America Chavez: Has this amazing character been ruined before her MCU introduction?

Here’s how America Chavez: Made in the USA hurt her character in Marvel Comics and maybe in the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward. 

America Chavez is one of the greatest new comic book characters in recent memory. Since making her debut in 2011, she’s become one of the heavy hitters in Marvel Comics. Not just because she can punt a car and has a vast array of powers but because she will always fight for what she believes in (and because it’s usually the right thing to do). One time this even led to her coming to blows with her teammate Carol Danvers (see the Ultimates Civil War 2 crossover for that battle) and it was a fight that America Chavez could have won.

When her mini-series America Chavez: Made in the USA was announced, this writer was very excited about it. It was about time that she got another series. Her first series (The Life and Times of America Chavez by Gabby Rivera) was simply too short and, with the character set to make her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, now seems like the perfect time to display all of her awesomeness. Unfortunately, the miniseries had some drawbacks.

Changes to America Chavez’s origins

America Chavez was originally born in on planet Planeta Fuertona with two mothers for parents. When their world was threatened, they went to Utopian Parallel where she got her powers. Like most utopias, it was ruined. This led to America’s parents sacrificing themselves and sending her away. She then ends up on Earth-616 where she was raised by the Santana family.

Being linked to the Utopian Parallel was a huge part of her history. It was cool that there was a place where there were all women that were living their lives in peace. However, this series retcons that beautiful story and makes everything seem just a bit more more ordinary. She was not from an alternate dimension and her mothers were looking for a cure for her disease. That’s how she received her powers.

Why this was a bad idea

The idea of having America arrive from another plane of existence made her origins unique. Sure, we’ve seen similar stories before; just not like this. It seemed like a weird thing to change, especially with the character set to debut in the MCU in a film called Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness coming up. She could have been from a reality like the Utopian Parallel. Instead, her Marvel Comics origin was changed. It may still happen, but this could have connected the two universes instead of erasing one of them.

America Chavez’s power levels

In the beginning of her miniseries, America’s powers started quitting on her. She couldn’t fly long, she wasn’t as strong, and her interdimensional travel wasn’t working. It seemed like this would change by the end of the series. Instead, things got worse. The illness we find out she was born with is continuing to affect her abilities. In the end, she accepts what’s going on and continues to be a hero.

Why this was a bad idea

There aren’t a lot of women in the comic book world with the kind of power that America Chavez had. She went up against Captain Marvel, Blue Marvel, and Monica Rambeau at once and was going to win (Ultimates No. 10). Think about that: There are superpowered beings that have trouble fighting them individually but she did it on her own. Now, however, her power levels are just around that of any regular superpowered being.

Has this been done so that the character won’t be as powerful when she is introduced into the MCU? Is it because the character is young and she will also be young in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Hopefully not.

Being young has nothing to do with skill and power. Peter Parker, some of the X-Men, and other young heroes have saved the universe when they were her age. Think about it: Spider-Man and the original X-Men were thrown into the fire before they could legally gamble. Yet, they always seemed to save the day. It would be nice to see America whoop butt as a super strong and mature 16 year old, experiencing all of her power.

How this can be fixed

To recap, America Chavez’s backstory was rewritten, she can’t fly long distances or hop throughout the multiverse, and she’s physically weaker than she used to be. What was the point of this? Yes, she accepts her fate and shows true internal strength. But did it have to be at the sacrifice of who she was (especially when she was already a beloved character)? It didn’t add to her character. It only subtracted. The good news is, this can easily be fixed.

First things first, this could have been a standalone tale, showing us a different America Chavez in an alternate reality. That way there would be no conflict with the previous story. Or, and here’s the easy part, fix the problem in another series. Find a way to give America her powers back and let her reclaim her greatness.

What do you think? Was America Chavez: Made in USA a good story? Will this have any impact on the character’s MCU arrival? Let us know in the comments below.