Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: Who is America Chavez?

Could it be possible that the primary protagonist of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness wasn’t Doctor Strange?  America Chavez, a teenager with incredible talents and a bright future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, takes the spotlight away from the doctor. Who is America Chavez, truly, beyond the MCU and the controversy?

MCU: America Chavez

Compared to the rest of the Avengers, America Chavez is a relatively new. She has evolved very minimally in the transition from the comic book to the cinematic medium. In regards to aesthetics and skills, the Marvel Studios heroine is quite similar to the one from the comic book. Though, the events surrounding the deaths of her two moms, and consequently her Origin Story, change substantially.

As shown in the MCU, America Chavez is from a world that exists side by side with Earth 616. When she was a child, she unintentionally triggered a dimensional vortex that sent her parents to another reality.

Image Courtesy of Marvel Entertainment

We see her return a few years later, this time helping one of the countless Doctor Stranges who inhabit the multiverse. Xochitl Gomez, well known for her role in Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club, portrays the character (2020). Like her comic alter ego, she can create interdimensional gateways and cause a stellar explosion.

Comics: The Origin

Joe Casey (Uncanny X-Men, The Intimates, Adventures of Superman) and Nick Dragotta developed the character America Chavez for the House of Ideas. Vengeance #1, released in September 2011, was the debut appearance of this character, who subsequently met the Young Avengers, a squad of superheroes in the Marvel world that is constantly expanding.

It was announced in March 2017 that America Chavez will get her own series, a project designated to author Gabby Rivera.

Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics

This superheroine, sometimes known as “America Chavez,” comes out in the comics as a lesbian. This makes her the first Latin American member of the LGBTQ+ community to be featured in a publication.

As mentioned above, she can create gateways between realms that look like stars. Additionally, she has superhuman strength and speed and even some degree of invincibility. It’s because of this that she is able to travel across realities, and even in time.

LGBTQ+ Superhero Controversy

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was disallowed in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Kuwait only days before it was supposed to open in theaters. For what reason? Some nations in the Middle East find the participation of America Chavez, an LGBTQ+ character raised by two moms, and her presumed sexual orientation (assuming the MCU preserves the comics) inappropriate.

Image Courtesy of VOA News

For more content, make sure you subscribe to our push-notifications and never miss an update from the world of video games, cinema, and sports. You can also follow us on Twitter @spieltimes for the latest PS5 restock and drop. Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Gaming!