Writer Yehudi Mercado has apologized for "inauthentic" writing in Marvel's What If...? Miles Morales #4 and has pledged to donate his pay for the issue to a New York City charity.Mercado posted an apology on his Twitter account, saying, "I've taken the last few days to step back and listen, and I acknowledge your criticism for my recent issue of What If...Miles Morales was Thor. While I've lived a different experience through my own Jewish and Mexican background, I still know inauthenticity hurts, and I'm sorry this failed on that front. I've appreciated hearing and learning from my Black and Puerto Rican comics peers and hope to use this moment to help promote better authenticity. I'm also going to donate what Marvel paid me to the Brooklyn Book Bodega, which works to build literacy and get more books to kids in NYC."
What If...? Miles Morales #4 is an alternate reality tale set in a world where Miles becomes Thor instead of Spider-Man. Released on June 15, the issue -- which was written by Mercado and illustrated by Paco Medina and Luigi Zagaria -- quickly proved to be controversial as fans posted thoughts on social media about what they viewed as racist and harmful depictions of the Black community.
Common criticisms specifically revolved around a line stating, "Of all the Five Realms, Asgard is [Miles'] hood," a moment where Miles reaches for Mjolnir and says, "Hammer time!" and more. "Marvel thought this was acceptable because so far Miles has mostly been handled by non-Black people, and his most successful launches by white people primarily," Twitter user Sailor Scout Austin Loves Vampires' said in a thread. "So they have no clue, they think THIS is positive representation and it is a trend I am so sick of. When approached about this the writer responded with the kind of maturity you'd expect and has largely ignored and other criticism and is posting as if this is not happening."
Marvel's What If...Miles Morales? series began in March. Prior to the Thor issue, What If...Miles Morales? has reimagined the titular hero as Captain America, Wolverine and the Incredible Hulk. Releasing July 6, What If...Miles Morales? #5 sees Miles' multiversal variants team up to stop an onslaught of villains.
Source: Twitter