Daily Comics Digression #4: Past the Point of No Return

 Daily Comics Digression #4: Past the Point of No Return

Marvel Comics has been receiving a great deal of flak lately, from how they treat fans on Twitter to how they have treated their cast of characters. Many fans have shown a great deal of vitriol for how Captain America was treated when he was a Nazi, for example. In addition, some newer Marvel Comics characters Like Miles Morales, Kamala Khan, and Riri Williams (alternate versions of Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, and Iron-Man respectively) have enjoyed a mixed reception. However, whatever you might say or think about the new cast of characters, they are original characters. You can't say that there was an original Ms. Marvel that had a completely different origin and design look that's been completely disregarded, supplanted, and even mocked nowadays.

Oh. Wait. No.

Well, while you can't say that there was an original Kamala Khan, there was definitely an orignal Ms. Marvel. Here's how most people remember her from the classic days:

Hubba Hubba

It's very important to note that far from being an empty, brainless bimbo, Carol Danvers, the only real Ms. Marvel, has always been a capable, intelligent, drop-drop diva of a character. Yes, I am aware that Ms. Marvel has had multiple costumes and looks throughout the years, but they all tended to have some important things in common. Despite name changes (Binary, Warbird, etc) power changes, and costumes, Carol Danvers was always the epitome of a sexually attractive, yet powerful woman. The quintessential Atomic Blonde. Some artists certainly played into the sexual side of her portrayals more than others, but I digress...

Recently, Ms. Marvel took the name Captain Marvel. Honestly, this is the point where Marvel Comics became broken beyond repair. The atomic blonde became...whatever this thing is.

Surely, it can't get worse than this...

Notice that this version of Marvel still has some remnants of femininity. Unfortunately, that just meant that this beloved character just had so much farther to fall. That's what makes this panel from Mighty Captain Marvel #2 a rubbing of salt in an open wound.

This is why you don't call people Shirley.

This. This one panel was enough to give me clinical depression: the point of no return. It really encapsulates how some current creators have denigrated the stories I used to love. Before you accuse me of overreacting, let's examine what's going on here. In this story, Captain Marvel has to deal with the irritation of a film crew who is trying to make a movie based on her. This panel depicts the real superhero on the right, with the actress on the left. Yes, you're not going insane, the character that looks like a real woman is, in fact, not the main character of the superhero book. I'll put another way. The idealized and attractive person is not the superhero in a genre that sustains itself on idealized depictions of humanity. 

But that's not all, not by a long shot. In what must be some kind of moral victory for some sexually backwards ideology, this completely agender version of Captain Marvel tells off the traditional version of herself, as evidenced by the fact that the actress looks like the old Ms. Marvel in body shape and hairstyle, and posture. 

The deliberate, incredulous look of the real Carol Danvers says everything that needs to be said. It's like this poor imitation is directly speaking to the fans and saying, 

"The old Ms. Marvel is dead. She was problematic anyway. All you old fans who want the old Carol back are going to be greeted by this look on my face that's half puzzled at why you don't embrace the new definition of androgynous womanhood and half angry that you would even desire something resembling traditional heterosexual ideals. It's the current year. You sexist."

Even the raised hand of Carol sends a message. It's like she's holding up her hand as if to say, "Hold up, get away from me. I'm the new me now."

The cherry on this turd sundae? Guess which version of Ms.Marvel they're going with for the film.

Kill me.