Marvel Read-Through: Avengers #200
cw: rape, sexual assault
I’ve been dreading this since I started this blog. Actually no, it goes as far back as when I came up with the idea for this blog. One of the worst moments in all of comic book history, and arguably the most hated Marvel comic of all time (its only competition would be One More Day): the landmark Avengers #200. Because when you hit a big number like 200 issues, you’ve got to make it a big one. And this is definitely a big one, but not in a good way at all.
Let’s first back up to Avengers #190. The Avengers are going to court over the sanctions imposed on them by supe-hating Henry Gyrich all the way back in the Korvac Saga. The hearing is interrupted by none other than the Grey Gargoyle, but by defeating him the Avengers prove their heroism so they are given back their security clearance and autonomy. It’s a low-key resolution to the whole Gyrich story, I would say it’s ill-fitting. This is something that has been going on for two years in publication time and it’s all wrapped up by a simple fight with a D-list villain. Matt Murdock as the team’s lawyer was cool though.
After a Wonder Man-led quest in Pittsburgh, a perfectly fine but not notable two issues, some shakeups occur in the lineup: Falcon quits as there is no longer a diversity mandate and he never wanted to be on the team anyway, and Wonder Man officially rejoins. This is a very classic lineup variation, only missing Scarlet Witch who is on leave, and Yellowjacket who ends up with the team for the next five-or-so issues anyway. I like it. I like seeing the history. It’s why I’m doing this.
I also really like the guest appearance from Ant-Man. His team up with Yellowjacket and Wasp is a fun adventure with the shrinking heroes. His personality is becoming more defined as the goofy jokester. He even acknowledges that he’s new to superheroing and has room for improvement, eliminating my previous gripes about the character. David Michelinie is an excellent writer, I just had to give him more time with the character. But it’s the big character introduction here that makes this truly memorable: Taskmaster! One of my favorite villains (and really an all-around fan favorite) has now been created. I was thrilled to see that his snarky characterization was there from the start. In just his first issue, I saw the quippy, cocky, asshole I know and love.
There’s so much to love about this story. All the characters are given their own personalities and voices. Everyone stands out in their own way. Michelinie balances multiple long-term character arcs without the book feeling overstuffed. It’s team-book writing 101. Whether it’s Beast’s silliness, Jocasta’s concerns about being a machine rather than human, Vision yearning for Wanda to return, or Iron Man choosing to let Cap be team leader, it’s all fleshed out and spotlighted. No one feels like a background character. It is quite possibly the best team writing I’ve ever read, even if everything after Taskmaster was boring plot-wise.
I also have to mention that I found out that Godzilla exists in the main Marvel 616 universe. Weird.
I think the interlude issue between the Taskmaster and the Red Ronin arcs is a major reason for the character work standing out. With little to no action, the group gets a chance to live and focus on themselves as people. Beast and Wonder Man getting drunk together was a great touch! George Pérez takes on art duties as of issue #194 and every single thing about it is beautiful. This is top of the line artwork. Every page, every panel, every square inch of comic is gorgeous. I truly get why he’s one of the most beloved artists. Avengers #200 might just be the best-looking terrible comic.
And now for the infamous 200th issue. It’s titled “The Child is Father To…?” but commonly referred to as “the rape of Ms. Marvel” and that’s all you need to know to figure out why it is so hated. You see, there was a subplot going on for a few issues now where Ms. Marvel finds out she’s pregnant, which she claims is impossible. Her pregnancy moves at a fast-pace and she’s going into labor after just a couple of days. There are some nice moments between her and the Scarlet Witch, and the whole thing wouldn’t be so terrible, if not for the explanation in issue #200. She also reveals her identity to Wanda and then to the whole team, which makes everything feel even worse since this is about Carol the person, not Ms. Marvel the superhero.
Carol gives birth to a son, Marcus, who continues to age rapidly. He eventually reveals that he is the son of Immortus, left abandoned in his father’s limbo dimension where time does not exist. Due to his nature as a limbo-being, he cannot safely go to Earth, so he kidnapped Ms. Marvel, brainwashed her into falling in love with him, impregnated her with himself, and returned her to the exact moment of kidnapping with no memory of the whole ordeal. Here’s some excerpts from Marcus’ explanation:
If this whole incest-rape thing wasn’t enough, after Hawkeye destroys Marcus’ machine that will allow him to live on Earth safely, Carol decides that she’s in love with him and goes to live with him in the limbo dimension. None of the other Avengers question anything, save for Iron Man whose skepticism is immediately dismissed by Carol. Her trauma is completely ignored and is portrayed as a romance. It’s awful. She calls Marcus her son but is also romantically interested in him despite him admitting to raping her. She even said at one point during the pregnancy that her body has been used and she feels violated. But that somehow goes out the window and she gets a happily-ever-after with her rapist.
One thing that stood out to me is the team’s collective reaction to Carol’s pregnancy and birth. They are all so excited for her. She is obviously not happy but the whole team acts like it’s the greatest thing in the world for her. This lineup really feels like a group of friends-turned-family. They all care for each other on a personal level, so why are they so dismissive of Carol’s feelings? Even when the rape is revealed, no one bats an eye. I hate this entire issue.
Nothing I’m saying here is new. This is a hated comic for good reason. It’s absolutely disgusting. A symptom of the misogyny that plagues American superhero comics, but taken to the worst possible place. Maybe it would feel a little less icky if Marcus didn’t use his father’s machines to manipulate Carol’s feelings (it would still be atrocious though). Avengers #200 should NEVER have been published. This thing is so bad, editor-in-chief and credited writer Jim Shooter has apologized for it (but he does deny writing it).
As a man I’m probably not the best to be commenting on this but I think this comic is so overtly heinous that anyone should be able to see it and point it out. I’ll share an excellent essay by Carol A. Strickland written shortly after the comic’s publication that I highly encourage you to read. I believe it is the origin of the “rape of Ms. Marvel” moniker. I’ll link it here: https://carolastrickland.wordpress.com/ms-marvel/
A stain on Marvel’s history. Just the absolute worst of the worst of comics.
Issues read:
Avengers #190–200
Favorite issue: #196 for Taskmaster
Next time: Things are looking up with Days of Future Past on the horizon!
