of scientists who specialize in cutting edge, hi-tech adventures”. Sounds fun.

It’s also been marketed as an “all-ages” publication, because kids love drones.

To be clear, Northrop Grumman are a multi-billion dollar company that manufactures military hardware and sells it to the United States government. Basically they’re like Stark Industries, minus the moral epiphany.

It’s not clear who at Marvel okayed the collaboration, but fans have been quick to let them know that they aren’t happy about it.

Marvel will have a booth at New York Comic Con this weekend, where they are expected to reveal more information about the partnership. They were also meant to be unveiling the first two episodes of their new Punisher Netflix series, but decided to cancel the screening in the wake of the Las Vegas shootings.

Whether the fan backlash makes them rethink their latest cross-promotion remains to be seen.

UPDATE: Well, that was fast. Marvel has officially cancelled it’s NYCC booth, although the fate of the partnership remains up in the air.