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Overanalyzing Anime
Blog Owner & Lead Writer
So, Captain Marvel has finally released and the general consensus seems to be in agreement that its a step in the right direction for Marvel Studios; not just because it’s their first female-led movie, but because it tells a compelling story that’s actually worth watching. But this isn’t a review of Captain Marvel - if you’re looking for one stay tuned for a full length review in the near future.
But, for this article I wanted to discuss two major changes that were made to the character and her mythos that ultimately subverted my (and, I imagine, many others) expectations regarding how this film would play out. It probably goes without saying, but from here on out we’re going to delve into some spoilers for the movie - so be warned.
Still here? Well, let’s get into it.
Mahr Vehl: A Worthwhile Change
The thing about the MCU is that it takes place in the real world; our real world. It takes the amazing aspects of it, but it doesn’t ignore the blemishes. Just look at Black Panther, wherein antagonist Killmonger’s goal is centered around the idea of freeing people of color from bondage - both in the literal and metaphorical sense. Captain Marvel serves a similar role, however instead of POC, it focuses on the plight of women in society.
While not spending too much time dwelling on it, we get to see glimpses of Carol’s life - a father who sought to confine her to societal gender norms, male peers who thought less of her because she was a woman, and even her commanding officers in the Air Force who confined her to the ground when she was clearly made to fly. While one might look at this and think its pandering to a specific audience, it doesn’t change the fact that the challenges she faced are challenges that women all across the world face on a daily basis.
Which leads me back to the case of Mahr Vehl, who, in the comics, is traditionally depicted as a man. When the movie first revealed that Wendy was Mahr Vehl I was caught off guard and wondered, “why would they change him into a woman?” It wasn’t until afterwards, when I really thought about what it would mean to have Mahr Vehl be a man would imply in the scope of this specific iteration of the character, that it clicked.
Having Mahr Vehl be a man would ultimately take away from the overall significance of her story.
If Mahr Vehl was a man, it would pull the focus away from her super-heroism and make it all about her gender - and just her gender. It would become a story of how, through the help of a man (alien or otherwise) she discovered her true strength. It would be about how all the men in her life let her down until she met this one, this otherworldly Saint of a man who saw her for what she was and helped her become a hero. And, while that might work in some other movie, it wasn’t the right way to go for this iteration of the character. She needed to be noticed by another woman of strength, someone who was respected by the men that she, too, hoped to one day gain the respect of. She needed to strive towards and emulate another woman, not a man.
Furthermore, in the final act, wherein Carol comes face to face with the Supreme Intelligence - once again taking the form of Mahr Vehl - the tone of that scene would have been completely different if she was battling a man. Audiences could interpret her taking down the Supreme Intelligence as her fighting back against the patriarchal society (or, societies) that have kept her from realizing her true power for over half a decade.. no, for her entire life. The crumbling mainframe of the Supreme Intelligence would have been a metaphor for a shattered glass ceiling that she had fought her way out of.
And while all of that can still be inferred - it isn’t done in such a way that detracts from the actual focus, which is her. The people who put her down aren’t what matter in that moment - this isn’t a story about her getting revenge or standing up to the men that had wronged her in the past - which is why none of them are shown; it’s about her - her persistence as a woman, as a person, as a human being. And it’s f**king incredible.
The Skrulls: A Deviation I Can Live With
Honestly, there may be no greater “f**k you,’’ than the one Marvel Studios so starkly presented us with in this movie. For months fans - myself included - clamored over the inclusion of the Skrulls, as it opened the door for one of the greatest story arcs in all of Marvel comics. How long have they been here? Who have they already switched with? When will we find out? What. Is. Going. To. Happen.
Well, all of that went out the window as we discovered that the Skrulls are not the threat we (or Carol) believed them to be. Instead, they’re a species on the run from the Kree Empire. While this revelation did disappoint me at first, I can’t say that I actually mind now. It goes in line with how the Kree have been depicted thus far in the MCU; not just with the fanatical Ronan in this movie and Guardians of the Galaxy, but also in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. which has delved into the topic of Kree’s multiple times - even devoting half of its fifth season to showcasing them as a threat for the team.
Furthermore, The Secret Invasion story arc would never work in the MCU because, unlike comic books, there’s just not enough time to create that story and make it as impactful as we’d want and expect it to be. Marvel Studios is not Marvel Comics; they have limits to what they can properly adapt, and instead of continue to tease us with the prospect of a Secret Invasion adaptation, they gave us something even better - a genuine surprise that literally no one saw coming.
I mean, did anyone actually see that twist coming? Because I sure as hell didn’t. Hell, up until the point where Solar was reunited with his family I thought he might betray them at any moment. And that’s what they wanted the long time fans to think. They wanted you to keep watching them - to wonder if they could actually be trusted. My girlfriend and our friends, people who are not as well versed in the Secret Invasion arc, didn’t think anything of it once the Skrulls claimed they were just trying to escape from the Kree; meanwhile, I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Kudos to Marvel Studios for fooling us with that one.
Conclusion
Captain Marvel really is a great movie and if you have yet to watch it, I say there’s no time like the present! Check it out in theaters now!
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