7 Times Hollywood Whitewashed (And Straightwashed) Comic Book Characters
4. Okoye And Ayo: Straightwashed
Another MCU controversy this time, and one that came off the back of Civil War too, no less.
In the comics, the Dora Milaje are the Black Panther's bodyguards. Introduced by writer Christopher Priest during the brilliant 'Client' storyline, Okoye and Nakia were the first bodyguards of T'Challa's reign, with the latter having vied for his affections until, wouldn't you know it, she double crossed the King, taking on the role of Malice after having been revived by Eric Killmonger (a perfect comic book name if there ever was one).
Anyway, Okoye remained a member of T'Challa's personal guard, with newcomer Ayo having been introduced during Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay and Yona Harvey's seminal World of Wakanda. There, it was revealed that Ayo - now joined by Aneka - were romantically linked, and their relationship featured prominently throughout the series.
Marvel's reaction to the buzz generated by their inclusion in Civil War was crass, to say the very least. Instead of even offering the slightest encouragement that fans would, in the next few years at least, see an LGBT* hero in the MCU, they simply turned around and said that their relationship was not, in fact, "a romantic one".
We're still waiting on that LGBT* hero, Marvel...