Marvel apologizes for anti-Semitic image in Immortal Hulk comic

Marvel has been forced to apologize for publishing an anti-Semitic image in its new Immortal Hulk comic that featured a ‘Jewery’ shop and the Star of David – as the Brazilian artist responsible insists his spelling error was a ‘terrible mistake’.

The image depicting a Jewish diamond business caused outrage among fans after it appeared in the new Immortal Hulk #43 that was published last week. 

Critics accused Marvel and the artist of playing on the ‘anti-Semitic trope of Jews running the diamond business’. 

The controversial scene in question shows two characters in a jewelry store in front a shop window that reads: ‘Cronemberg Jewery’. 

The Star of David also appears on the shop front window. 

ORIGINAL VERSION: The image depicting a Jewish diamond business appeared in the new Immortal Hulk #43 that was published last week. It shows two characters in a jewelry store in front a shop window that reads: ‘Cronemberg Jewery’. The Star of David also appears on the shop front window

EDITED VERSION: Marvel has removed the image from digital editions and reprinting its print versions. In a statement, Marvel 'fully acknowledged this mistake was missed on our side as well'

EDITED VERSION: Marvel has removed the image from digital editions and reprinting its print versions. In a statement, Marvel ‘fully acknowledged this mistake was missed on our side as well’

Joe Bennett, the Brazilian artist behind the work, has apologized and insisted the misspelling of ‘jewelry’ to ‘jewery’ was an error that he says was ‘an honest but terrible mistake’. 

In a statement on Facebook, Bennett said he had been including references to famous horror directors throughout the series.

He said the Immortal Hulk #43 edition was a nod to Canadian director David Cronenberg.

Bennett acknowledged he also misspelled the director’s surname as ‘Cronemberg’. 

‘The misspellings on the window were an honest but terrible mistake – since I was writing backwards, I accidentally spelled both of those words wrong,’ he said. 

‘I have no excuse for how I depicted the Star of David. I failed to understand this troubling and offensive stereotype, and after listening to you all, I now understand my mistake.

Joe Bennett, the Brazilian artist behind the work, has apologized and insisted the misspelling of 'jewelry' to 'jewery' was an error that he says was 'an honest but terrible mistake'. He admitted he had no excuse for using the Star of David

Joe Bennett, the Brazilian artist behind the work, has apologized and insisted the misspelling of ‘jewelry’ to ‘jewery’ was an error that he says was ‘an honest but terrible mistake’. He admitted he had no excuse for using the Star of David

‘This was wrong, offensive, and hurtful in many ways. This is a mistake I must own, and I am sorry to everyone who I hurt by this.

‘I am working with Marvel to correct this, and I am using this lesson to reflect on how I approach my stories and my work.’ 

In a statement, Marvel ‘fully acknowledged this mistake was missed on our side as well’. 

Marvel, who was slammed over the anti-Semitic imagery, says it is in the process of removing the image from print and digital editions. 

The Star of David and the store front writing has now been removed. 

Marvel said retailers can exchange copies for the corrected versions.  

The ComicsXF site, which was among the first to report on the image, wrote: ‘(The) only conceivable interpretation, to put it frankly, is that this is a visual play on the old and antisemitic trope of Jews running the diamond business.’ 

They went on to describe the panel as ‘an incredibly overt antisemitic dogwhistle’. 

Others slammed Marvel on Twitter and demanded to know if any disciplinary action would be taken against the artist. 

‘This Immortal Hulk thing has broken my heart. I just keep thinking: I put that book in someone’s hands. I praised this work. And thousands of people opened their new issues yesterday and got an anti-Semitic background gag. That really happened. I’m still in shock,’ one person tweeted. 

‘The artist has apologized, but in light of the staggering level of coincidence needed for the particular dropped letter in the sign to be an honest mistake (given the surrounding imagery and choices)…’

Another tweeted: ‘Marvel can you tell me what disciplinary action is happening in regards to this blatant anti-Semitism in today’s issue of the important Hulk? I’m pretty sure ‘Jewery’ and the Star of David on the window od a jewelry store wasn’t a mistake. The artist needs to be fired.’

‘Immortal Hulk is one of the best books I’ve read in years but now will forever be tarnished by an artist hiding his Anti-Semitic message in its art. Please tell me what disciplinary action is being taken against the artist in question and why it wasn’t caught by editors,’ another said.  

Marvel, who was slammed over the anti-Semitic trope, says it is in the process of removing the image from print and digital editions (above). Marvel said retailers can exchange copies for the corrected versions

Marvel, who was slammed over the anti-Semitic trope, says it is in the process of removing the image from print and digital editions (above). Marvel said retailers can exchange copies for the corrected versions

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