Dear Marvel,
I am writing let you know how incredibly disappointed I was in the depictions of the Marvel Avengers Crayola Color Wonder book that I bought my daughter for Christmas.
I ordered an Avengers book because my daughter is currently quite a fan of superheroes (as am I) and I assumed this book would have some female Avenger superheroes (unlike most of the other superhero books which only have 1 hero—universally male). Considering Black Widow is 1/5 of the current main Avengers group, I expected there could be some female representation (heck, maybe even inclusion of Pepper Pots and the like).
I got a book with 18 sheets...and one picture with a female. There is ONE picture featuring Black Widow. [And one of Nick Fury (the only non-white hero pictured)]. Iron Man and The Hulk get at least 4 pictures each, but there is only 1 of Black Widow.
As a female involved in gaming/comics/etc I know that female characters being marginalized is par for the course in the culture and in the Marvel Universe and it's infuriating but still frustrating. I know that Stan Lee, in an uncharacteristic fit of hubris thinks that there isn’t a problem with the lack of females in the universe--but having females make up 1/18th of a book sold to preschoolers is absurd.
Looking purely at the numbers, it sure looks like Marvel intentionally disenfranchises their female consumers—especially in something marketed to children as young as 3. Our sons and daughters shouldn’t be given the message that females don’t belong in the superhero genre and I’m disappointed that Marvel created a book that sends a clear message that there is no gender (or racial) diversity in the superhero world. That’s not a message that I want little girls or little boys to receive.
I know Marvel is capable of better and I’d like to see that reflected in future products. You can and should do better.
Thank You,
-D
#DearMarvel, #StanLee, #Marvel
I am writing let you know how incredibly disappointed I was in the depictions of the Marvel Avengers Crayola Color Wonder book that I bought my daughter for Christmas.
I ordered an Avengers book because my daughter is currently quite a fan of superheroes (as am I) and I assumed this book would have some female Avenger superheroes (unlike most of the other superhero books which only have 1 hero—universally male). Considering Black Widow is 1/5 of the current main Avengers group, I expected there could be some female representation (heck, maybe even inclusion of Pepper Pots and the like).
I got a book with 18 sheets...and one picture with a female. There is ONE picture featuring Black Widow. [And one of Nick Fury (the only non-white hero pictured)]. Iron Man and The Hulk get at least 4 pictures each, but there is only 1 of Black Widow.
As a female involved in gaming/comics/etc I know that female characters being marginalized is par for the course in the culture and in the Marvel Universe and it's infuriating but still frustrating. I know that Stan Lee, in an uncharacteristic fit of hubris thinks that there isn’t a problem with the lack of females in the universe--but having females make up 1/18th of a book sold to preschoolers is absurd.
Looking purely at the numbers, it sure looks like Marvel intentionally disenfranchises their female consumers—especially in something marketed to children as young as 3. Our sons and daughters shouldn’t be given the message that females don’t belong in the superhero genre and I’m disappointed that Marvel created a book that sends a clear message that there is no gender (or racial) diversity in the superhero world. That’s not a message that I want little girls or little boys to receive.
I know Marvel is capable of better and I’d like to see that reflected in future products. You can and should do better.
Thank You,
-D
#DearMarvel, #StanLee, #Marvel