America Chavez: Why Self-Discovery Can Be Misleading

America Chavez is a character from Marvel Comics with a strong following. While her initial debut in a forgettable mini-series didn’t leave a big impression; her appearance in Kieron Gillen’s Young Avengers make her a Marvel Universe staple. So popular fans demanded she get a solo series… to mixed results. Until America Chavez: Made In The USA, Marvel fumbles with how to depict an idea from Chavez’s creator Joe Casey.

America Chavez: The New Miss America

Miss America debuts in the Marvel mini-series, Vengeance as a member of the Teen Brigade. Co-leading the team with her then boyfriend, Ultimate Nullifier, this directionless series leaves little influence going forward. It’s only when the Young Avengers need a new flag wearer does Chavez develop as a character. With artist Jamie McKelvie giving her a redesign, writer Kieron Gillen develops Chavez’s personality. Along with making Chavez an open homosexual, Gillen motivates Chavez to live up to her ideals of her mothers. As such, Chavez believes in people’s character more than their reputation, refusing to join a cause if it harms innocents.

She’s also the second Miss America in Marvel history, succeeding a golden age character. Much like the Kamala Khan Ms. Marvel, Chavez is an ideal legacy character by adding something new to a dormant mantle. I don’t just mean ethnicity or sexuality, but character. Unlike Madeline Joyce who was a liberating character for artist Pauline Loth and other female creators; Chavez stands for female heroes of all kinds as normal. That’s what I take from it anyway.

America Chavez: A Journey of Self-Discovery

America Chavez’s popularity lets her appear in multiple series like Ultimates and Hawkeye. So popular fans and her original creator, Joe Casey, want to give her a solo series. It seems Casey comes up with the idea of America to rediscover herself to relate to a millennial audience. Only for Marvel to hire young adult novelist Gabby Rivera for that premise. Possibly to cross-pollinate her novel’s audience with their brand. This leads to two polarizing concepts that go into how Marvel and some creators didn’t understand Chavez.

Gabby Rivera’s brand seems to revolve around young people discovering themselves including her bestseller, Juliet Takes A Breath. Only, Rivera’s performance with Chavez is polarizing. Most of Rivera’s protagonists are self-conscious and directionless. It’s what makes her novel so compelling as it deals with the sense of losing an identity. The problem is, that’s not who America Chavez is. Chavez is a natural confident leader with a drive for heroism. Rivera’s storytelling spent a lot of time meandering between like social media and cringey dialogue. And that’s despite how Rivera tries to implement Latin American literature.

At Least She Tried

But… Joe Casey wasn’t the best fit for Chavez either. At some point, Casey as well as Chavez’s co-creator Nick Dragota got together for their own version of America. All-America Comix stars America Vazquez to fulfill his and fans wishes. Only for the America comics by Marvel and Rivera to steal the spotlight. In reaction, All-America Comix delays for three years, complete with a new artist.

By the time the comic does release…it was even worse than Rivera’s take! It’s quite clear that this is a sequel to Marvel’s Vengeance. Only this time the lack of direction was meant to be an arc after Vazquez comes across what she believes is the meaning of the universe. There are even thinly veiled knock-offs of 2017 Marvel characters, like a female Thor.

You see before the retcons, Chavez was a hyper-violent stoic. She was basically just a blunt instrument and an extension of Ultimate Nullifier. If Vazquez is Chavez with Casey guiding her, he practically ignored everything other creators added to America.

In comparison to Rivera’s awkward times with Chavez, Vazquez is outright insufferable. With her social media addiction, cringey lingo, and holier-than-thou attitude, she’s a millennial caricature. The whole one-shot comic felt more like a pilot without a good foundation.

Someone Does Understand America Chavez!

The problem Casey, Rivera, and Marvel have with Chavez is that they focus too much on appealing to millennials. What makes a character timeless isn’t the era they’re from, but reliable qualities. America Chavez is a paragon character whose fighting spirit comes from idealizing her two mothers. Having two moms and superpowers is normal for Chavez, as is the ability to stand up towards injustices despite whatever risks.

Hence the plot of America Chavez: Made In The USA; this mini-series retcons much of Chavez’s backstory while retaining her spirit. Originally from a utopian reality with only women and adopted by a Nuyorican community, this mini-series wipes away the sensationalism. Fortunately, despite the mundanity, writer Kalinda Vazquez keeps Chavez’s stubborn yet nurturing sides. As her underprivileged adoptive family express concerns over Chavez’s wish to be a crimefighter, she decides to do it anyway. Because she’ll never cease to do what’s right, even if it could benefit her to go along with the status quo. It does a better job than the past two attempts, anyway.

What’s Next For America Chavez?

America Chavez raises some interesting points about comics, trends, and legacy. For one Joe Casey deserves his credit for the concept of Chavez but not her character. That is a collaborative effort of living in the real world like anybody else. Chavez just happens to capture millennial ideals without trying; it is part of what makes her aspirational. More importantly, she does so with a sense of authenticity. With how Marvel tries too hard to appeal to social media crowds, the best thing to do is let creatives do what they want. Meaning don’t pass ideas around to someone just to generate sales. You have to know why a character is appealing before you reinvent them.

Thanks for coming to the end and as always, remember to look between the panels.