Marvel: Why a Squirrel Girl Series Still Needs to Happen
Back in 2017, it was revealed that Freeform had ordered a New Warriors series from Marvel. And in 2018, we learned the series would largely focus on Doreen Green aka Squirrel Girl. The showrunner, Kevin Biegel, tweeted some images from the show recently, along with his account of why the show was canceled, as Gizmodo reports.
While the content has now been deleted, Biegel alleged that the series was never made because one executive was opposed to its LGBTQIA+ representation. He said that executive was not Jepp Loeb, who left marvel after the shuttering of its TV division.
Of course, it has not been confirmed exactly what happened. But the behind the scenes images Biegel shared have sparked new interest in the series among fans. Here are a few reasons why we still need a series starring Squirrel Girl.
An opportunity for positive representation
If the rumors are accurate, it’s even more of a shame that the series was canceled. Any opportunity for positive LGBTQIA+ representation in the world of superhero comics is important. What’s significant about Squirrel Girl, in particular, is that one of her teammates, Ken Shiga, aka Koi Boi, is transgender.
Ken is a computer science student at Empire State University. Koi Boi can talk to fish and has the ability to breathe underwater, enhanced strength, and impressive agility. Many fans would appreciate the opportunity to see this fun, endearing character on screen.
A chance to promote a positive body image
Doreen is, of course, pretty slim. She wears straight sizes and, if she lived in the real world, would likely benefit from thin privilege. But still, she’s not as impossibly slender as many of the other female characters see in the comic book world. And a show with her as the star could offer an opportunity to showcase a character who has a healthier body image.
There are various periods in the comics where she’s quite intentionally drawn as being curvier than the standard female superhero physique. Take Ryan North and Chip Zdarsky’s run, with art by Erica Henderson and Joe Quinones, for example. Throughout these comics, we see Doreen in outfits that are not overly revealing. Her arms and legs are strong and muscular, as you’d expect of someone with her physical strength who regularly fights supervillains.
It’s difficult to overstate the importance of this kind of representation. Because she is a young woman herself, a character like Doreen is likely to have a fan base that includes a lot of young women and girls. And seeing a character who looks like Doreen being celebrated as a hero has the potential to have an important impact. And of course, it’s important for men and people of all genders to see representations of characters who are comfortable with their bodies.
Marvel’s Squirrel Girl celebrates her geekiness
An important part of what so many fans love about Doreen is the fact that she enthusiastically embraces her geekiness. She is a computer science student who ardently loves her chosen field. And she’s not afraid of showing how much she loves it.
Doreen isn’t someone who tries to be cool. In a world where so many superheroes are portrayed as the epitome of coolness, Doreen just has no interest in that. She is the way she is, and she doesn’t try to tone herself down just to fit in. It’s an important message and it would be great to see it on screen.
