A New Image for Female Super Heroes?

Very recently, Marvel announced that in 2018 it would release its first film in which a female hero would be the main protagonist. Captain Marvel has the potential to paint a new image for cinema heroes, and also provide children a female crusader to look up to, as opposed to dominant, muscular male characters such as Captain America, Superman, Thor, etc. Aside from a poster, very little advertising has been done for the film since its announcement. As summer of 2018 draws closer, more ads and images will surface, but in this blog I will be examining the appearance of Marvel's newest hero. Will Captain Marvel's appearance target the sex appeal of men, or will it be a more modest, empowering figure that will appeal to all genders?

My initial thoughts upon first seeing Captain Marvel's portrayal for the first time: Besides the head, no skin is showing. The heroine's outfit isn't too sexual, despite it emphasizing her large breasts and hips. I can see how the actress' body will attract men, but the costume for Captain Marvel is definitely looking in the right direction. As opposed to Wonder Woman who boasts a fair amount of cleavage, and an incredibly high skirt, Captain Marvel's attire only shows her face. Another point to note is the length of Captain Marvel's hair. The more sexual Wonder Woman has long, flowing black hair, while Captain Marvel's is short, and gives her a more masculine appearance. With a look of confidence (smug grin, and dominant stance), it looks Marvel may finally be delivering a strong, independent heroine that will set a new standard for female cinema protagonists.

In the comics, this character wears a much more revealing costume, and traditionally goes by "Ms. Marvel." The company's choice to brand her with the title of Captain, is another sign of the push Marvel is giving the female protagonist. The company could have easily named the film Ms. Marvel, and decked the character out in a more sexual outfit, but it looks like Marvel has taken the more independent path for this character.

Whether or not the internal qualities of Captain Marvel will prove as empowering for women as her name and appearance can only be determined once the film is released. However, its safe to say that Marvel is beginning to put more and more trust in giving females the role of the main protagonists in its films. Another upcoming Marvel movie that will include a woman as one of its lead roles will be Ant Man and the Wasp. As a diehard Marvel fan, I'm very eager to see how dominant the company decides to portray its newest female additions to the world of cinema super heroes.