Recently, Marvel Comics unveiled its lineup of variant covers for its upcoming anthology celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Silk is absolutely stealing the spotlight with a new traditional Korean-inspired costume. Taking place every May since 2009, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month has become an important time each year to celebrate the traditions of Americans that are a part of these cultures. Some ways to celebrate can include festivals, educational lessons in schools and government-funded events to recognize the achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans. This year, Marvel is throwing its hat into the ring to highlight some of its most notable heroes of Asian descent, and Silk is stealing the show with her new costume.
Silk is a character that's been making waves recently in the world of comics. Currently undergoing an epic new arc written by Emily Kim, Silk, also known as Cindy Moon, is a Korean American superheroine that was bitten by the same spider that bit Peter Parker. Unlike Peter though, her webs are shot from her fingertips, giving them a wider reach to deal with villains. Korean culture even plays into her stories as she finds herself currently taking on an ancient Korean witch that's bent on world domination by draining the life from social media influencers. Now, her Korean heritage is being showcased in a variant cover for the upcoming Marvel Voices anthology, and it's absolutely stunning.
As Tweeted by Marvel, This variant cover by Wooh Nayoung features Silk clinging to a building while wearing a costume inspired by Hanbok, which basically translates to traditional Korean clothing. Specifically, it appears to be inspired by Jeogori, which is the upper portion of Hanbok that can be made from a variety of fabrics and tends to drape down the arms. Traditionally, women wear a long skirt called a Chima to accompany it, but Silk likely doesn't wear it here to avoid difficulties with wallcrawling. On top of this, the Jeogori itself has a weblike look to match the design of her usual costume, and it works incredibly well here! It gives her own personal touch to a traditional outfit worn by other Korean people, so it's nice to see her put her own spin on it.
What's most fascinating about this design though is the accessory along her waistline. Traditionally, this is called a Norigae, which is an accessory that women wear on their Jeogori waistline that's viewed as a good luck charm. For Silk, she's wearing one that features the spider logo. The reason why this is such an amazing feature is that it beautifully blends her culture with her place in Marvel history. It's a symbol of pride for her cultural heritage as well as a sign of her individuality. Moments like this are why periods like AAPI Heritage Month are important. They showcase the differences that people treasure as well as the celebration of who they are as people, and this Silk cover art displays this with tremendous artistry.
Marvel Voices: Identity #1 will be available on May 25th at local comic book stores and will feature not just the Silk variant cover but also three others focusing on other members of the Marvel universe. The anthology will also have stories focusing on characters like Wong, Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel, and others! This is certainly an issue of Marvel Voices not to be missed not just for the stories but for the gorgeous artwork. Marvel Comics went all out for this celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, and this variant cover by Wooh Nayoung for Silk should absolutely be praised for its combination of costume and traditional Korean clothing.
Source: Marvel/Twitter