If the comics are anything to go by, we may be in for some amazing representation coming our way
BY DOMINIC BRAMLEY-CARR, IMAGE BY MARVEL
As many Marvel fans out there may have already heard, the impending Dr Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness film (which we’re super excited for) may be bringing with it Marvel’s first on-screen lesbian superhero. America Chavez, or Miss America, is confirmed to be part of the sequel’s cast, played by Xochitl Gomez. Marvel have not confirmed whether the character will be an out lesbian, but if the comics are anything to go by, we may be in for some amazing representation coming our way. So, here’s everything we know about the Latina superhero in advance of the film’s release.
First appearing in the limited series Vengeance, created in 2011 by Nick Dragotta and Joe Casey, she was a part of the Teen Brigade. She is best known for appearing later as part of the Young Avengers, joining them after Loki tries to get to kill Billy Kaplan/Wiccan. She’s shown to have powers of super strength, super speed and flight, but most relevant to Dr Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, she has the ability to open portals to travel through the Multiverse. She later went on to have her own solo title, being the first lesbian superhero in Marvel to lead a solo series, where she attended Sotomayor University and dated Lisa Halloran, an EMT. This was written by Gabby Rivera, a queer Latina author who was contacted by Marvel after an editor read Juliet Takes a Breath, her debut novel about a young queer Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx.
Her initial origin story was that she was born on the all-female planet Utopian Parallel and fled, travelling through different multiverses and settling in New York, after her mothers sacrificed themselves to protect the planet from destruction. However, in America Chavez: Made In The USA, her origin has been revised to reveal an unknown sister who told her that her parents were human scientists working in a private medical facility called the Utopian Parallel. Upon finding out that the owner had been experimenting on America, leading to the development of her powers, they sacrificed themselves to free them.
As well as potentially bringing us the first on-screen lesbian superhero, America’s entrance to the MCU may also signify the introduction of the Young Avengers. Other notable Young Avengers include Kate Bishop (from Hawkeye on Disney+), Billy and Tommy Kaplan (believed to be Wanda’s sons from WandaVision), Cassie Lang from Ant-Man and Loki’s Kid Loki variant, all of whom are currently in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Either way, we can’t wait to see what happens.
DIVA magazine celebrates 28 years in print in 2022. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQI media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
✨ linktr.ee/divamagazine ✨
