This morning Marvel made a major announcement on the ABC show The View. Many people thought the announcement was going to be the title and release date of a third Thor film. Well those people were right about it involving Thor. Marvel has officially changed the sex of Thor in the comic books. To be more accurate they have changed who is going to wield Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor.
Thor is still going to be hanging around and exist in this new comic run. He just will be no longer worthy to yield his famous hammer anymore. Which implies Thor did something prior to this development that changed his worthiness. One must wonder the severity of the act in question given the consequence of it. No matter what the reason in the comics continuity, Marvel is making another prominent character a woman.
This is really good news for those who feel women are underrepresented in comics (which they are). Thor is one of Marvel's big characters alongside Captain America, Iron Man, and Hulk. To have that character be represented by a woman is a big step forward for Marvel and for comics in general.
But the question I have now is will the predominantly male comic readership accept this change and will the series sell well?"
It is hard to say. I think Marvel is committed to this change no matter the result in sales. I think they also are hoping to draw some female readers into this series to help the sales. Will that happen? I am not so sure. I mean there are female comic readers and there are many female fans of comic book characters and stories. But will they go out and buy issues of this run just because a female is now front and center? I don't know.
I certainly hope they do. In the realm of corporations (which Marvel clearly is) the only thing that they seem to respond to is sales and money. If something sells well and becomes popular in the general public, usually that thing will be cloned and reproduced and expanded to wider markets. It will become more pervasive in the collective culture and, in some of the best cases, lead to real change. That could happen here if this series sells well.
Marvel might look to add more female characters to the forefront alongside their male ones. Not that they do a horrible job of it now. I mean you have Captain Marvel, Storm, Jean Gray, Mystique, and Black Widow all as prominent women in male dominated comic book series. So I think Marvel is doing better than most. But this is a definite step forward for them and a welcome one.
Now we just need to get Marvel to make a film with a female comic book character as the lead. Perhaps a film featuring Captain Marvel? The cinematic universe is very much lacking in female heroes. I think Marvel has done a nice job with Black Widow thus far, especially in Winter Soldier. But I have read so many articles calling for a female to headline a film for Marvel. Not just from avid comic book readers, but from fans of the cinematic universe as well.
In the near future, I think many will get their wish and we will see a female led Marvel film. For now, this is a nice step in the right direction for Marvel and for the greater comic book world. Even though I haven't read comic in years, I may have to give this series a look. Make mine Marvel!
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