The Marvel comics offer fans one of the most complex fictional universes. It includes many different worlds and cultures from which very diverse characters come. Of course, given their origin, they all speak English. However, this is often not their first language. Many Marvel characters aren't English native speakers.
Some of these heroes only speak English in the comics, but their backstory suggests they're native of a different language, like Black Widow and Shang-Chi. However, others were created openly proud of their heritage, which leads them to use their native language all the time, like America Chávez and Kamala Khan.
10 Natasha Romanoff's First Language Is Russian
Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, is a Russian spy turned U.S. ally who first appeared in the comics in 1964. A regular woman, Natasha was brainwashed, trained in combat, and biotechnologically enhanced at the Red Room to become a weapon for Russia.
Since she was born and raised in the USSR, Russian has been Natasha's first language. However, since she was trained as a spy, she also speaks perfect English in order to communicate in America. Besides these two languages, she's fluent in German, French, and Chinese.
9
Frank Castle Is Italian-American
Created by Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr., and Ross Andru, Frank "Punisher" Castle is Marvel's most iconic antihero. He's a Marine veteran obsessed with revenge who uses craftily violent methods to combat crime. As a result, Punisher's comics are usually the darkest Marvel comics ever.
Frank Castle is Italian-American. He was born Francis Castiglione. Given this, Punisher speaks Italian fluently besides English. In fact, During Punisher War Journal, he uses his parents' language several times to communicate with other characters.
8 Nightcrawler Usually Speaks German
Kurt Wagner, also known as the mutant Nightcrawler, is a member of the X-Men created by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum. Although he's a kind man, his mutation gives him yellow eyes, blue skin, and a tail, among other demon-like characteristics that make others fear him. Nightcrawler's primary superpower is his ability to teleport anywhere.
Since he was born and raised in Bavaria, Germany, Kurt Wagner's first language is German. As a result, he often speaks German phrases intertwined with English. Nightcrawler's Ultimate version only communicates in German until Jean Grey uses her telepathic powers to teach him English.
7 Shang-Chi's Chinese Background Is Central To His Story
Created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin, Shang-Chi is Marvel's greatest martial artist. Shang-Chi is an expert in unarmed and weaponry-based wushu, a famous Chinese martial art that includes the usage of ancient weapons such as the gùn, the nunchaku, and the Jian.
Shang-Chi was born in Henan Province in China, and he speaks Chinese. However, since his father used him as a weapon internationally, he also speaks English, which helps him blend in. Unfortunately, the comics don't clarify which Chinese dialect he uses, but he speaks Mandarin in the film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
6 Gambit Often Speaks In French
Created by Chris Claremont, Jim Lee, and Mike Collins, Remy LeBeau, aka Gambit, is a mutant with the ability to create and manipulate kinetic energy, which he uses to imbue objects — mainly playing cards — and use them as explosive projectiles. Over the years, this character has changed a lot. He's a reformed thief who has worked alongside the X-men since 1990.
Gambit was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the LeBeau Clan Thieves Guild raised him. Given his background, Gambit knows how to speak Louisiana French, a francophone variant developed in the United States. Generally, he speaks English with a Cajun accent, using French words such as "non" and "chère" constantly.
5 Miles Morales Is Half-Latino Half-African-American
One of Marvel's newest and most popular characters is Miles Morales, by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli. He's a biracial teenager who got bitten by a radioactive spider, thus becoming Spider-Man. Like Peter Parker, Miles possesses his spider-sense and adhesive hands and feet. Additionally, he can camouflage himself to become invisible and paralyze his opponents with a touch.
Since his father is African-American and his mother is Puerto Rican, Miles grew up in an English and Spanish-speaking household. Throughout his storylines as Spider-Man, he speaks Spanish with his mother and understands her every time the woman uses her native language. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse actually features him speaking with his mother in Spanish.
4 Hawkeye Uses ASL To Communicate Sometimes
After developing expert-level marksman abilities and mastering archery, Clint Barton spent some time working at the circus until he stumbled upon the Avengers. After this, he joined them with the serious intention of becoming a hero, which he accomplished by becoming Hawkeye. Stan Lee and Don Heck created this character.
During his time as an Avenger, Hawkeye lost his hearing twice, which led him to learn American Sign Language. The hero was first rendered 80% deaf after using a sonic arrow against Crossfire. Even though his disability was retconned, Matt Fraction brought it back after The Clown stuck arrows in both Clint's ears. One of the most iconic Fraction's issues on this hero is Hawkeye #19, a story told entirely in ASL.
3 America Chávez Is One Of The Strongest Latinx Heroes
America Chávez was created in 2011 by Joey Casey and Nick Dragotta for Vengeance #1. She's a teenager from the Utopian Parallel with the ability to create interdimensional star-shaped portals to different realities. One of the most diverse characters in the Marvel Universe, America is openly lesbian and the first Latinx Marvel character to star in a solo series.
Like her mothers, Amalia and Elena Chávez, America is Puerto Rican. Since her heritage influences her personality, America often speaks Spanish in the comics. Even when talking with English speakers, her dialogues are full of Spanish words.
2 Kamala Khan Speaks Urdu With Her Family All The Time
Originally a regular girl from New Jersey, Kamala Khan is a Pakistani-American teenager who gained shapeshifting abilities after exposure to the Terrigen Mists. After this, she became a superhero and took the moniker of Ms. Marvel as an homage to Captain Marvel, her favorite superhero.
Kamala is a modern hero in many ways. For instance, her Pakistani heritage is an excellent example of proper Middle-Eastern representation in comics. In the comics, Kamala often speaks Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, with her parents, especially her mother. Additionally, all her storylines aim to break Muslim stereotypes and teach the readers about their culture.
1 Black Panther's Wakandan Is Based On A Real African Language
The first Black mainstream superhero, Black Panther, isn't a person but a title given to the chief of the Panther Tribe of Wakanda. In addition to protecting this fictional African country with his powers — superhuman strength, agility, and reflexes, the Black Panther serves as Wakanda's head of office, often running diplomatic missions.
Like all other nations, Wakanda has its own culture, including an official language. Wakandans speak three languages in the comics: Yoruba, Hausa, and the fictional Wakandan. Up until 2018, when Black Panther premiered, fans didn't know how this sounded, but Marvel Studios based Wakandan on Xhosa, an African language known for its heavy use of click consonants. As the leader of Wakanda, Black Panther speaks all these languages and others necessary to communicate with other politicians around the world.