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.
Co-Opting The Meme
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 wasn’t a good fit for Chavez’s character with all of the time meandering between Millennial tropes like social media. And that’s despite how Rivera tries to implement Latin American literature.
At Least She Tried
Now let’s look at how 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, some insights about Casey’s process arise. Throughout the comic, it is extremely apparent that it came from a bad place. Most of the characters are thinly veiled knock-offs of Marvel characters of 2017, complete with a female Thor. The way Vazquez talks to them in a haughty manner shows a bit of Casey’s hostility towards Marvel. Even if it does play out like a sequel to Marvel’s Vengeance, complete with the lack of direction. Okay, maybe not… Vazquez does come across what she believes is the meaning of the universe. But the fact the one-shot comic is more like a pilot presents a problem. If this is meant to become a series, it doesn’t have a good foundation.
In comparison to Rivera’s awkward attempts with Chavez, Vazquez is outright insufferable. With her social media addiction, cringey lingo, and holier-than-thou attitude, she’s a millennial caricature. To be blunt, despite being her creator, Joe Casey does not understand America Chavez at all!
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.
With how Chavez appears in the MCU with Multiverse of Madness she’s going to be a character everyone will be familiar with. Thanks for coming to the end and as always, remember to look between the panels.