A Pinoy superhero in Marvel Universe?

SINGAPORE — Have you ever imagined Pinoy superheroes like Captain Barbell, Lastik Man, Ang Panday and Darna one day fighting side by side with or pitted against Marvel superheroes like Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man and Captain America?

“Why not?” said C.B. Cebulski, VP of Marvel Brand Management & Development in an interview with Filipino journalists at the junket for Captain America: Civil War, the new Marvel movie with Chris Evans in the titular role. “It’s possible. The Marvel Universe is expanding. The first black superhero has just been introduced in this Captain America. So anything is possible.”

First, a thorough introduction (courtesy of Marvel Studios, producer of the movie):

A lifelong comic book and film fan, C.B. Cebulski always knew working in entertainment was his destiny. After graduating from Tufts University, Cebulski traveled to Japan where he lived, studied and worked for over four years, with constant focus on the art of manga and animé. After forming strong relationships with several Japanese comic creators, he returned to the United States to become one of the first American editors to ever work directly with Japanese manga artists to create product specifically for Western audiences. It was at this time that Cebulski realized he had found his mission in life: To help give international artists, not just those from Japan but from all corners of the globe, the opportunity to create characters, tell stories and work in the American entertainment industry.

After years of editing in the Japanese, European and American comic book markets, Cebulski fulfilled a childhood dream in 2002 when he joined Marvel Comics where he served as an editor and talent coordinator and continued to bring more global talent to the mainstream comic market. He has helped line up hundreds of international creators to write and illustrate original comics based on Marvel’s pantheon of world famous characters, like The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man and Iron Man.

In 2011, Cebulski was promoted to Vice President – International Development & Brand Management, where he helped represent the Marvel brand and businesses worldwide. Traveling from country to country, month after month, he explored new opportunities for Marvel to expand their creative interests in both emerging and established markets. Cebulski also continued searching for the best and brightest talent the world has to offer to fill their many artistic needs across all the company’s lines of business, including animation, games and movies.

Last year, Cebulski assumed the role of VP, Marvel Brand Management and Development, Asia and will be relocating to Shanghai. In this new position, Cebulski will work closely with the Disney teams across Asia, leveraging his extensive knowledge of Marvel to help expand the brand across the region, and develop local content with local creators to grow Marvel’s roster of global heroes.

The Philippines has several superheroes. Are we going to see some of them in Marvel Comics or, why not, in Marvel movies?

“Every country wants to be represented. In the near future, who knows? The Marvel Universe is the world outside your window, the real universe.” (Cebulski said that he has visited the Philippines and expressed regrets that he wasn’t able to catch the recent Madrid Fusion event.) “Marvel has such a long history with the Philippines, dating back to the ’70s. The comics got there very early. It’s a cultural thing. We have such a strong base of Filipino artists who love to pass down not just their love of properties to other generation but also their artistic talent. There’s a mentorship feeling in the Philippines that I don’t find somewhere else. In the US, a lot of times artists don’t like to train younger artists because they feel that someone is gonna be stealing their jobs.”

What kind of superhero characters from other countries are you looking for?

“Superheroes created by artists based on their experiences and background in their own countries, and not just superheroes created by American artists and writers in the US working in the same Marvel offices. They create superheroes that don’t feel authentic, very stereotypical. If it’s superhero from Japan, it’s always a geisha or a ninja or a samurai.”

There are many such superheroes in Filipino comics.

C.B. Cebulski, VP of Marvel Brand Management & Development, poses with the Captain America shield and (left) beside a poster of Captain America: Civil War during the movie’s junket in Singapore. Inset: Covers of comics that Cebulski wrote.

“As I said, the Marvel Universe is the world outside your window. We want young people in Manila to be able to look outside of the window and see a Filipino hero that is not stereotypical but one created by someone like them who understands their culture and background, based on Filipino history or mythology.”

Will you do a look-see when you happen to be in the Philippines?

“Hopefully, without a doubt. It’s just a matter of finding the right artist, I will be traveling to different Asian countries and attending conventions. There would be a Filipino superhero in the Marvel Universe, that’s for sure.”

What kind should an Asian Marvel hero be?

“It should be a hero based, as I’ve said, on Philippine mythology or history but given a Marvel origin. If you noticed, every Marvel hero has a unique origin based on tragedy. Marvel heroes are flawed, they are not perfect. They can’t be god-like such as Superman or Thor; they must be some kind of flawed so that people can say, ‘Oh, I can relate to that.’ That’s the point. The hero must have relatability; he must be believable.”

Have you read any Filipino comics?

“Yes. A lot of people from around the world have been sending me their works; they know that Marvel is interested in local talents. The writers would apologize that I may not understand their language — Swedish, Japanese, Filipino or whatever. I would assure them, ‘Don’t worry about that. If the artist did a good job, I would understand it.’ If an artist is good at story-telling without the use of words, then I, or everybody, can understand him.”

Any more tips for would-be writers/creators of Marvel heroes?

“Originality is very important. There’s a fine line between inspiration and imitation, and many people cross the line to imitation. The thing is to take what you love about your idol and develop your own style. They should expand their imagination. You know, if you can think it, you can draw it.”

By the way, which Marvel hero is closest to your heart?

“X-Men, initially. As you grow older, your taste changes because you identify with different heroes. I related to Spider-Man when I was in middle school because he had trouble with girls and money, he had a part-time job, and he was picked on by bullies. But then, he can put on a mask and be a different person.”

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