Local heroes

US comic book giant Marvel has launched its first two Chinese-superhero comics, Sword Master and Aero. They feature art by Guangzhou-based artist, Gunji. Xu Fan reports.

While most of the stories that Marvel has told during its 79 years center around larger-than-life superheroes, the company's long-standing principle-which reflects that of founder Stan Lee-is that the settings and characters in the Marvel universe, for the most part, should reflect the world outside fans' windows.

Now, that window has opened a little wider to include China, a relatively young market for Western, adult-oriented comic content.

The comic-book giant released its first two Chinese superhero comics, Sword Master and Aero, under the 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", respectively.

Chen Xiaoyun, who's perhaps better known by her pseudonym, Gunji, recalls the "incredible" feeling she experienced when she was asked to participate in the creation of Sword Master, in an email interview with China Daily.