Oxblog's David Adesnik notes that thanks to an agreement back in June 2004, Spider-Man is going to India - as an Indian superhero in Mumbai (Bombay). Their challenge is to preserve the core of who and what Spiderman is, while altering him for an Indian cultural context. How is that going to work (well, it seems)? Just how universal are America's most cherished comic-book ideals? And what could this mean for the future?
The first 4 issues of Spider Man India will be published and released by Gotham Entertainment Group in India, and the title isn't in their rotation yet. Marvel Comics will provide publishing details for the States at a later date. Fortunately, we have some preview artwork of Spider Man India for you, in addition to David's excellent discussion.
Joe, I think this is important, and very cool-- I have always believed that manga would be the ultimate vector for spreading America's memome. :)
Japanese manga embodiy a lot of American values already-- because of post WWII infuences?
I think it's a good thing as well, but we should try be not so possessive about ideas that others have embraced for eons. Doing your duty (via zen or karma) is something deeply rooted in Indian (Eastern) tradition. We're not really exporting anything American except the brand--which is being tweaked.
The first iteration of Spider-Man I've read was the Japanese version of this character (Marvel licensed this character to a Japanese manga publisher). It was years later when I read Spider-Man in English. And the Japanese version works rather well.