Brazil Becomes an X-Men Enemy in Latest Edition of Marvel Comic

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In a new X-Men comic book, Brazil appears as one of the countries that rejected having diplomatic relations with mutants. In the new book “House of X”, written by Jonathan Hickman, a sovereign nation for people with superpowers is founded on the fictitious island of Krakoa, an important place in the story of Marvel’s heroes.

To convince other countries, Charles Xavier, Professor X, offers other countries a supply of medicine made from a plant native to the island. However, not all other countries accept it – one of them is Brazil.

The subject is addressed in “House of X” issue #5, published in the USA on Thursday, September 18th. One of the book’s pages contains the list of nations that rejected having diplomatic relations with the mutant country. In the case of Brazil, in the field for the alleged reason for the decision appears only “political”.

It is worth remembering that other Marvel heroes, the Avengers, were at the center of a recent controversy in Brazil. The mayor of Rio, Marcelo Crivella, ordered the collection of the comic book “Avengers: The Children’s Crusade” from the Book Biennial, in which a kiss between two men was displayed.

Brazil and 13 others

“More than a hundred nations have accepted the trade agreement with Krakoa… And while negotiations continue with the rest of the world’s nations, some have rejected the opening of Krakoa,” reads a page from the comic book. Krakoa’s “official document” then makes it clear that the situation in Brazil and elsewhere is uncomfortable: “The nations that rejected the trade treaty are regarded as natural adversaries”.

In the story, the list of nations that have refused to recognize Krakoa’s sovereignty in the UN includes 14 countries.

Among the nations rejecting for political reasons are Brasil, Russia, Venezuela, and Honduras, besides two that only exist in the Marvel Universe: the invented Madrid (a paradise of criminals) and Latvéria (Doctor Doom’s enclave).

Ideological differences are the motives of Iran, North Korea and the invented Santo Marco (an anti-mutant military dictatorship in Central America) and Terra Verde (a country of Mayan culture visited by the Fantastic Four).

Wakanda denies the acknowledgment claiming that he does not need “mutant drugs”. The Black Panther’s imaginary country is followed by other African nations: Azania, Canaan, and Kenya (this one exists).

About the Author

“House of X” was released in early August along with the parallel series “Powers of X”, marking a new beginning for the X-Men after years of poorly inspired sagas. Author Jonathan Hickman, 47, is a crucial part of this plan: after a series of experimental comics released by Image, he built his reputation at Marvel with remarkable passages from the Fantastic Four, the Avengers.

Since 2016, with the end of the “Secret Wars” series, which altered the entire Marvel Universe, he has been away from the superheroes’ world. He accepted the invitation to take over the X-Men only because he would be in complete control of the mutant’s adventures. After completion of “House of X” and “Powers of X”, he is to write a main title and supervise several others.

Plagiarism controversy

The second issue of “House of X” magazine, however, was the subject of controversy. Hickman has been accused by readers and internet users of plagiarizing elements of “The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August,” written in 2014 by Claire North under the pseudonym of Catherine Webb. The screenwriter went on social media to argue that a mutant character returning to life with the knowledge of his past life is not plagiarism.