Russian Officials Accuse Marvel Comic of Being Violent Propaganda

Russia's watchdogs are nipping at Marvel's heels.

Roskomnadzor, Russia's media watchdog company, has launched an investigation into Marvel comics for releasing an upcoming Avengers comic that supposedly "promotes violence and cruelty" against Russians as a result of its use of "Soviet symbols, the presentation of characters as Russian servicemen, and using propaganda to incite violence and cruelty." They claimed that the comic was particularly inappropriate since its target audience is middle-school-aged children.

According to the Russian media, the comic depicts a conflict between the Avengers and a crew of Russian superheroes called the Winter Guard, who identify themselves as "servants of the Russian Federation." One of the Russian superheroes, named Vanguard, wears a Soviet insignia on his chest. Plus, Vanguard is described as a "staunch communist" and he joins the "KGB-sponsored Soviet Super-Soldiers."

The watchdog agency may issue an official warning to the publisher, and then two warnings within a year would be grounds for revocation of its license, according to Russian news website Ekho Moskvy.