As I write this article, I already know the knee-jerk reaction some people will have to reading the headline is to think I'm either a sexist misogynist or just another fanboy who just can't accept change at all. I can assure that both of this assumptions are false.
The problem I had (still have) with the announcement that Marvel decided to turn the Thor character into a woman has actually nothing to do with the fact that they turned him into a woman. I'm totally fine with it because:
a) This is not the first time Thor has been a woman;
b) I like Gender-Bending characters. In fact, if I ever made an adaptation of Ghost Rider, I would be very tempted to change him into a girl named Jenny Blaze, earning me the ire of many fanboys;
and c) as shown by point 'b', I really don't mind changes and adaptations.
Oh, and d) They already turned Thor into a frog, so turning him into a woman is no big deal.
Did you see what I just typed there? That "turning him into a woman is no big deal"?
That's the problem I have with this announcement! The fact that Marvel and everyone else is acting like this is a big deal when, in fact,
it's not!
Granted, this is big news for the title and character and warrants some kind of announcement, but why on the freaking
View?! Do they think this is some kind of Suffragettes Renaissance? That it will change forever the way females are portrayed in Comic Books? This. Is. A. Gimmick! This is not gonna revolutionize anything!
Now, I'm not saying that they way females are portrayed in comics will never change. It's already changing. In fact, it's been constantly changing, little by little, since the very inception of comics. And I'm all for more change into that department.
The thing is that we already have plenty of strong female heroes derivative from other male heroes like Supergirl and She-Hulk. Adding another one to the roster is nothing revolutionary. It helps the cause, certainly, but, again, it's nothing new.
Then again, Jason Aaron, the writer, had this to say:
This is not She-Thor. This is not Lady Thor. This is not Thorita. This is THOR. This is the THOR of the Marvel Universe. But it's unlike any Thor we've ever seen before.
Well, that explains it! She's not gonna be like She-Hulk! She's gonna keep the "male" hero name exactly as it is and is gonna star in the hero comics with no change in the title! Now, that's new! Something that warrants this kind of exposition! Truly revolutionary and never done before!
Oh, hey there Hawkeye!
How's it going, Captain Marvel?
You know, maybe if it was the other way around, if it was actually a male character taking up the mantle of a previously female superhero, then maybe then you could actually call it revolu... Oh, look! It's The Wasp!
I could go on a tangent on why whoever the new Thor is inheriting the Thor name makes no sense, because Thor is not a title, it's his freaking given name! Did Beta Ray Bill change his name to "Thor" too? (After a little research, it turns out he did for a brief period. I still think that makes no sense) But I disgress.
Another thing is that, despite of what Jason Aaron may say, that woman will never be Thor for a large part of the audience. She's gonna be She-Thor whether they call her that or not, whether they like it or not. There are still plenty of people who call Kate Bishop "Girl Hawkeye" and refuse to recognize Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel, insisting that she is and will always be Ms. Marvel.
Remember Lady Loki?
Lady Loki wasn't her name. Her name was just Loki. And differently than Hawkeye, Captain Marvel, The Wasp, and the New Thor, this wasn't just a girl who decided to take Loki's name, this was actually Loki reborn as a woman! So, in many ways, Lady Loki was more worthy of Jason Aaron's quote up there that this New Thor would ever be. And people still called her Lady Loki.
Another reason for this is not being as important as they are trying to make it to be is very simple:
It's not gonna last.
Honestly, how long do you really think this is gonna last? How long do you think it will take for things to return, at least partially, to the status quo?
How long did you think Superman would stay dead?
How long did you think Captain America would stay dead?
How long did you think Peter Parker would stay dead while Doc Ock was enjoying his body?
How long do you think Wolverine will stay dead?
How long do you think it will take for the real (in lack of a better word) Thor to become worthy again and this new Thor to either return to whoever she was before or keep going as *insert some new superhero name* and just become another secondary character with a cult following but no selling power to hold a title of her own?
IN SHORT:
I think the little circus Marvel made for this announcement is pointless because:
a) It's nothing new;
b) Lots of people are still gonna call her She-Thor or Thorette regardless of their intent;
and c) It's not gonna last.
So, this is my "Rant of Sorts" on this subject. I hope I managed to make it brief and enjoyable. Do you agree with me? Disagree? Please, tell me below and keep it respectful.
The Man From Mars, signing out.