Black Skin, Blue Skin: Race and Femininity in Marvel Films

This chapter considers the issue of race representation in Marvel films with specific reference to the portrayal of women of colour. Themes of whiteness and privilege run throughout each of the previous chapters; this chapter therefore interrogates many of the discourses of inclusion and equality central to some of these films, while querying the notion of a postracial culture. Continuing discussions from the previous chapters, Marvel films are positioned within a globalised, postfeminist and postracial media culture that encourages a notion of universal womanhood based on the oppression of all women. Women of colour remain marginalised in Marvel films through a range of cultural and industrial practices, regardless of the character types they play. The representations of characters such as Storm in the X-Men films and Dr Karen Jenson in Blade are discussed.