Computer, file this under "Who actually thought this was a good idea?" and save.
The New York Comic Con is currently underway and already, there's been some controversy. As we reported earlier today, a promotional event for the Netflix series The Punisher was pulled, as it was deemed inappropriate in light of the mass-shooting in Las Vegas this week.
Another Marvel event has since been cancelled, this one owing to a huge backlash - and one that's absolutely deserving. On Friday, Marvel announced that it was partnering with weapons manufacturer and US military defence contractor Northrop Grumman on a special promotional comic called The Avengers, Featuring N.G.E.N.
This event has been canceled.
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) October 7, 2017
The plot of the comic was the Avengers meet up with a couple of superheroes wearing special Elite Nexus suits, built by Northrop Grumann no less.
Here's the cover.
Well, as you can imagine, there was plenty of backlash against it and one fan assiduously pointed out that Marvel was "partnering with war mongering weapon merchants that are villains in your movies."
Incidentally, Northrop Grumman was fined $15 million in 2008 for 110 violations of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations that occurred ten years previously. In other words, that guy wasn't exaggerating - they were literally Sam Rockwell's character in Iron Man 2.
In a matter of hours after the announcement, Marvel pulled the whole presentation and confirmed that they were ending their partnership with Northrop Grumman. Marvel and Northrop Grumman have released no further comments.