Reading about how long-term Thunderbolts character Songbird is going to be in the upcoming Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 game, I wondered if she was being positioned as the next "breakout" Marvel superheroine.
Things in her favor:
* unique hair
* it seems like they're totally building up a storyline where she redeems herself and ends up on the Avengers or some other team like that, which would put her in the spotlight
* unique hair
I personally like Songbird a lot, and think she has a rich characterization that has been carefully developed over time. Has she earned a place yet with Elektra, Ms. Marvel, Emma Frost, and others? Well, I think she is certainly a contender.
Plus, never underestimate the power of unique hair.
Here is an interview on the official Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 site with some of the developers where they extensively talk about Songbird's involvement with the game.
Quick! Let's have Greg Horn do a painted Songbird pin-up and kill any possible female interest in the character.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Thunderbolts fan, so I really like this idea. It might get some recognition for the T-Bolts in the eyes of the general public, which I don't think they've ever had. Songbird herself is an interesting character to spotlight, too. Her powers seem classic "magical girl" at first glance (Sings objects into existence, flys around on pink glowing energy wings), but her personality and history are very "tough girl", so that make a good contrast. Also, she has her own identity, despite being part of a team. She's not a female version of another hero (She-Hulk, Ms Marvel) or someone's girlfirend/wife (Invisible Woman, The Wasp). Her closest analouge would probably be Storm from the X-Men, a central figure in a larger group.
ReplyDeleteI know it's a long shot, but I can now hope for a T-Botls movie or cartoon for the future.
Inkwell, you're forgetting we need Land and Benes on interiors, stat!
ReplyDeleteBut do you think that she has unique hair?
ReplyDeleteI highly doubt it, I read T-Bolts, and I always confused her with the other long-haired girl in a leotard. I don't even understand what her powers are and her hair is not all that unique. Getting on the Avengers won't be a big deal, because everyone and their mothers has been on that team.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather have them rehabilitate Jessica Jones and make her a superhero again.
Wouldn't it be in your best interest to make Dagger the next break out superheroine?
ReplyDeleteYou forgot boobs.
ReplyDeleteAt least one Thunderbolt is going to cross-over, it's only the next logical step in the story.
ReplyDelete* it seems like they're totally building up a storyline where she redeems herself and ends up on the Avengers or some other team like that, which would put her in the spotlight
ReplyDeleteUm, you do remember Avengers Forever, right? The Busiek/Pacheco (I think) series which brought together Avengers from throughout their history, including some who had never been seen as Avengers before: Captain Marvel's son (Genis-Vel) and Songbird.
It's bound to happen someday.
Just out of curiosity - who did you consider to be the last breakout Marvel Superheroine? Jessica Jones?
ReplyDeleteNo opinion on this one, since I don't read Thunderbolts.
As long as she never wears those gold shoulderpads/armor thingies again, I'm totally fine with this.
ReplyDeleteRe: Unique Hair
ReplyDeleteWhile she has some similarities with Storm and Rogue, I can't think of anyone else with the "White with Pink Streaks" scheme. I wouldn't discount the power of hair to make a character, either. Would Norman Osborn be the same without the "Osborn Ripple"? Would Superman be more or less interesting without the Spit Curl?
How can Songbird's hair be unique when Rogue has looked like that for 20 years?
ReplyDelete...and I just don't understand why the comics industry insist on making good guys and gals out of popular villains. This "sympathy for the devil" thing has got to stop. The appeal to them as villains was that they were free from society's code of conduct. Making them like heroes, Venom, Vengeance et al. eliminates their effectiveness.
Oh yea... when is Gen. Thad Ross going to sue them for name copyright infringements?
Kurt Busiek's Thunderbolts is a favorite of mine. I'm a little surprised Marvel hasn't collected those stories.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's about ****ing time they made her an Avenger. They've been foreshadowing that since Avengers Forever. (Though how she can be best friends with the now deceased Wasp I have no idea.)
some one had to take wasp's spot.
ReplyDelete...and I just don't understand why the comics industry insist on making good guys and gals out of popular villains.
ReplyDeleteScreaming Mimi was popular?
Don't forget about Spider-Woman. They need more females because they know there are more girls reading comics. Elektra and Storm are a little out of the spot right now. Wanda Maximoff is a very good choice too.
ReplyDeleteI'm just scared that this will cement Songbird's cookie-cutter physique. I always liked that the character was that (at least as originally designed) she wasn't top-heavy. But her time in the spotlight is LONG overdue... and dag nabbit, now I gotta go read Avengers Forever again.
ReplyDeleteHey, maybe her secret power is sleeping with Zemo...or trying to kill her teammates. Because thats who Songbird is.
ReplyDeleteSince I just watched Wonder Woman, I find it amazingly weird that Marvel is trying empower one of the supporting females while DC is seemingly trying to destroy their main female.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea who she is or what her powers are but she looks cool and that is really 65% of the battle imo. I do hope she is not one of those "scream at things and they shatter" people.
ReplyDelete--Since I just watched Wonder Woman, I find it amazingly weird that Marvel is trying empower one of the supporting females while DC is seemingly trying to destroy their main female.--
ReplyDeleteI guess I got lost on the connection here with the Wonder Woman DVD and what you said.
"...and I just don't understand why the comics industry insist on making good guys and gals out of popular villains. This "sympathy for the devil" thing has got to stop. The appeal to them as villains was that they were free from society's code of conduct. Making them like heroes, Venom, Vengeance et al. eliminates their effectiveness."
ReplyDeleteI agree that Marvel's been overdoing this of late, especially with the Dark Avengers (I'm amazed at how many supporters ONorman Osborn has on the CBR forums who think he's an "anti-hero". Sheesh!)
But with Songbird's case, I think it's justified. This would be a natural progression and a fitting reward for her character, who's been shown to turn her life around the hard way over the years. And I just plain like her!
"I guess I got lost on the connection here with the Wonder Woman DVD and what you said."
ReplyDeleteI didn't like the movie at all. I thought it was trying too hard to do something it didn't need to do.
"I'm amazed at how many supporters Norman Osborn has on the CBR forums who think he's an "anti-hero""
A prime example of how fans of anything will "like" it just because it's IT. You would not believe the things I've heard Joss Whedon fans say in defense of Dollhouse.
Doesn't she just have Rogue's hair?
ReplyDelete