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Marvel Comics fired Brazilian artist Joe Bennett and vowed not to hire him for “future Marvel projects” Anti-Semitism allegations and disturbing images in his artwork. Bennett had previously worked for Marvel Comics for nearly thirty years, beginning in 1994.
Marvel made the decision immediately after Bennett’s Immortal Hulk Partner Al Ewing announced on Sept. 2 that he would no longer work with the artist on a 2017 political cartoon and that the cartoon in question was “not the first problem with Joe I was made aware of”. Comics fans also proclaimed the work at the beginning of September as “deeply insensitive”.
In a long Twitter thread, Ewing Bennetts allegedly quoted anti-Semitic imagery and other issues raised and wrote, “I’ve been speaking behind the scenes, but that’s no consolation for the people at the sharp end of this kind of brutal propaganda. My lack of public visibility has let people down and I apologize. “
Ewing added that he made a donation to Rainbow Railroad and the Rainforest Trust, adding, “I understand if this feels like an empty or inadequate gesture for those reading this.”
If you’ve seen the picture you will know what it is. An armored swordsman who, given Joe’s comment, I suspect represents Bolsonaro slaughtering tiny, scurrying people with the buck teeth and ears of rats. And big noses. One of them is the cosplay of Dracula. / 2
– Al Ewing writes comics (@Al_Ewing) September 2, 2021
This isn’t the first problem with Joe that I’ve been made aware of. I’ve spoken behind the scenes, but that’s no consolation for people on the sharp end of this kind of brutal propaganda. My lack of public visibility has let people down and I apologize. / 4
– Al Ewing writes comics (@Al_Ewing) September 2, 2021
Immortal Hulk is done, but I won’t be working with Joe anymore. If people decide not to pick up my work with other artists in the future because of the way I deal with it, I understand and accept that. If I’ve lost your trust, it’s up to me. / 6
– Al Ewing writes comics (@Al_Ewing) September 2, 2021
Ewing ended his thread by writing: “Immortal Hulk is done, but I won’t be working with Joe anymore. If people decide not to pick up my work with other artists in the future because of the way I deal with it, I understand and accept that. If I’ve lost your trust, it’s up to me. “
This is not the first time Bennett has apparently attacked members of marginalized communities. He had previously mocked the attack by a far-right Bolsonaro supporter on gay journalist Glenn Greenwald in 2019. And just last year Bennett “liked†transphobic comments on his public Instagram page. He is also an outspoken supporter of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a fascist Trump-like leader who is currently overseeing the devastating spread of Covid-19 in his country.
Marvel cartoonist Joe Bennett hailed the attack on me by a far-right Bolsonaro journalist yesterday, saying it should have been a slap instead of a slap. When Marvel fans expressed their outrage, he deleted it and apologized to me, my husband and our children https://t.co/E34fnZh0wM
– Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) 9th November 2019
Bennett was also accused of hiding anti-Semitic pictures Immortal Hulk and X-Men Gold # 1which we won’t post can be seen here. When these popped up earlier this year, Bennett did apologized to Marvel, Saying:
“I’ve included references to famous horror directors throughout the series to show respect for the genre, and on Immortal Hulk # 43, I agreed with David Cronenberg. The misspellings on the window were an honest but horrible mistake – as I was writing backwards, I accidentally misspelled both words. “
“I have no excuse for the way I portrayed the Star of David. I did not understand this disturbing and offensive stereotype and after listening to all of you I now understand my mistake. That was wrong, offensive, and hurtful in many ways. This is a mistake I have to admit and I feel sorry for everyone I have hurt by it. I’m working with Marvel to correct this, and I’m using this lesson to reflect on how I approach my stories and my work. “
If Bennett’s overtly anti-Semitic imagery was already known to Marvel, why did they keep him on their payroll? And how did they get through countless proofreaders and editors? Marvel did the right thing by stopping working with Bennett, but one has to wonder why it took so long.
After all, there is no shortage of talented illustrators around the world, most of whom do not harbor anti-Semitic and pro-fascist feelings.
Bennett’s work has appeared in dozens of Marvel titles, including The incredible Spiderman, Captain America (Volume 2), Fantastic Four (Volume 3), The incredible Hulk (Volume 2), Thor, and last Captain America and the Falcon. Bennett did for other publishers like Chaos! Comics, CrossGen, Dark Horse, DC Comics and Vertigo.
(above Games radar, Image: Marvel Comics)
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