Captain Marvel highlights the major problem of female superheroes

Note: contains Captain Marvel spoilers

Captain Marvel continues to break the box office figures with its playful story of the character who is billed as the most powerful superhero of the Marvel film universe.

But while fans can not get enough of Carol Danvers and his teammates in the '90s, those who expect a strong feminist tour de force – a much-awaited event by the authorities before the film's release – were rather disappointed.

There is no question of criticizing the film as a powerful entertainment center. But if this is an important milestone for the MCU as the first superhero movie with a female film, it has also missed an opportunity.

As we said in our film review, it's a much more conventional superhero movie than the triumphant movie. Black Panther – It's a shame after such a long wait Captain Marvel does not feel more like the event than it should be, but only dive into the pool of feminist rage when it could have dipped deep.

This may change over time, but for the moment, Carol's stand-alone business is indicative of a larger problem regarding female superheroes in UCM.

Yes, the franchise has certainly changed in recent years and has adopted a representation in all its forms. Thor: Ragnarok, the even greater success of Black Panther and his decision to finally give us a solo Black Widow movie. However, there is still much to be done: for the women leaders of the MCU, there is always a unique approach.

What do Gamora, The Wasp, Scarlet Witch, Black Widow and now Captain Marvel have in common? They all started as imperfect characters – bad guys, actually – before realizing they were fighting for the bad guys, that they were going on the right side and then fit into the trope of "powerful women in the heart of 'gold". They are all very competent adults fighting against the good fight and – dare we say – a bit boring?

DC and the MCU tend to play safety with women at their base. But in their quest to reduce risk, the studios offer us door-capes whose personalities are underdeveloped compared to their male counterparts. (Just look at Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America – a stew of volatility, greed, carelessness, pride and misplaced honor from the start – do not even start on Batman in DC.)

Just two years ago, the DC Extended Universe featured the work of Patty Jenkins Wonder Woman, starring Gal Gadot as the first female super-heroine for more than ten years and the first female directed.

This lack of female variety shows why the MCU has kept Captain Marvel a conservative affair. We are in 2019 and we have only touched what is possible for women of this kind.

As women-led films become more and more common, we will see more and more diversity and complexity. There is no doubt that this will be a slow process, made even slower by the fact that Marvel's new show, focused on women, does not take place.

Marvel's TV wing has made steady progress in portraying female figures in the MCU – Jessica Jones is a refreshing, imperfect, unique, angry and powerful woman – though interrupting these broadcasts and the fact that they were not related to the cinematographic world meant that progress had stopped.

However, over time, we hope that this will change and Captain Marvel, for all its prosaic approach, is a giant step in the right direction for the MCU. The film may not be revolutionary in itself, but it certainly helps to build on the past, prepare for the future and create an inclusive environment.

Fans of comics will have recognized the name of Monica Rambeau. Even though she is only eleven years old in the film – interpreted acutely by actress Akira Akbar – in the books, Monica is recognized as one of the industry's most prominent black superheroes, ultimately taking the top of the Avengers' standings. Something tells us that this is only the beginning for this promising character.

Another love story for lesbians is also possible. Note the many fans who have been outraged. Carol and Maria were not announced gay Captain Marvel – as well as Brie Larson's call to the MCU to team up in the sequel of Marvel, aka Kamala Khan, the first Muslim personality to get her own comic strip.

"My dream would be that Ms. Marvel could play a role in the sequel – that's the goal," she said.

With the Black Widow film on the horizon and the murmurs of a female film exclusively composed of Marvel for the future, Captain Marvel marks the beginning of a diverse future for the MCU.

"I think it's a commitment of what's coming," said Avengers the architect Victoria Alonso. "We are determined to have more female directors. We are determined to have more female department heads and to balance our characters so that everyone can be represented. "