Same here.

 

I think you're giving them WAY too much credit, given the general content and tone of mainstream comics when it comes to race and gender.

 

Oh I don't know, I think announcing the new Thor on the View and announcing the new Cap on Colberts' show illustrates that they were trying to show people outside the traditional demographic that they see diversity as a priority. If they had happened at different times maybe not but having this all happen within days seems like a deliberate effort.

 

Was this an announcement from Marvel or just these shows running with the stories? Colbert is a big cap fan so it wouldn't be surprising for him commenting on it. The View, eh. They'll talk about anything to gain viewer back from the Talk.

Edit: yeah, this was just those shows picking up on the stories through Internet hype. Good press for Marvel, but far from some planned middle finger strategy to wasp male readers.

Double Edit: Just caught the Cobert Report, and was surprised to see Joe Q actually there. Though he's a notorious self-promoter.

 

They announced Cap's "death" on Colbert previously (there's a reason he has Cap's shield on the wall) and they make comic announcements on the view all the time, IIRC.

Want counterevidence? Look at the top names in comics and their near constant issues with women and minorities.

 

I'm not saying those issues are disappearing, the comics industry and especially Marvel and DC have huge problems with representation and attracting and keeping women into the industry as creators. All I'm saying is Marvel at least has recognised there is money in the demographics it has largely ignored for decades and are trying to do something about it.

Hoping new Thor is gay as well to be honest, so far DC are way ahead of Marvel in LGBT representation.

 

Might as well go the full gambit and make her a transsexual as well.

And lol at the perception that Marvel is lagging behind DC in gay character representation. At least , Marvel let's their gas get married.

 

I'll give you Thor, but I don't think Sam taking over as Cap is an attempt at increasing diversity. It doesn't hurt, but I don't think it was a big part of the decision making. I believe it has more to do with his role in The Winter Soldier. Though they're a little late, as this would have made more sense if they had done it back when the movie first came out, or shortly there after.

No matter the reason, I think both are good ideas. I'm only familiar with his appearance in TWS, but I think Sam makes sense as Steve's replacement as Cap. I hope it's something we eventually see in the MCU. After Bucky of course, but eventually.

 

Unless they're setting something up for a future movie...  

 

I can dig it. With both this and the female Thor, one might think Marvel is shoehorning for diversity, but hey, maybe it's because of Winter Soldier but to me Wilson fits as a perfect CA replacement.

Of course it's still going to be temporary, but I welcome it.

 

He's still not-Cap, and even in-universe, it'll still be not-Cap. It might be something of a fun read like Bucky-Cap was, but you know the whole time reading the hook is more how and when they bring back Cap than the adventures of Not-Cap.

I dunno, at least with John Walker and Bucky the perception that the real Captain America was alive and operating in-universe, but with Sam, they're not even trying to hide it. It's like "Okay, the Captain America that inspires so many is gone. Here is his one-time sidekick wearing the Captain America uniform. We hope he knows how use that shield."

 

I don't know about that, DC doesn't really have much in the way of gay representation in the forefront beyond Montoya and Batwoman (and conceivably Booster Gold, but was that retconned?), the former being basically the icon for gay storytelling in mainstream comics. Marvel has Northstar (a pretty nuanced gay character by mainstream comic standards), Hulkling and Wiccan, Karma, etc., and even if Exiles Wolverine/Hercules were played for laughs, they did so by subverting a lot of stereotypes about masculinity. If this were still the 90s, yeah, the edge would definitely go to DC, but I don't think it's as clear a divide anymore.

As for these recastings being a sign of greater inclusivity from an editorial perspective, again, I think you're giving them too much credit. By treating "this character is now a different gender/ethnicity" in much the same way they handle "this character is now going to be a corpse" or "this character is getting a new costume!", they treat (at least in my eyes) that gender/ethnicity as just another gimmick to sell comics, instead of developing characters (new or established) with actual depth.

If that was their actual goal from a business wide perspective, why not the same level of fanfare when Ms. Marvel was made into a young girl who is also a visible minority?

 

I don't if that's true since that wasn't really the hook in Superior Spider-Man; we all knew Peter was coming back at some point but the hook was the book being really good.

And Bucky was a great Captain America. Just like with Superior the replacement heroes were far better than the previous guys were I recent years. I love Brubaker on Cap but the arc I re-read the most is the Bucky arc. Punisher? He was an awful Captain America.

 

Yes. Damn minorities. Keep our comics free of dirty colored folk, women, and homosexuals!


*Strokes neckbeard, adjusting fedora*

 

I think when in-universe the world and to an extent the heroes/villains does not know the replacement is a replacement then it often works. But Pun-Cap is great example, everyone knew it was the Punisher, so what's the point. Eric Masterson worked because everyone thought he was Thor. SpOck worked because everyone thought he was Peter. BUt yeah, I kinda get the feeling that Fal-Cap is going to end up being a lot like Pun-Cap. I hope I'm wrong.