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| Misty Knight teams up with Valkyrie to lead the Fearless Defenders. |
You may have noticed that at least half of the movie theater was filled with women when you went to see The Avengers. Why were we there? A compelling story that was easy to follow, a director who focuses on gender equality, or the way Captain America moves just before he knocks a punching bag across the room? All of the above.
After my positive experiences with the recent movies set in the Marvel Universe, I decided to peruse the original medium and see if the comics appealed to me as much as the movies based upon their long history.
While I found that comic books still had some catching up to do, I did find some good reads, such as:
- Thor: The Mighty Avenger
- Superhero Origins: Black Widow
- Fury’s Big Week
This week, however, Marvel announced the release of Fearless Defenders, which follows Misty Knight (also an African-American) and Valkyrie as they assemble an all-female team focused on protecting others.
Aside from the obvious all-female team, I’m interested in this story because it again entwines the practices and interactions of Earth (Midgard) and Asgard. The pairing is an unlikely one, and as a comic book novice, I look forward to learning more about these characters.
According to writer Cullen Bunn’s comments on the pair, they were carefully chosen to engage readers and establish a larger team. Misty and Val will apparently harbor very different viewpoints on issues, but will need to work together to complete goals.
This is a particularly important lesson for young readers, and it’s one I think on even more in a post-election America.
Can’t wait to see some Misty and Val costumes at upcoming conventions!
Are you looking forward to the release of Fearless Defenders?
