A writer for Marvel Comics, Jim Zub, learned he has an alien character named after him in an issue of U.S. Avengers from a few years ago.

A writer for Marvel Comics, Jim Zub, learned he has a character named after him in the Marvel Universe. Zub revealed on Twitter that he was jokingly referenced in U.S. Avengers from a few years ago.

Sometimes, comic book creators will pay tribute to one another in jest, supporting fellow writers and artists’ work. Known for working on The Avengers, Conan the Barbarian, and Samurai Jack, Jim Zub has written some fun titles in recent years. With his work for Image Comics to Dark Horse and DC to Marvel, Zub has become a recognizable name for many readers. Receiving commendation by other Marvel writers, he recently took notice of a reference to his name in a comic.

In a tweet, Zub pointed out that he had an alien character who is called by his last name in U.S. Avengers #7, written by Al Ewing with art by Paco Medina. The issue which released in June 2017 features an alien scavenger called “Zu’ub.” Outside the Delta-Class Scavenger Craft, the gray-skinned, four-armed alien observes space debris and considers selling an unconscious Cannonball, who is floating in space. Tagging the two creators in his tweet, the writer was happy to have received a shoutout. In his tweet linking to the Marvel Database Wiki page for Zu’ub, the real Zub wrote, “Wait a sec here, how did I not know there was an alien scavenger character named Zu’ub in U.S. Avengers by @Al_Ewing and @ArtPaco?!”

In response to Zub’s tweet, U.S. Avengers writer Ewing said,“One called Mr’kk as well – this would have been while us and Mark were knee-deep in NO SURRENDER.” With the vastness of the Marvel Universe and the constant output of new issues, it’s easy for such a reference to be overlooked or become lost. Especially considering the nonobvious name with altered spelling, which naturally sounds like it could belong to an alien, it’s hard to blame anyone for missing the reference at the time of the issue’s release.

Zu’ub’s involvement in U.S. Avengers is short-lived, but serves a purpose as he discovers Cannonball among the space debris. It might not be the same level of heroics as saving the day like the Avengers, but Jim Zub’s comic book writing career can be honored by the scene. The alien scavenger has even earned a Wiki page as Zub’s tweet pointed out, which is essentially an honor in its own right.

Source: @JimZub

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