Disney Releases 'Echo' Trailer, The 'ComicBros' Approve
Whether the ComicBros approve or not, the MCU is alive and well, and continuing on with Phase 5. Last week, Disney released the new trailer for Echo, which is slated to drop on Disney+ on January 10, 2024.
Echo is one of those lesser known characters from the Marvel Comics, the daughter of Crazy Horse, who is killed by the mob villain, Wilson "Kingpin" Fisk. Fisk is known villain to Spiderman, Daredevil, The Punisher, and really any street-level hero who roams New York. Crazy Horse's dying wish to Kingpin is that he raise his daughter, Maya Lopez, as his own. Taking up the name, Echo, she becomes an assassin, and finds herself battling with Daredevil himself. That's the skinny version of her comic origin, but we'll see if and how Disney translates that story for this mini series.
The MCU is using its old formula for bringing these lesser known heroes to the screen to introduce different aspects, heroes, and villains from the comics for he enjoyment of its fandom, but as we've seen in the last three years since Avengers: End Game, the fandom - or as I call them, The ComicBros - haven't been too pleased with the recent line up of heroes, claiming that many of these heroes pander to social issues and wokeness.
In short, and in my opinion, female heroes seem to annoy these guys.
Spilled all across the web are videos that the MCU has gone woke, giving female characters like Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Shuri too much screentime, power, and intelligence.
No, seriously, these guys are going hard on YouTube. From hour-long videos about the MCU being "dead", to the MCU "failing", the ComicBros have gone full-blown in their attacks of recent titles, claiming that the studio hasn't released anything worthy of attention since End Game. At the center of their anger (and anguish) is She-Hulk, which aired on Disney+ last year and was a complete satire on this subgroup's frustration by presenting a female Hulk that had appeared to have more strength and personality than Bruce Banner's Hulk.
Surely, the ComicBros aren't pissed about Echo, too, are they?
Well, I recently "poked the bear", and found out in the comment section of Marvel's Instagram Post.
112 Likes later, I don't know. They seem ticked.
Despite the hundreds of replies, though, Echo has gotten quite a bit of thumbs up from the MCU fans, mainly because of its inclusion of the fan favorites like Kingpin and Daredevil, who makes a brief appearance in the trailer. Another notch for approval is Disney's first ever TV-MA rating, which means there's going to be a lot of adult content like blood, violence, and more.
If the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going to live up to its name, giving life to characters like Echo, Nova, Starfox - and yes, Mephisto - means that these characters will have to get the 2007 Ironman treatment.
While "no one asked for this" is one of the most common responses to the Echo trailer, fans likely forgot (or were too young to remember) that back before Thanos, Infinity Stones, and End Game, no one was really checking for IronMan as a front and center hero, let alone the Guardians of the Galaxy. Nonetheless, these are franchises that have birthed a multi-billion-dollar studio that has, in my opinion, been consistent in delivering great action and storylines that represent all the diversity of fans that enjoy a good superhero movie.
For Echo, representation is being given to Native American characters and communities. According to ComicBook.com, Alaqua Cox, who plays the main character, applauded the series for its authenticity as a large majority of the series is shot between New York and Oklahoma, where the character's indigenous roots will be highlighted.
All, in all, Echo looks like it's going to be the gritty, street-level action the ComicBros have been hoping for, and may shift some of the expectations of the fandom. In the best-case scenario, we may finally enjoy some silence from the nerds. In the worst case, we'll get misinformation articles like what we've seen this year on Brie Larson's expulsion from the studio, or just some general review-bombing. Time will only tell.