Filipina superhero was based on Nadine Lustre says Marvel artist

'Wave' artist's revelations lead to rumours of Lustre playing the film role

Nadine Lustre - seen here posing for a Lustrous beauty shoot - was the inspiration for Wave, Marvel's Filipina superhero, according to one of the character's creators. Photo: Instagram / NadineLustreOfficial 

Marvel artist Mico Suayan, one of the illustrators behind Marvel’s first Filipina superhero, Wave, has revealed that his drawings of the character were inspired by Filipina actress Nadine Lustre.

The artist has posted a photo of Lustre alongside Wave on his Facebook account, with the caption: “A little trivia. I based my rendition of Wave to Nadine.” This makes us immediately ask, is this the beginning of a campaign to see Lustre playing the role of Wave in any future movie adaptations?

Mico Suayan

Prior to the Lustre revelation, Wave’s co-creator, co-illustrator and designer, Leinil Francis Yu, said on Twitter that he would love to see actress Angel Locsin giving flesh to the heroine, whose alter-ego has been named Pearl Pangan.

Locsin is no stranger to Filipina heroines, having found fame playing the homegrown heroine Darna in the TV adaptation of the Ace Publications character. She was also initially cast as the lead in a Darna movie adaptation, but was forced to pull out of the film due to injury. The same fate has now also befallen her replacement on the movie, Lisa Soberano.

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A post shared by Angel Locsin (@therealangellocsin)

Who is Wave, the 'mysterious Filipina heroine'?

Wave was first introduced to fans on social media in February by writer Greg Pak. She is described as a "mysterious new Filipina heroine," is clad in a green and yellow costume, and holds two swords that, according to Locsin, resemble the Kampilan, the sword of ancient Filipino hero Lapu-Lapu.

Wave is a new Filipino superhero who hails from the ocean. Greg Pak / Twitter

Like Lapu-Lapu, Wave’s mission is to defend her realm against conquerors. She is among Marvel’s new league of Asian superheroes, which include Aero and Sword Master from China. They will fight dark forces that terrorise the Earth, in a story that is reportedly set in Asia.

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Wave will debut in the comic book series War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #1, to be released in May. In the series, she will likely play a pivotal role in defending Asia from Thor villain, Malekith

Suayan's post has, understandably, led to speculation among Filipino comic fans and media that Lustre could take on the role of Wave in a future movie version.

The actress is also hotly tipped to replace Locsin and Soberano in the long-gestating Darna movie. Watch this space.