Comic Book Movies Are Finally Starting To Do Something They Always Should Have
Although there is still a long way to go, the recent representation of Hispanics and Latinos in comic book movies has been a delight for those who grew up wishing to see themselves on-screen as these larger-than-life superheroes. In recent years, we’ve seen Xochitl Gomez playing America Chavez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Xolo Maridueña playing Jaime Reyes in Blue Beetle, to name just a couple. From breaking stereotypes to creating diversity in comic book films, Hispanic and Latino representation on-screen paves the way for more creative and heartfelt storytelling.
Having these characters hit the big screen showcases the Hispanic and Latino communities in ways that break what was a fairly consistent portrayal of negative stereotypes in Latino communities. For years, Hispanic and Latino characters were an easy mark to be shown as criminals, undocumented immigrants, or merely bad guys waiting to be obliterated by the hero (see 2019’s Rambo: Last Blood). And it’s not just movies: As pointed out by The Gateway, racist stereotypes can be seen in kid shows such as Handy Manny, which has a Latino who’ll drop what he’s doing and work for cheap. It also doesn’t help that a lot of the time, Latinas are treated as sex objects, as seen in shows like Modern Family.
2023’s Blue Beetle is a phenomenal example of how a Hispanic character can change up what audiences can expect from big-screen superheroes. The movie captures many aspects of what makes Hispanic households unique and how those aspects directly impact a person’s character. In the film, multiple generations of Jamie Reyes’ (Maridueña) family live under the same roof, capturing how chaotic and charming they can be–having an uncle who’ll believe anything he reads on the internet and a loving grandma who’ll go above and beyond whenever you need her, for instance. The film hit on every note about why our culture is beautiful. Despite having so many cooks in the kitchen, the family sticks together, supports each other, and thrives. Each member contributes in their own way to make their family special.