Sorry to beat a dead horse by talking Marvel again so soon. On Saturday, I wrote about Marvel’s lack of female and nonwhite leads and their hesitancy to include any in their future slate of films, especially in the wake of Sony’s and DC’s announcements of future titles. Today, Marvel held a special event for their Phase 3 slate. I spoke a little soon.
Of the titles announced in Marvel’s Phase 3, the two that stand out most to me are the ones set for November 3, 2017 and July 6, 2018. Black Panther and Captain Marvel, respectively. They are the titles I, and many others have been waiting for, and it feels like a breath of fresh air. In a franchise full of leading white men, Marvel will finally have their nonwhite and female lead.
Though the two dates are far from now, the facts are these: Black Panther, T’Challa, will be played by Chad Bosewick and be introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: Civil War, hitting theaters May 6, 2016. Captain Marvel, a moniker that has belong to many characters throughout Marvel comics history, will be Carol Danvers, arguably the most well-known bearer of the name these days.
Pictured: T’Challa, aka Black Panther (left); Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel (right).
Not pictured: more of the same kind of lead Marvel’s been giving us.
I believe it’s worth mentioning, and praising, the inclusion of these two characters, specifically these two. T’Challa is the prince of the fictional African nation Wakanda. Carol Danvers is an air force pilot and ranks at Colonel. (Yes, she outranks Steve Rogers, as she is fond of mentioning.)
Giving these two characters their own solo films tells us more than, “White men aren’t the only ones who can be superhero protagonists.” It also tells the world that African men can lead countries. Women can be pilots, can be ranked military; they can succeed and be talented in traditionally male fields. Their comic book counterparts spend their time speaking to and uplifting young African child and little girls who come to them, proudly saying that they are inspired by these people.
It is more than putting their names in pretty logos, it’s more than satisfying fans’ calls for diversity, it’s giving children who aren’t white males someone who looks like them on a big screen. It’s telling them that they are worthy of a leading role in a billion dollar franchise.
It’s about being valued. And I’m happy to see that Marvel, especially as most successful franchise in the world right now, is beginning to tell us it values more than just white men.
