Before you start calling me out for being sexist, just know that I really, really, really think The Avengers film series needs more female superheroes. In fact, it is shocking how little films nowadays in the over saturated (but arguably awesome) comic book genre are led by kick-ass female characters, although we all know they are out there.
What is arguably more surprising is, Joss Whedon, director of The Avengers and soon to be directing The Avengers 2, is known for his portrayal of strong, mostly super-powered women in the 4 TV series’ he was executive producer of (Buffy and many more in Buffy, Illyria in Angel, River Tam in Firefly and Echo in Dollhouse) however The Avengers was very short on female characters. This is most likely why Black Widow was many peoples surprisingly favourite character from The Avengers, because Whedon missed directing strong female characters (in fact he has been pretty open about this in interviews). She had a lot of scenes dedicated to her in that film (many more than poor Jeremy Renner).
Now it’s pretty much a given that Black Widow will return in the sequel and sequels, and it is very likely considering Edgar Wright’s Ant Man film is expected the same year as The Avengers 2 (probably) that one of the original members of The Avengers in the comics, Ant Man’s wife, Wasp, will be somehow involved in his films. Joss Whedon even stated that he tried to include her in the first movie, but wasn’t able to fit her in with all of the awesome male characters that movie was chock full of.
Since it was first announced that Whedon was directing The Avengers, people have been trying to guess which female superheroes he would include in his line-up of characters. I don’t know about you, but although I am desperate for more female roles in the sequels, there are many many many female Avengers that I hope, at least in this current version and vision of The Avengers are left completely out of the movie.
Here are my five choices, in order, of which female Avengers should be left out of the sequels. Prepare to disagree.
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20 Comments
Ms. Marvel is Marvel’s answer to Wonder Woman, for the most part. She’s the only female Avenger who I would not only love to see, but could adequately hold her ground against the likes of the current roster.
You would have to change her backstory slightly, but I don’t know any fans who are so bent on her comic source material background that they wouldn’t mind it. She’s actually the only addition to the current roster I’m rooting for. I can do without Ant Man and Vision; give me Carol Danvers all day and night.
She’s smart, independent, and fantastically strong. The Avengers already have their street-level gang in Captain America and SHIELD. They’re supposed to be rounding up the SUPERHEROES and bringing them together. No more de-powered women. Ms. Marvel is the cream of the crop.
Although I agree with you that we probably don’t need anymore de-powered women, I think Ms Marvels superpowers a little too dull for the Avengers. I appreciate your point of view though and knew that this one would be a controversial choice. She is probably, in my opinion, the most likely of the five to make it into a sequel.
Thank you for your point of view.
I don’t see Ms. Marvel, as someone who can manipulate cosmic energy, as a character with dull powers. She’s pretty much Thor without the hammer. She’s sort of like a Super Sayain from Dragonball Z.
I’d love to see her flying side by side with Iron Man, blasting away at threats, and gracefully dodging with the wind blowing through her hair. Then, she gets SLAMMED by a cosmic blast and recovers with a flip, throwing back one of her own.
You make a good argument. Maybe she wouldn’t be absolutely terrible, but the fact that she’s pretty much Thor is kind of boring, isn’t it?
But still, you make good points.
Also, I could also do without Ant Man… however I would be disappointed not to see Vision somewhere in the films.
Even if not as Ant Man, Hank Pym should make an appearance. That would allow for an Ultron story line and introduce The Vision.
Interesting, and that could very well happen. Ant Man is definitely happening any way, but I’m just not over keen on the character. He might turn out really awesome though.
By the way, I (and I’m sure this is true of a lot of other readers) appreciate how often you respond to the people that comment on your articles. Great articles, even better responses.
No worries. I like to respond and even if I don’t, I will definitely read your responses.
Look out for a very similar Avengers 2 article/list tomorrow.
Thanks for reading :)
First off, this is a genuinely interesting article which looks at something many people wouldn’t give much consideration to when discussing the Avengers sequel… On the whole, I have to say I agree with you… the Squirrel monstrosity is just a crime against comics and should never be seen, ever again.
Ms Marvel would be a great addition to the MCU, but I completely understand and agree with your reasonings, which sound very thought out and practical. I had never given much thought before to how abnormal certain heroes or powers would look in comparison with the current line up, which, as you stated, seems on the whole believable.
I absolutely love the Scarlett Witch and Quicksilver, and am a huge X-Men fan, so I would love to see them. However, I’d rather not until Marvel Studios has the X-Men rights again. Otherwise I fear they would be introduced completely out of the X-Men universe loop. You’re right with regards to how absurd her powers would look, unless they changed her quite drastically, and about Magneto. He would have to be involved somehow, his character is too huge and well known to not be included, and if you don’t include him as her father, a huge chunk of the character is missing, and furthermore, introducing him at a later stage would just look stupid.
Instead of Ant Man, I’m hoping for a Black Panther film. It would just be completely incredible, and I feel he is by far a cooler character than Pimm. Vision would be awesome too though.
Great article!!
Completely agree. Also, at first I was afraid this article might be slightly mysoginistic but I’m relieved that it’s actually quite feminist in addition to having great, well thought out points. Bowen should totally do a ’5 Female Avengers we DO want to see’.
I am planning on doing another Avengers article for tomorrow, though not what you suggested. I feel there are too many similar articles like the one you suggested online any way (but interestingly, most feature the characters I have suggested saying they would be good).
Thanks for liking this article. It comes as a nice surprise considering how many people hated my other two.
And thanks, I am quite the feminist (I wrote both my dissertation on a feminist argument and my favorite TV series of all time is Buffy, maybe that’s why. Also, I’m not a complete, outdated idiot)
Thanks. I officially love you for writing such a kind, well thought out and mature response, and I agree with you about pretty much everything. Black Panther is also the one character I wish they’d hurry up and make for the films. I think he would be absolutely amazing and work perfectly for the films (especially up against the all white Avengers team- if you don’t count Fury- he should have been a bigger part of The Avengers)
The post above was directed towards Hannah’s post- I didn’t make that clear. Thanks again.
Also Hannah… because you liked this article, there is an article which should be appearing in WhatCulture tomorrow (unless it gets cut) which is very similar to this… but I’ll give you a clue, features Black Panther heavily (written by myself of course).
Hopefully you get the chance to read it (you too Joseph)… and don’t feel like you have to agree. A difference of opinion is always good.
I agree with Cameron about Ms Marvel. I would love to see her in Avengers. It would be great to have a female who is as strong as the other heroes. Black Widow and Wasp, while great characters, would be the weakest members of the team.
I do however agree with all of your other choices Daniel. I do however think that it would be funny to make reference to Squirrel Girl and her accomplishments somewhere, either in the SHIELD series or film.
I completely understand your point about Ms Marvel. In fact, I may slowly be changing my mind about her. She could work I guess? There are characters who would work a lot better though. But, I don’t know? I think I would actually like to see a film about Ms. Marvel now… Ok, maybe I have kind of officially changed my mind (no wait, I hate that she can fly without the use of wings). Ok. I still don’t want to see her in these Avengers films, but I do eventually want to see a Ms Marvel film.
Rant over… I also very much agree about Squirrel Girl. I think it would be awesome for example as a throw away line said by Iron Man, or maybe in a strange montage scene (just briefly appearing) in Captain America 2 or something.
Thanks for reading the article.
Waaaahhhh!!! Both Ms. Marvel AND She-Hulk on the No-No List? Whomp whomp.
Okay, so while your arguments are well-thought out and valid, I do disagree with those two, at least.
She-Hulk is a strong character that went beyond her original intentions in the MU, and has since become a great character stand alone. I imagine though, that she would definitely fit better in a procedural environment on television. I think that if they ever get this Hulk TV series off the ground (which they well should considering how awesome Ruffalo portrayed the character), that introducing Jennifer Walters as a secondary character would be a great idea, and perhaps giving her a spin-off of her own if she is taken to.
I see that you have changed your mind about Ms. Marvel, which is great, because again, she is a fantastic character. I’ve always considered her origin within the context of this universe to be simple: keep her US Air Force, NASA, and SHIELD background, and send her on a mission to investigate new worlds in the wake of the Chitauri attack and Thor’s presence. Her, we’d meet Captain Mar-vel, as well as the Kree.
Tygra is someone I’d like to see, but in a minor aspect, possibly in the SHIELD series.
Squirrel Girl is a joke character, but joke as in hilariously awesome for the comics premise solely. I have no doubt that she will never appear in the movies.
As for Scarlet Witch, I am also of the mind that while she and Quicksilver are great characters, they cannot be introduced properly without the ability of Marvel to include mutants in the MCU. While Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are among the very few mutants that Marvel and Disney co-own with Fox (Dazzler and Namor being the others), I think that including them in the MCU instead of Fox’s X-Men universe would be a huge mistake.
Yes, I have absolutely changed my mind about Ms Marvel… I would know love to, and in fact expect to see her in the Marvel Cinematic Universe fairly soon. The films I want to see are next are Black Panther, then Ms Marvel, in that order.
I do also agree with your point about She-Hulk working better for television, although without a big budget, she may look unbelievably cheesy on screen. Also, if the Hulk TV series is ever going to happen (I strongly doubt it now that SHIELD is a thing) I highly doubt that Ruffalo would play him, and if he didn’t, I wouldn’t watch.
The Scarlet Witch is one of my favorite Mutants… heres hoping she appears in an X Men film shortly… I personally would love to see her in X MEN 4 (if this ever happens… who knows). Including her in X MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST would probably make no sense considering Magneto probably isn’t supposed to have children yet, though maybe they meet her in the future?
Thanks for reading and commenting.
I actually wouldve introduced either Ms. Marvel, Scarlet Witch, or Wasp instead of the extremely underwhelming Black Widow as the sold female in The Avengers – I wouldve even preferred Mockingbird over her. She wouldve been fine for a later edition but a bit lame for my tastes. These other women wouldve been a great way to further establish more connections within the Marvel film universe. Scarlet Witch wouldve been a great way to connect the film with the X-Men.