(Written by our intern, Rogin Losa)
Marvel’s fate was sealed when Robert Downey Jr. wore that Iron Man helmet for the first time. Their cinematic universe grew beyond The Hulk’s size since then. Captain America, The Hulk, and Thor eventually launched blockbusters. This led to the heart of the cinematic universe—The Avengers. From that alone, it took half a decade for a female superhero to have a coherent arc. They had churned up an unbeatable franchise. But with unnecessary romance plots, lack of cultural diversity, and no females fronted blockbusters so far, they could be another Michael Bay franchise in the making.
Netflix curve balled this in the best way possible. Building a partnership with Marvel back in 2013, the first hero they launched into the streams was a blind lawyer with heightened senses (Daredevil). It was then followed by a female private investigator suffering from PTSD (Jessica Jones) and the black, indestructible, former convict (Luke Cage). They might’ve hit a bump with Iron Fist, but his arc doesn’t mess up the impact these Netflix serials have. What they had established was an array of diversity that Marvel took seven years to even just announce.
The Phase 3 of the cinematic universe was launched in San Diego Comic Con back in 2014. It included Black Panther and Captain Marvel in the line-up. That’s great, right? But it’ll take another two years to get those African American and female-led superhero films. Until then, we can watch Uncle Ben die again but with a younger, caucasian Peter Parker. That just seems to be the problem of the Marvel blockbusters. The Inhumans movie even got shelved after Phase 3 announcement. Black Panther and Captain Marvel may become a distant dream still.
What keeps the fuel of hope alive is what Marvel Netflix offers their viewers—rather than just be the R-rated side of the cinematic universe, they give unsung heroes a voice and tackle issues that are waiting to be heard. Jessica Jones being a survivor of domestic violence, Matt Murdock (Daredevil) wrestling with his faith again and again, and Carl Lucas (Luke Cage) being this ex-fugitive trying to rebuild his life in Harlem. If Marvel Netflix can push the boundaries and give these unsung heroes a platform, what’s taking the blockbusters so long?
It’s a given that films are gruesome to make but the ratio of Marvel films putting a white, male superhero in the forefront is a staggering landslide. Is the fear bad reception from the fans and critics? It doesn’t even have to be the minorities in the forefront. It just has to be minorities having story arcs that count. The bitterness that the Black Widow/Hulk romance arc received is justified. Why? Because it wasn’t necessary in the first place. Marvel has such a big following that’s almost unbreakable. What’s the fear in giving women the voice and minorities not being a convenient punch line before the fight scene?
The blockbusters could learn a thing or two from the Netflix serials. “What if no one will watch them?” ask Marvel executives. The staggering ratings and the critiques favor of the Netflix serials should be enough to answer their questions. Building proper representation isn’t hard as carrying the Mjolnir, but the weight of its importance could be compared to it. Who needs heroes in the first place? It’s the unheard who needs them the most.
To have someone you could relate that could save the day, that’s life changing. It makes you think that maybe you can save the day too when the time is right. It could hone young minds to think that they could be larger than life and for us adults to realize that even the mighty feel that pain humanity inflicts. What is the big screen waiting for to fuel this hope? Hopefully, The Prince of Wakanda and Major Carol Danvers bring that change alongside them. We just need to wait for two more years.
