Marvel Rivals has just lately launched the Improbable 4 to its roster, and like the opposite heroes and villains, they’ve obtained designs meant to seize the spirits of the characters whereas giving them a contemporary game-oriented really feel. Amongst them is the Invisible Lady, and because of the sport’s behind-the-back digital camera, one factor is obvious: Susan Storm-Richards has fairly a butt.
Huge buttocks and thick thighs are widespread today, so this isn’t notably shocking in and of itself. Nevertheless, the truth that they might give Sue a physique in that route makes me understand one thing: Maybe no different character in superhero comics extra totally displays the evolution of traits in feminine magnificence requirements than the Invisible Lady.
In my have a look at VTuber Takanashi Kiara’s Nineteen Eighties-inspired aerobics outfit, I discussed that its emphasis on a extra voluptuous decrease physique doesn’t match the dominant skinny aesthetic that existed again then. The Invisible Lady goes again even additional in time, to the introduction of The Improbable 4 in 1961. And whereas she’s not alone in that regard (there are feminine heroes who’ve been round far longer than her), the distinction is that Susan has only a few particular iconic options that outline how she’s “supposed” to look.
The Invisible Lady is supposed to be very engaging (sufficient that Namor is consistently infatuated together with her), however to not the extent of a manslayer just like the Enchantress. Aside from being blonde, she’s not related to particular bodily options, like Energy Woman and her massive chest or She-Hulk and her muscular inexperienced physique. Her costume isn’t notably iconic or defining, like with Supergirl or Psylocke. And her powers are literally much less conducive to establishing her visible identification in comparison with most others, together with her teammates—”stretchy with graying temples,” “man fully on fireplace,” and “massive rock man” are immediately identifiable in a approach Sue isn’t.
So over the course of six a long time, Sue’s look has modified again and again. Her hairstyles have included lengthy, quick, straight, curly, easy, coiffed, Mary Tyler Moore, mullet, and all the things in between. Her costumes have ranged from conservative to astoundingly daring: form-fitting, skin-tight, that well-known design from the Nineteen Nineties with the cleavage-exposing “4” on her chest. Whereas she’s typically skinny, pretty busty, and fairly, her proportions have all fluctuated a bit. To some extent, this may be chalked as much as particular person artists’ tastes, however I feel it’s notable that they’ll mess around this a lot together with her design in comparison with different feminine superheroes.
Within the context of Marvel Rivals, the Invisible Lady appears to be influenced by two elements apart from “massive butts are in.” First, there’s Sue’s standing within the Marvel Universe as a type of matron of superheroes attributable to her age and expertise. Second, Marvel Rivals is clearly making an attempt to be the subsequent Overwatch, and that features its repute for horny characters who’re arguably extra well-known than the video games themselves. In different phrases, the Invisible Lady could be very Twenty first-century MILF-coded, not in contrast to Elastigirl from The Incredibles—a collection that itself clearly attracts numerous inspiration from the Improbable 4.
If the Invisible Lady is getting consideration once more in ten years’ time, I’m wondering how she’ll look then.
