‘Cool weirdo with a strong sense of justice’... Marvel unveils its new trans hero
BOSSES at Marvel Comics are introducing two transgender characters into the superhero universe.
Shela Sexton, aka Escapade, is making her debut as a ‘new trans mutant’ crusader alongside sidekick Morgan Red in a special ‘queer-centred’ edition next month.
According to the publishing giant, the duo ‘tear through the Marvel Universe as professional thieves, stealing from criminal and corrupt organisations’ accompanied by a ‘genetically engineered flying turtle’ called Hibbert.
Escapade’s superpower lies in her ability to switch physical locations and characteristics with another person.
The concept was created by transgender writer Charlie Jane Anders who told Marvel’s website that Escapade is a ‘cool weirdo’ with a ‘super strong sense of justice’.
‘If you’re holding her at gunpoint, she can reverse it so she’s holding you at gunpoint,’ Anders explained. ‘If you’re the Mayor of New York and she gets close to you, she can become the Mayor of New York for a while.
‘It’s a power that has a lot of potential pitfalls, and there are plenty of ways it can go wrong.’
Anders, who began her transition in 2001, said her characters’ transgenderism was key to the storylines, adding: ‘Morgan was there for Shela when she was first transitioning, and the two of them kind of supported each other through their transitions when they were kids.’