While China is seen as ruling the waves in the “Three Seas”—the South China Sea, East China Sea and Yellow Sea—some rib-tickling scenario provides some Sunday comic relief with Marvel super heroine Wave making waves.
In the first issue of Marvel War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas, scheduled for release on Wednesday, the Filipino super heroine will battle it out alongside Chinese super heroine Aero.
Greg Pak, the comic book writer behind the upcoming series, tweeted a confrontation between Wave and Aero over the North Pacific waters, which observers said could well be a euphemism for the South China Sea—providing a sidesplitting storyline.
The new character was announced during the weekend at the SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas, which is 13 hours behind the Philippines.
There are little to no information about this new addition to the Marvel family, but its promoters say “we have to say, we love being introduced to more inclusive characters.''
What is known though, is that Wave is a ‘mysterious Filipino superhero’ who comes from the sea. The super-heroine is set to make her debut in War of the Realms: New Agent of Atlas #1, which will be released’ on May 8.
Wave, whose real name is revealed to be Pearl Pangan, went past her area of jurisdiction when she sensed danger in the water, according to observers closely watching the anticipated release.
But they said Aero was also far from home, possibly for the same reason.
Observers have a ready question: Will the two elemental-powered women work together against this unknown menace? How much will art imitate life?
The answer, with fans’ anxiety at the ready, may not have to wait for that much longer.
The new look of the new Filipino heroine in the Marvel Universe has been designed by Filipino comic book artist Leinil Francis Yu.
“As announced at @sxsw, I’m thrilled to share the great @leinilyu’s stunning design of WAVE, Marvel’s new Filipino superhero! Gorgeous colors by @sunnygho! She’ll appear for the first time in WAR OF THE REALMS: NEW AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 in May, with art by Gang-Hyuk Lim!,” Pak said.
Aside from having two gold and green sword-like weapons, not much is still known about Wave, who is described as “a mysterious new Filipino heroine” in an article in the Marvel website.
Wave will soon kick ass with other new and classic Marvel heroes as the first of four issues of ‘War of the Realms’ will be released on Wednesday.
In a sneak peek shared by Pak, Pearl Pangan, known here as Wave, is shown responding to a disturbance in the water in the North Pacific, only to face off with Aero, the Shanghai-based heroine.
“Wave, this is Triumph Division! What are you doing!” radioes Triumph Division, a group consisting of the Philippines’ finest superheroes.
“There’s something wrong, there’s something in the water!” replies Wave.
“Yeah, that’d be you! You’re 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) out of jurisdiction! Now come back before…”
And then Wave makes contact with Aero.
“Wave! Your territory’s the Philippine Sea! What are you doing out here?” asks Aero.
“Who are you to ask, Aero? These aren’t Chinese waters! And what are you –”
“Wait, can you feel that… that tremor?” asks Aero. “That’s why I came here—that disturbance in the wind.”
Wave corrects her, “No, it’s in the water.”
A maelstrom occurs, which Wave quickly dispatches, revealing what seems to be a volcano, which then explodes and reveals a supervillain who seems to have knocked out Wave and Aero in one hit.
“Almost too easy, isn’t it? Divide and conquer,” says the supervillain, who apparently planned the entire event.
Promoters say the preview does not reveal much about Wave, but it shows that her true name is Pearl Pangan and she comes from Cebu.