Good News, Everybody! Marvel’s Diversity Push No Longer Incites My Soul to Rage Bees
Caveat: I’m sticking with the ladies here because they’re the folks I’ve been tracking. They are not the only players in Marvel’s diversity push and I urge those of you who have been following other aspects of said event to update the rest of us in the comments.
The girls, though? Let’s hear it for them and for Marvel.
Because Marvel is doing the thing. Marvel is doing the fucking thing.
Here is a strong female character.
image via previews world.com
Marvel is allowing both their comic and television writers to craft fully realized, fully personalitied, multi-layered, variable characters who happen to be female rather than slapping a half-assed snark box around a pair of tits, labeling her a “strong woman” because she can snap a neck or ice queen it in the face of heartbreak, and considering due diligence done. Characters to whom being a woman is important but to whom other things are equally as essential. Being worthy of wielding Mjolnir, for example, or clearing a friend of treason charges. Who can beat the crap out of a villain one moment and cry over a dead friend or lost love the next.
And another.
image via screencrush.com
Neither the new Thor nor Peggy Carter nor Kamala Kahn are tokens. They are human beings of a certain anatomical persuasion who pin curl their hair and run black ops and wear burkinis; who face frost giants and worry about their identities being revealed, and get yelled at by overprotective mothers. They are varied and variegated, they snap at people when upset and apologize sheepishly the next day. They doubt their abilities even after proving themselves. The face down detractors with humor and poise, venting their frustration to their girlfriends in the privacy of their apartments. They have favorite foods and don fabulous hats and have to go to the mosque. They panic when anyone with half a brain would, recover, and get the job done. Or not. They screw up. Fix the thing. Or don’t.
They face sexism and racism and that war is important to them but it does not define them.
They are competent. They make good decisions based on the evidence they have at a given moment even if, ultimately, they’re proven wrong. They ask for backup when they need it. They need partners and friends; they do not need saviors.
They act like, what’s the word…?
Right. People.
Here is a third. ALL MARVEL.
Those, kids (and Mr. Whedon), are some strong female characters.
You’re on notice, DC. And you’d best catch up lest we girls decide to drop a house on you.
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