Nostalgia and Nationalism: Breaking Down Marvel’s Shortcomings

Source: In These Times
by Aina Marzia

“Raking in over $2.8 billion, Avengers: Endgame became the world’s highest-grossing blockbuster of 2019, solidifying Marvel as a mainstream beacon for American superhero culture. Shortly after the movie hit theaters, however, viewers criticized a scene near the end, in which Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is saved by five women superheroes. That scene, meant to give audiences a positive illustration of ‘girl power’, fell short — many felt like the heroes’ brief appearance, for the sole purpose of coming to Spider-Man’s aid, was a performative addition included for cheap ​’feminist cred’. A conversation about the presentation and tokenism of women in Marvel films blew up on social media, becoming the catalyst for The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the latest book from Lilly J. Goren, a professor of political science at Carroll University, and Nicholas Carnes, a public policy professor at Duke University.” (01/29/25)

https://inthesetimes.com/article/nostalgia-and-nationalism-breaking-down-marvels-shortcomings-spider-man