The Hollywood film industry has a plethora of powerful female superheroes that are capable of crushing men and are just as interesting and unique as their male counterparts. Along with Captain Marvel, there are numerous other female heroes that are gaining more attention and recognition for their cool appearances and compelling personalities. The superhero era has been thriving since 2008, with many superheroes gracing the big screen. One such female hero is Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson, who has gained a significant following for her impressive skills and thrilling adventures. So, while Captain Marvel may be the talk of the town, it’s important to remember that there are many other incredible female superheroes out there.
Black Widow, not Captain Marvel played by Brie Larson, is actually considered as Marvel’s first female superhero. With her identity as a Russian spy named Natasha Romanoff, she was recruited by Hawkeye portrayed by Jeremy Renner to join SHIELD. Being one of the founding members of the Avengers, Black Widow plays a crucial role in the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe today.
Black Widow is an awe-inspiring character, thanks to the Super-Soldier Serum that enhanced her strength, speed, reflexes, dexterity, and endurance. She possesses exceptional fighting skills and mastery of various martial arts. With her remarkable intelligence and tactical talent, she is fearless even in the face of formidable adversaries.
Apart from Black Widow, Storm portrayed by Halle Berry and Alexandra Shipp is also worth mentioning as a powerful female superhero in the Marvel universe.
In the X-Men movies, Storm, played by Halle Berry, may not have been a central character, but she definitely made a lasting impression. With her ability to control the weather and bring on the rain and wind, Storm is undeniably cool and just as impressive as any other superhero. While she may not be as prominent as Jean Grey in the films, Storm has always been a reliable and supportive teammate who knows just when to step up. With so many characters in the X-Men franchise, it’s important for actors to distinguish themselves, and Halle Berry did an excellent job of doing just that. Audiences will also get to see a young version of Storm, played by Alexandra Shipp, in this year’s X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Another iconic female superhero is Wonder Woman, portrayed by Gal Gadot.
Wonder Woman, portrayed by Gal Gadot, rescued the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) from its slump and propelled it towards progress. It highlighted the viability of movies with female superheroes, which had previously struggled to gain traction due to several flops. This success story indicates that a compelling plot and well-developed characters are key to the success of such films. The representation of the Amazonian warrior princess as a just and pure character is a fascinating and feminine portrayal that tactfully avoids portraying her as an extreme feminist who shuns men. Another superhero movie featuring a female lead, The Wasp, played by Evangeline Lilly, has also captured attention.
Evangeline Lilly’s portrayal of the Wasp in Ant-Man and the Wasp is arguably the highlight of an otherwise lackluster superhero movie. The character of Hope Van Dyne is strong, intelligent, and skilled in combat, making her even cooler than Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man. Though we haven’t seen much of her yet, there’s potential for more Wasp adventures in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially after the events of Avengers: Endgame. And let’s not forget about Zoe Saldana’s portrayal of Gamora, another strong and capable female character in the MCU.
In all honesty, Gamora stands out as the most capable member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. She possesses a sharp mind, impressive manipulative abilities, and excellent fighting skills, setting her apart from the rest of the team. It’s no surprise considering she was raised by Thanos, the villainous figure responsible for wiping out half the universe. Unfortunately, her connection to him ultimately led to her demise in Avengers: Infinity War. Nonetheless, with numerous fan theories suggesting her possible return, we can’t help but anticipate the potential comeback of this “blue girl”. Moving on to another powerful female character, we have Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson.
The introduction of Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie Warrior in Thor: Ragnarok left fans thrilled. Despite her potential, the character has not been fully utilized, with untapped powers like visiting the dead. While Valkyrie was missing in Avengers 3, Tessa Thompson hinted at her return in Endgame. Following Chris Hemsworth’s Marvel contract expiration, it is highly probable that the new Thor title in MCU will go to Thompson’s character. Additionally, Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner have both portrayed Jean Gray in X-Men films.
Marvel comic enthusiasts are well aware of Jean Gray’s “powerful” capabilities when influenced by the Phoenix Force in the Dark Phoenix Saga. This particular storyline has been favored by filmmakers for its gripping plot and is considered the best X-Men story till date. Nevertheless, the film adaptation of X-Men: The Last Stand failed to impress fans and was unremarkable. Consequently, fans have high hopes for the upcoming release of Dark Phoenix this year. In the original trilogy, Famke Janssen’s portrayal of Jean Gray was overshadowed by Wolverine’s character played by Hugh Jackman. However, with Wolverine’s exit, Sophie Turner’s role in the movie offers her ample opportunity to showcase her talent and develop her personality and romantic relationship with Cyclops played by Tye Sheridan. Captain Marvel will hit the cinemas on March 8th while X-Men: Dark Phoenix will be released on June 7th.