20 Thursday, August 16, 2018 LIFE CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION LOCAL HEROES US comic book giant Marvel has launched its first two Chinesesuperhero comics, Sword Master and Aero. They feature art by Guangzhoubased artist, Gunji. Xu Fan reports.
hile most of the stories that Marvel has told during its 79 years center around If we want to create a Chinese Cast members Jason Statham and Li Bingbing largerthanlife superheroes, the compa at the premiere of The Meg in Los Angeles, ny’s longstanding principle — which superhero, we have to California. REUTERS reflects that of founder Stan Lee — is that the settings W and characters in the Marvel universe, for the most explore our own history part, should reflect the world outside fans’ windows. Now, that window has opened a little wider to and culture deeply.” include China, a relatively young market for Western, Shark thriller adultoriented comic content. Chen Xiaoyun (Gunji), cartoonist The comicbook giant released its first two Chinese superhero comics, Sword Master and Aero, under the stands out in 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”, respec sea of new tively. Chen Xiaoyun, who’s perhaps better known by her pseudonym, Gunji, recalls the “incredible” feeling she releases experienced when she was asked to participate in the creation of Sword Master, in an email interview with China Daily. NEW YORK — Adding to Hollywood’s siz “It was a regular day, and I was busy drawing drafts zling summer, the shark thriller The Meg of Guiyi Qitan (The Collection of Weird Things, an opened well above expectations with an esti online comic series about supernatural creatures like mated $44.5 million in ticket sales, while Spike mermaids and a man who transforms into a dog). Sur Lee had his best debut in a decade. prisingly, I got a call from an editor at NetEase, who The Meg had been forecast by some analysts asked if I would be willing to draw a Chinesesuperhero for closer to half that total. An AmericanChi story for Marvel,” recalls Gunji. nese coproduction between Warner Bros and Feeling excited, but anxious, she agreed to take the China’s Gravity Pictures, it also debuted well new job, which has breathed fresh life into the artist, overseas, taking in $50.3 million in China and who jokes that her record for staying home without totaling $96.8 million internationally, accord going out is more than a month. ing to studio estimates on Sunday. In the past, the With an international cast led by Jason Sta Guangzhoubased art tham and featuring Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson ist would finish a comic and Winston Chao, The Meg cost at least $130 on her own, doing all million to make. the work from start to Following hits like The Shallows and 47 finish, including writ Meters Down, the shark movie — 43 years after ing, storyboarding, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws — has been showing drawing the panel surprising bite at the box office. images and uploading Jeff Goldstein, distribution chief for Warner the new content online. Bros, says late summer was ideal timing for Sword Master, how The Meg. ever, relies a lot more “This was a fun, dumb popcorn movie that heavily on teamwork. just looked interesting to the public every After collaborating where around the world,” Goldstein says. and finalizing the plot “We dug our heels in and said: This is the line with her editor and right time to go. The last movie, as kids are the scriptwriter, Shui going back to school, all the big blockbusters Zhu, Gunji draws drafts have played off. We’re in a space by ourselves.” and sends every new Chen Xiaoyun, who’s better Traditionally a sleepy time at the box office, chapter to Marvel. She known by her pseudonym, August has helped cement a comeback sum then has to wait for the Gunji, attends an exhibition of mer for the movie business. Weekend business United Statesbased Marvel’s superheroes. was up 25 percent from last year, and the sum team members to agree mer is up 11.3 percent, according to comScore. on the plan. For Warner Bros, which on Wednesday Besides the language barrier, the time difference also released the highly touted Crazy Rich Asians, adds challenges. Drawing the comics consumes a lot The Meg is the studio’s best opening this year, more time than her usual work. besting even Spielberg’s own Ready Player Inspired by ancient myths about Fu Xi, Nyu Wa and One. Shen Nong — three ancient demigods, who emerged After two weeks at No 1, Mission: Impossible from chaos to bring civilization to Chinese tribes — — Fallout slid to second place in its third week Sword Master centers on the fictional role of Lin Lie, a end with $20 million. The Paramount Pictures chosen hero who is a descendant of Fu Xi. release starring Tom Cruise has pulled in $162 Lin is the son of an archaeologist. He discovers an million in three weeks. ancient artifact that gives him incredible powers but Lee’s critically acclaimed BlacKkKlansman also unwittingly unleashes an evil tied to his own fami also opened strongly with $10.8 million in 1,512 ly’s past. theaters. “If we want to create a Chinese superhero, we have The Focus Features release, which took the to explore our own history and culture deeply. That’s Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in May, how the Sword Master tale was spawned,” explains was timed to the anniversary of the violent Gunji. clashes between white nationalists and anti “The core of the work is built on highlighting Chinese racism counter protesters in Charlottesville, elements. It reflects normal, everyday Chinese life and Virginia. the look of our rapidly evolving cities, as well as the Lee’s film, produced by Jordan Peele (Get trendy pastimes enjoyed by Chinese youngsters,” adds Out), is a truelife tale of AfricanAmerican the artist, who was born in the 1980s and is a graduate police detective Ron Stallworth (played by of the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. John David Washington, son of Denzel), who She says she hopes the work will act as a window into in 1979 infiltrated a Colorado Springs, Colora China for overseas comicbook fans and will help them do, cell of the Ku Klux Klan. learn more about, and update their views of, this fast “The anniversary of Charlottesville was developing country. something that was very key to Spike,” says Lisa Speaking about the reason Marvel picked her for the Bunnell, Focus’ president of distribution. “It’s role, the cartoonist attributes much of the credit to her obviously a very emotional film that reflects 10volume comic series, Paomian Chaoren (Instant the times. When audiences respond to that, it’s Noodle Superman). what cinema is all about. The state of the coun Published between 2009 and 2010, the series try is such that we’re all feeling really conflicted revolves around a boy who can possess super powers and alone. This movie is a call to action, and a after eating the eponymous food. As one of China’s first movie that brings people together.” superherothemed comics, Paomian Chaoren won a It’s Lee’s best debut since 2006’s Inside Man. Golden Dragon Award, the top honor at the China Ani Sony Screen Gem’s PG13rated Slender Man mation & Comic Competition, in 2012. didn’t catch on the way some horror releases Gunji is a fan of Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Doc have this year. The film’s 15 percent “rotten” tor Strange and Captain America. Her knowledge of Rotten Tomatoes rating probably didn’t help. Marvel superheroes comes mainly from the company’s Audiences also gave it a seldomseen Dminus cinematic universe. CinemaScore. But with a $10 million budget, Over the past 10 years, 19 Marvel films were imported the tale of an internetfamous boogeyman has to Chinesemainland theaters and raked in nearly 13 a quick path to profitability for Sony. billion yuan ($1.9 billion). But the overall box office continues to be a “I’m really looking forward to the day when I might roll, one that could continue next week with see the characters that come from my pen appear on the landmark Crazy Rich Asians. the big screen to fight shouldertoshoulder with other “People are loving going to the movies right Marvel superheroes,” says Gunji. now, and I think the diversity of the content is The second of the two series, Aero, recounts the story really fueling a lot of enthusiasm,” says Paul of an architect, who possesses the ability to control air Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for com currents. Along with Sword Master, an English lan Score. “There are so many different types of guage version of the comic series will be published in movies that you can see from every genre, for the US next spring. every audience.” Sword Master, which is rooted in Chinese mythology, is one of Marvel’s Contact the writer at [email protected] first two Chinesesuperhero comic series. 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