The Human Marvel: Complex Heroes of the Marvelverse

The Marvel Comics Universe has exploded onto movie screens in recent years with the Avengers blockbuster and affiliated movies. Comics have been around pretty much as long as fandom has, so why the recent explosion in popularity? Marvel brings a unique and relatable humanity to their heroes, with depictions of disability, characters of varying sexualities, women that are not sidekicks, and dynamic motives/personalities. In this panel, we will discuss the mechanics behind what makes the Marvel-verse so appealing, tackling questions like why Loki is simultaneously irresistible and abhorrent, why Bucky Barnes is so vital to the Captain America movieverse, and how Iron Man turns the billionaire playboy trope on its head. We will also look into what we want to see moving forward and discuss recent progress in representation with Young Avengers and the new Miss Marvel.