Superheroes come in all shapes, sizes, and nationalities (if they aren’t alien). While a large number of them are often generically Caucasian, there are often the heroes from other races or social standings depending on the story angle.
However, the increase in the exposure of the human populace to social phenomena such as blurred transgender roles as well as the LGBTQ movement.
More superheroes are beginning to pop up with a similar mold of characters, sexual orientation, and preferences.
Enter, America Chavez; the first lesbian Latina superhero with her own Marvel Comics series.
The 18-year-old, who also goes by Miss America, has long, curly hair and a wardrobe of stars-and-stripes jackets. She attends Sotomayor University, and between classes, she picks fights with evil aliens.
She isn’t the typical heroine, and she isn’t the Latina you usually see on the pages of comic books.
Miss America was created in 2011 by Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta and has been a regular in Marvel’s Young Avengers and the Ultimates series.
Now she’s starring in her own series that debuted last month. The series, written by Gabby Rivera with artwork by artist Joe Quinones, has America alternately fighting evil villains and enjoying time with her friends.
Putting aside her extraordinary speed, strength and her ability to punch through dimensions, America is just a sweatshirt-wearing teenager who’s trying to figure things out.
And so far, fans agree that Marvel is doing it right.
“You can’t call America Chavez a spicy Latina,” said Brianna Jimenez, a comic book fan in Richmond, Virginia. “She’s so strong and she’s a bad*ss. She wants to help others and she’s doing her own thing.”
She’s also part of Marvel Comics’ push to become more inclusive and diverse.
Over the past decade, fans have been introduced to the first Muslim Ms. Marvel; a female Thor; a young, female African-American Iron Man; and a new black Captain America.
No Latino characters have had their own Marvel series.
“This is her moment,” Rivera said. “You can’t turn and point to another character like this in Marvel.”