Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness It’s not just about Stephen Strange and his personal troubles – the Sam Raimi film also introduces a brand new superhero to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: the star-studded America Chavez.
Who is America Chávez? How did it come about? Read on for the Marvel Comics story behind the girl who can kick holes in the universe.
[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.]
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Image: Marvel Studios
Played by young actress Xochitl Gomez, America Chavez catches Doctor Strange’s attention for her ability to create portals between the dimensions of the multiverse and manifest giant star shapes in the air that she can kick or punch to shatter open ones Door.
For a film adaptation that works with a high-profile superpower and a high-profile origin story, Multiverse of Madness‘s version of America is surprisingly close to her Marvel Comics incarnation – minus some confidence and experience. But according to Gomez, that was on purpose.
“You can definitely see the early stages of what the future America could become,” the actress said said Marvel.com. “I took stuff from the comics and loosened it up a bit as she has less experience. She’s younger than any of her known appearances in the comics and I think it shows. It was a fun challenge to explore what a younger and less experienced America could be, but also to hint at the serious leader she was about to become. I wanted to keep that childish energy and a little bit of that fake confidence.”
Multiverse of Madness gives only a glimpse of America’s home dimension and her mothers before her powers first manifested and she accidentally plunged herself and her family into different universes. But for clues as to where America has been and where it’s going, we can look no further than the comics.
Who is America Chavez in Marvel Comics?
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Image: Al Ewing, Kenneth Rocafort/Marvel Comics
Though she was created by Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta for 2011 Revenge No. 1, America’s backstory, her iconic star-kicking power, and her lesbian identity wouldn’t be enumerated until 2013 Young Avengerscreated by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie.
In an issue drawn by Christian Ward, Ward and Gillen noted that America came from a dimension called the utopian parallel, in which their parents were a slashed lesbian couple and co-rulers of a utopian paradise universe. With no problems to solve or heroic feats to accomplish, America resented her multiverse powers to find a place where her superpowers and flying abilities were actually needed. Because great power comes with multiversal responsibility.
America has appeared in numerous comics over the years, some better than others. But a list of their biggest hits would probably be their team books: Young Avengers (2013), ultimatums (2015) and West Coast Avenger (2018). Recently, America’s entire backstory has been retconned to be much more mundane, but with Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness If she takes the utopian parallel path, it’s a pretty safe bet that her comics will eventually veer in that direction again. And anyway, it was shit and stupid.
Oh, too! America has a superhero codename – Ms. America – but she hardly ever uses it.
Does Marvel have any other plans for America Chavez?
At the moment, Marvel Studios hasn’t announced any further plans to use America Chavez in an upcoming Disney Plus series or movie. But in classic MCU style, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness neatly positions America for her next adventure: learning how to control her portal powers in Kamar-Taj, and finding and rescuing some mothers somewhere in the multiverse.
