A promotional image for "Thor: Ragnarok" (Wooh Nayoung's Twitter)
A promotional image for "Thor: Ragnarok" (Wooh Nayoung's Twitter)

A Korean promotional poster for the upcoming film “Thor: Ragnarok,” which gives the Western superhero flick a whimsical Eastern makeover, caught many people’s attention, including that of the Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo.The poster depicts Thor wrestling with Hulk. Other Marvel characters -- Doctor Strange, Odin, Grandmaster, Hela, Heimdall and Valkyrie -- encircle the two, watching the match with fascination. An indifferent Loki looks at the sky holding a plate of yeot (Korean taffy).

(Screen captured from Twitter)
(Screen captured from Twitter)

The actor took to his Twitter account Saturday to express his fascination with the poster saying, “Where can I get one?”The image, which parodied Joseon-period genre painter Kim Hong-do’s iconic work “Ssireum,” is a work of South Korean illustrator Wooh Nayoung, better known by her nickname “Obsidian.”The illustrator soon replied to Ruffalo’s tweet, “Thanks for loving my artwork. I saw your tweets and immediately contacted Disney Korea. Maybe they‘ll find a way.”

Beauty and the Beast (Wooh Nayoung)
Beauty and the Beast (Wooh Nayoung)

Wooh is popular for her “Fairy Tale Series” in which she depicts Western fairytale characters as Asians wearing hanbok -- Korean traditional clothes -- or other traditional Asian clothes. In addition to the “Thor” poster, she has collaborated with Disney Korea to create promotional posters for films such as “Beauty and the Beast.”“Thor: Ragnarok” will hit theaters here on Oct. 25.

A promotional image for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" (Wooh Nayoung's Twitter)
A promotional image for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" (Wooh Nayoung's Twitter)

By Kim So-yeon ()Related article:Western fairy tales reborn into the East by a Korean illustrator