Alex Yarde looks at Marvel’s recent diversity moves with cautious optimism.
“The Mills of the Gods grind exceedingly slow, But grind exceedingly fine.”
– Attributed to John Bannister, a Pennsylvainia judge of the 1800s
Marvel Comics on the heels of Thor’s gender swap announced The All New Captain America is to be Sam Wilson, aka The Falcon an African American man. To date there have been seven other Captain Americas and there was also another African American to don the uniform. Steve Rogers, after losing the age defying properties of the Super Solider Serum is rapidly aging and retiring. Wilson’s ascendance is another positive step forward and along with the new female Thor, says much about Marvels seriousness regarding diversity. These characters along with Iron Man are the backbone of the two billion dollar Avengers franchise. This is not a haphazard decision made by Marvel and their parent company Disney. While non white male characters taking the mantles of white male heroes often is temporary, I don’t subscribe to the cynical premise as sighted by Wired Magazines Graeme McMillan in his article “Giving Us a Female Thor and Black Captain America Isn’t Enough” (No daylight there) that merely because Wilson retains Rogers as his trainer & handler much like elderly Bruce Wayne was for Terry Mc Guinness in DC’s Batman Beyond Wilson is quote “An African American Cap working for a white master”. Nor do I agree that the new Cap and Thor get the jobs “because of the failings of their white predecessors rather than their own merits.” I’d need to actually read the new stories before I jump to those kinds of conclusions. I also take exception to the racially loaded analogy that “The All-New Captain America series will be one of seven Marvel Books with a non white lead; eight if you count Rocket Raccoon.” What is he trying to say? I believe that looking at these incremental changes in context that they are only important steps on a longer path toward greater diverse representation.
There are issues surrounding Marvels recent changes. However, none of the strange and arbitrary ones sighted by Mr.McMillan. He makes a good point that “this isn’t an easy undertaking” and “living up to the promise of these announcements may require more meaningful measures” then sadly he offers none. The writing staff and artists are still white and a black Captain America deserves a book with black talent on board but what critics fail to take into account is these incremental changes though they may not threaten the existing power structures once made, they forever alter the landscape. They change the shape and scope of what can be considered possible and every incremental step should be fought for. Example: SHIELD who the Avengers answer to is run by Director Nick Fury who was once a white male and was successfully altered and assimilated in cartoons, comics and Marvels Cinematic Universe as a black male most notably by Samuel L Jackson in every recent Marvel film. Hence, there is an entire generation who only know Nick Fury as a black man. A new Avengers team has also been announced, led by a new “Superior” Iron Man in a new series, It should be noted that the Marvel NOW Avengers line-up is also very interestingly intertwined with the Marvel Cinematic Universe anchored by a new big three – Superior Iron man, a new female Thor & All New Captain America. (All three current actors in the MCU films have expressed interest in moving on) The Winter Solider (just debuted in the Cap sequel) Scarlet Witch (debuting in Avengers: Age of Ultron) Angela (formerly of Image Comics SPAWN which was integral in The Age Of Ultron Comic) Dr. Strange (a newly cast role and future Marvel film franchise) Ant Man (another marvel Phase 3 film) Deathlok (Agents Of SHIELD possible spin-off) and Medusa and Inferno of the Inhumans (another Marvel cinematic property) contrary to many naysayers with a line up like this I suspect there will be considerable synergy and cross over opportunities between The MCU and The Marvel NOW monthlies in the future.
I believe Marvel’s recent diversity push motivates competitors to make progressive change as well. Today it was announced by Warner Bros. that Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson will be another traditionally white male character Shazam. Notably Shazam is the only DC character that is a member of the Justice League that will be headlining a film without Batman or Superman reportedly. Marvel should be praised for their efforts, DC & Warner Bros. for their latest move as well but that doesn’t mean the status quo is acceptable nor should we stop pushing for more inclusive changes on the comic page, in the writers rooms, artist studios, the editorial staff and company boardrooms. Only when we have representation of different genders and cultures on both sides of the camera and all aspects of the creative process top to bottom will critics no longer see these moves as hollow placation or quick money schemes. It’s the only way to correct the wrongs of the past and support lasting change for the future. These few current changes cannot be a panacea for 70+ years of exclusion and tokenism but my kids will grow up in a larger world than I did where some of their favorite heroes The Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, reflect their race & gender and while that’s nothing to sneeze at the next announcements need to be about hires, promotions and bring diverse voices to bear.
all art ~ Marvel Comics
Luke Cage, Giant Man, Black Panther, Photon, Misty Knight are all characters who have existed for years in Marvel comics. Last I heard, Netflix was doing a series that would include Luke Cage as well as Daredevil and Iron Fist that would culminate in a Defenders series.
Yes but they are rarely the heros that gave major movies made about them. That is exclusively held usually for the white male superheros. The best written female superhero, in my opinion, was Buffy from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I know of not many male writers that could do what Joss Whedon did for a female superhero character. Most other female superheros (Maybe with the exception of Superwoman portrayed by Lynda Carter) appear one-dimensional and an extension of Playboy Playmates with oozing sex appeal and kick-ass attitudes but not much deapth or relatable qualities beyond the sex appeal. Progress is… Read more »
I don’t get how people can be so upset by these changes. It’s comic world. Nothing is immune to change. This what we call the rule of cool: damn near anything is permissible if the writing’s good enough. It’s a reminder to celebrate change.