Gabby Rivera: The story of Marvel's first queer Latina superhero | TED

TL;DR

In this inspiring talk, writer Gabby Rivera shares how she infused softness and vulnerability into the story of a Latina lesbian superhero, America Chavez, to empower and uplift queer kids of color.

Transcript

At no point did I think superheroes would become such a huge part of my life. As a kid, I looked at them, and I saw everything I wasn't. They had big muscles, supermodel good looks, and phenomenal cosmic powers. And me? I kind of looked like this, except shorter and with frizzier hair, and I never felt powerful. I was always just one big ball of ne... Read More

Key Insights

• 💪 Superheroes had always seemed unattainable for the speaker, who felt insecure and not powerful. However, they found their own superheroes in the strong Puerto Rican women in their family.
• 🗣️ The speaker drew inspiration for storytelling from the wild and entertaining tales shared by Puerto Rican women in their family.
• 🌈 The speaker wrote a young-adult novel that focused on a chubby, queer Puerto Rican girl navigating her identity and sexuality.
• 🔥 Marvel Comics selected the speaker to write the solo series for their first-ever Latina lesbian superhero, America Chavez, and fans were excited that someone who shared her identities would be writing her story.
• 🧠 The speaker wanted to give America Chavez, a tough and strong character, the permission to be soft and vulnerable, a trait that was not often seen in the Bronx.
• 📚 America Chavez's story took place in Justice Sonia Sotomayor University, a place where she could feel safe, represented, and liberated as a queer Latina superhero.
• ⚡️ America Chavez had to learn to find her own strength and vulnerability, even with limited powers and in challenging situations.
• 💕 Softness and vulnerability, combined with accountability and justice, can help individuals transcend their everyday selves and become something greater.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were the author's initial feelings towards superheroes as a child?

As a child, the author felt that superheroes were everything she wasn't - with big muscles, supermodel good looks, and amazing powers. She saw herself as a nervous, soft ball of energy who didn't fit that image of strength and power.

Q: Who were the author's superheroes growing up?

The author's superheroes were the Puerto Rican women from the Bronx in her family. Her tías were cops and paramedics, her abuelas were seamstresses and sold jewelry, and her mom was an educator. They were the ones sitting around the dinner table with her, sharing their powerful and wild stories.

Q: How did the author begin her journey into storytelling?

The author found her way into storytelling through the funny, goofy, and gentle aspects of the stories told by the Puerto Rican women in her family. She wrote down those soft threads and eventually wrote a young-adult novel called "Juliet Takes a Breath" about a chubby, queer Puerto Rican girl navigating her identity.

Q: How did the author become involved in writing the solo series for America Chavez, Marvel Comics' first Latina lesbian superhero?

The author's success with her novel "Juliet Takes a Breath" caught the attention of Marvel Comics, who approached her to write the solo series for America Chavez. Readers were excited for her to write the story of a character who shared her identities - being queer and Latina.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker discusses their personal connection to superheroes and how they didn't feel powerful like them, but instead found inspiration and superhero qualities in their Puerto Rican family members.

• The speaker shares their role in writing a comic series for a Latina lesbian superhero from Marvel and emphasizes the importance of giving characters space to be human and vulnerable.

• The speaker highlights the message of their comic series, which includes the themes of self-discovery, healing, and the power of softness and vulnerability alongside strength and justice.