The superhero industrial complicated doesn’t often hand out capes to Black girls. Once they do, it’s usually in items—half a storyline right here, a tragic backstory there, perhaps a very dramatic slow-motion stroll into battle–if we’re fortunate. However one thing’s shifting. Slowly, steadily, and in thigh-high boots. Dominique Thorne simply formally joined the roster, and together with her arrival, the Black lady superhero canon grows stronger, glossier, and much more plain.
You understand Dominique. Should you didn’t catch her in Judas and the Black Messiah or If Beale Avenue Might Discuss, you need to’ve paid consideration when she entered the Marvel universe as Riri Williams, aka Ironheart. A genius-level Black woman from Chicago who builds her personal Iron Man go well with at M.I.T.? That’s not only a character—that’s a flex. And it’s not misplaced on us that Dominique performs her with the form of interiority Hollywood hardly ever provides younger Black girls on display. She’s not making an attempt to be likable. She is.
She joins a brief however mighty checklist. Girls who’ve bent style and expectation, not simply to point out up in these universes—however to go away a mark. Anna Diop powered by racist backlash and lit up the display as Starfire in Titans. Letitia Wright introduced brains, bars, and royal ache to Shuri in Black Panther 1 & 2. Lashana Lynch made you consider a Black lady couldn’t solely be Captain Marvel in Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity but in addition make her look much more bada**. Teyonah Parris took Monica Rambeau from comedian footnote to MCU favourite with out even needing her identify within the title in each WandaVision and The Marvels.
And earlier than them—there was Halle. As in Berry. The unique X-Males Storm. The second earlier than the second. She wore white wigs and made climate manipulation horny. Berry didn’t have good scripts or deep arcs, however she gave that function presence. After which Alexandra Shipp got here by and added a brand new era of cool, taking part in the youthful Storm with metal and softness that made you would like they’d written extra for her.
These girls aren’t simply suiting up. They’re shaping tradition, elevating the bar, and strolling into each scene prefer it was written for them—even when it wasn’t.
This isn’t nearly fantasy. It’s about recognition. As a result of Black ladies been heroes. Quietly, loudly, in lecture rooms, courtrooms, kitchens and clinics. The display is simply lastly catching up. With Dominique now in armor and Ironheart on the rise, a brand new period is forming. One the place we get the origin story and the spin-off. One the place little Black ladies get to dream greater, fly increased and battle again—with a finances.
The long run is Black. The long run is feminine. And apparently, it’s storm-summoning, lab-built, photon-blasting and totally activated.