Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Marvel Comics Axel Alonso

Details

  • Description

    Axel Alonso talks about Latinos in Marvel Comics.

  • Duration 8:45
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

The diversity here with Fox News Latino.

And I have the privilege of interviewing the editor in chief of Marvel Comics.

Axel Alonso by to join us they really appreciate it happy to be here now.

I was reading.

-- avengers which is what your new comic books for the full -- -- thing but I'm getting into.

And one of the characters it took me by surprise as Miss America -- So.

We also look at last year you had miles morale -- was a big addition to the marvel universe he's the new ultimate Spider-Man.

Is that a new initiative the Marvel Comics is doing we we go along with the Latinos now -- I wouldn't call.

-- initiative I mean wobble for decades has had a proud tradition are reflecting the world in his diversity.

So we didn't start with me I assure you that -- members -- kid.

Reading comic books and some of my favorite characters were -- cage power man who was black change he master come -- who was Asian and the white tiger who Spanish.

Let's talk about Miss America jealous that she she kind of captivated me have you have you revealed what exactly what ethnicity she is besides we know she's a -- -- But what it's a good question we don't know she comes from the future world where.

Where she is Hispanic it's not specified exactly.

What type of Hispanics I'm sure that'll be one of the interest to mysteries to be solved in the in the book it's not gonna be like the -- on the fake Latin country and predators in this that was I doubt that very much here.

But and -- it's really interesting that in comic books the last few years and -- -- marvels kind of taken the lead miles morale of the big media event for you guys.

He's half black half Latino.

And now you got Miss America Chavez is is it important that you reflect the diversity -- -- you know the United States is having right now I mean we're talking immigration.

And all kinds of things there are going on in the country.

There are a lot of Latinos were supposedly supposed to be the majority.

In 2042 and -- -- -- -- because you also are lucky and absolutely well look I mean I'd be lying.

If I said -- wasn't motivated.

On a personal level to have Hispanic characters representing comic books but this isn't some PC initiative this is really -- is capitalism this is about supply and demand.

People are out there reading or comic books of all shapes sizes creeds and colors and it's our responsibility and make them feel included.

You know when we made the decision to kill Peter Parker ultimate Spider-Man and replace -- with miles Morales.

You know for us it was about many things but one of the things was the joy of knowing that there were don't.

A child out there who would see Spider-Man killed -- -- to reveal a different face in the face that resembled the -- Is that important that these kids at home get to see a superhero.

That looks just like them I think it's very important one is most.

Meaningful letters I got.

The morning the news broke of miles Morales was from.

A Wall Street broker who emailed me and said.

That he was about to make his first trip to the comic -- -- To pick up a copy of ultimate comics Spider-Man so he can bring it home to his son.

So that his son could see his favorite superhero now -- himself and I I just don't think you can put you can't underestimate the impact that has in the young child.

Now you know you look back at the history of of -- of comic books.

And it's funny to think you know a lot of a lot of the old ones that are done in the sixties and seventies it was a lot of of stereotypes.

One -- that bit -- -- obsessed with and it's not so much a stereotype but you know the armadillo who was a Mexican American.

It's kind of -- he's kind of a villain he used to be a you know he wanted to help somebody's girlfriend I believe it was.

And he got caught up yelled at the same super hero ghost story but here's this Mexican American villain slash anti hero.

What what what what is -- is an important you to move away from these stereotypes I mean you don't -- -- have.

A guy with a sombrero and a big mustache fighting people do you.

You know I think it's it's interesting question because I think sometimes you.

You have the it common sense prevails I think sometimes get to lean into the stereotype in the fund their II he recently was involved in.

The conceptualize and in the creation of choose Mexican superheroes -- -- the -- Brothers who are marvel dawn on my cousins in Mexico.

-- -- -- -- -- -- And these guys are Mexican wrestlers -- guys address their Fuld who got in there they're dressed in the forward -- with the masks and then pants -- me.

They tag team each other because -- only one of them can manifest -- the same time.

And it is that a little mister typical yep it's also fund is part of our culture.

I grew up going to these things that you know so so again and -- -- I don't quite feel it but with the guys think there's a part of Brothers -- do you look back at some of you I mentioned some of my favorite characters from the seventies.

Luke cage you're far higher was modeled on the blaxploitation flicks of that era.

Shang chi master come -- was wounded in the martial arts flicks the thing the Bruce -- flicks up so they think they being reflected pop culture.

Bomb they were a little bit -- slightly authoritative but that they were fun they were good pulp fun.

Like I said sometimes it's good to just lean into that punch have some fun -- that embrace it.

I I do agree -- -- though I think that.

I've been a -- for eleven years and I know that when -- first came to marvelous sample was catalog just like -- DC I asked myself where Hispanics.

Right and and we'll look -- also those characters were updated through time and that you guys really pay attention to the continuity of the of the character in the universe.

And -- Luke Luke cage went from blaxploitation guide to.

Two I I would say who really cool awesome black guy -- -- -- black and super powerful.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- And this is where -- comic dumb becomes little picky and I wanted to kind of -- on this one.

So morale -- isn't in the mainstream universe though he's in the ultimate universe.

Chavez's in the mainstream universe is part of -- team why haven't.

Why have an -- care to become as big as its Captain America -- -- Or some of those iconic characters why haven't or are we gonna try to do something like that -- the future.

I would just say why -- -- become that yet I think it's inevitable.

You know with all the cultural trends and the way that Hispanics emerged as a a voting bloc.

Antenna and a blocked a vote -- this money.

It's inevitable.

You know we we -- the currents of time sometimes we -- stay ahead of the curve as much as we can.

-- we can't force an audience for anything I I been asked and on countless occasions.

Since liking to normal so dude when you can create -- good Mexican superhero.

And I said look you can't force that's.

You don't go in saying all right.

This week and in creating great super Mexican superhero what you do is you.

Let that evolve naturally.

And when that when -- opportunity emerges you strike.

You know we did miles Morales we talked about the notion of doing a black Spider-Man before that an African American Spider-Man.

And we realize we were telling the story that would result in the death of Peter Parker.

And the question emerged will who's gonna replace him.

That was when we start to sculpt an identity for this new Spider-Man -- involved.

The Hispanic community -- well so again these ideas evolve over time is not an assembly line not creating -- here.

And does so.

Like I said I didn't have the bottom runs in my head when I first came to normal they came along.

And and and I'm certain that somewhere out there right now is the great Hispanic superhero who pop.

The way that you know Iron Man for -- for -- do.

Is it harder to pushed a new character that you've created or someone's created.

Then say you know some of these classic characters -- have been around forever and -- on them.

Absolutely -- the characters it and have existed for decades have home court advantage they built up identification.

Over time.

You know Spider-Man is the most recognizable -- around the world and he he -- extremely well with young children because.

A little baby.

When he sees vitamin my son speaking for myself and my -- Spider-Man all -- saw was a cool guy dressed in red and blue could stick to walls and and swing from the sky.

He saw no racial identity -- saw was Spiderman.

It's -- until it's vitamin -- back that mask that he becomes Peter Parker.

Or in the case of the ultimate universe miles -- so yeah these characters have a prohibitive home court advantage because they've been around for years to become iconic so.

Maybe the -- to -- -- character he might be in -- -- right now.

Growing and emerging and evolving to the point that ten years from now.

He is that -- Well Axel Alonso really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us today I think that's a great place ended right there.

And -- we look forward to future let deal superheroes coming up from Marvel Comics count on it.

All right.

Load More