Geek Syndicate Issue 8 | Page 58

Geek Syndicate
Those Other Marvel Heroes …
Both Thor and Thor: The Dark World can wear their
Bechdel badges with pride, meeting all three criteria of the test.
2008’s The Incredible Hulk fails miserably (in more
ways than one, but I’m not going there), as does
Captain America: The First Avenger. One might argue
that the latter is simply channelling the spirit of
the time in which it was set, but it’s an argument
that I’d politely suggest is utter boohockey. This
is a film that makes a point of its strong, accomplished heroine.
Agent Peggy Carter’s appeal is both in her brains
and metaphorical balls. Yes she’s a woman in a
man’s world but there are others there too... granted, they don’t have names, but they exist. For instance, there’s that blonde one what snogs Steve
(Private Lorraine, according to IMDB), prompting a bit of burgeoning jealousy in Ms Carter.

Image © Marvel Studios, 2011

Would an entirely justifiable stern word from senior officer to subordinate have been so difficult
to squeeze into the script? I admit, it would’ve
been a man-centric conversation, but at least
it would’ve been something. And it would have
made sense.

Agent Peggy Carter. Not enough to save The First Avenger, especially without interraction with Pvt. Lorraine!

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