Queens of Comic-Con: Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel and other ladies who ruled the Con
It only took 75 years, but Wonder Woman is finally getting her moment in the spotlight. And as far as Comic-Con 2016 was concerned, she wasn’t the only one.
The original warrior princess got a lot of love at this year’s festivities, buoyed by excitement for 2017’s “Wonder Woman” film, which revealed its first poster and trailer during this year’s convention in San Diego.
Fervor for Diana Prince wasn’t limited to projects to come, but also an appreciation of the character at large. Comic-Con International saw the announcement of Wonder Woman commemorative stamps, to be released in October, celebrating the superhero’s 75th anniversary, as well as featuring a replica of the demigoddess’ main mode of transportation, her super-chic invisible jet.
Most striking about the level of excitement attached to Wonder Woman may be how thoroughly it eclipsed appreciation for Captain America, also celebrating his 75th anniversary this year.
But the interest wasn’t atypical in a convention full to the brim with women who rock and people clamoring for more.
Margot Robbie made a splash during the “Suicide Squad” panel when she talked about tackling all the challenges of portraying Harley Quinn, saying of the action, “Everyone was doing all this action; I was doing it wearing heels,” a sentiment not so very far removed from the classic Ginger Rogers observation that she did everything that Fred Astaire did, but backward and in high heels.
All of which is nothing compared to the sheer pandemonium that erupted at the end of the Marvel Studios panel on Saturday night, when President Kevin Feige introduced the newest member of the family, Brie Larson.
Larson will star in 2019’s “Captain Marvel,” the first female stand-alone film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
But perhaps the most moving testament to female empowerment and the importance of representation of all kinds in pop culture came at the Friday panel for Cartoon Network’s “Steven Universe.”
While answering an audience question about the importance that LGBTQ themes carry in the show, creator Rebecca Sugar, whose “Universe” is the first series on Cartoon Network to be created solely by a woman, shared that the inclusion of the themes come from her own experiences as a bisexual woman.
“These themes have so much to do with who you are. There is an idea that these are themes that should not be shared with kids but everyone shares stories about love and attraction with kids. So many stories for kids are about love.
“It really makes a difference to hear stories about how someone like you can be loved. And if you don’t hear those stories, it will change who you are,” Sugar said.
Women ruled Comic-Con 2016, but that’s not to say there isn’t still room for improvement. Fans thrilled at the inclusion of Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira in the cast of Marvel’s upcoming “Black Panther,” as well as the addition of Tessa Thompson to “Thor: Ragnarok” and Zendaya to “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Maybe next Comic-Con we’ll even get a stand-alone superhero movie featuring a woman of color.
We’re looking at you, Kamala Khan.
Twitter: @midwestspitfire
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