Marvel announced new superheroes for its upcoming New Warriors series, a pair of twins named “Safespace” and “Snowflake.”
New Warriors is a reboot of a comic book series that made its debut in 1989 and will combine old characters with new ones reflecting the culture of 2020.
“The connotations of the word ‘snowflake’ in our culture right now are something fragile, and this is a character who is turning it into something sharp,” said writer Daniel Kibblesmith. “… These are terms that get thrown around on the internets that they don’t see as derogatory. To take those words and kind of wear them as badges of honor.”
“Snowflake” will portray a hero who identifies as nonbinary and goes by the pronouns “they/them.” The series will also feature an overweight superhero named “Trailblazer,” whose power is to pull useful objects out of a “magic backpack.”
Marvel joins other entertainment initiatives in a push to become more inclusive, including a remake of Cinderella that will star a “genderless” Fairy Godmother.
Actor and singer Billy Porter, who is noted for his “gender fluidity,” announced he would take the spotlight as the Fairy Godmother, and called the move “really powerful.”
“Who I am and what I represent is very specific and really shows that this moment is about inclusivity and moving the needle towards self-acceptance and humanity and self-care and all those things,” Porter said.
