Women of Marvel

The Wasp turns 60! Janet Van Dyne is a mother figure, a good friend, a team leader, and was responsible for naming the Avengers! In honor of 60 years of the Wasp, we’re celebrating all the ways Janet has supported her friends, family, and many teams. Plus — of course — we can’t have an episode about Janet without talking about fashion!

Ellie and Preeti bring in Marvel editor Alanna Smith, Marvel’s queen of variant covers and fashion connoisseur Emily Newcomen, (real life) wasp scientist Dr. Seirian Sumner, and writer Rainbow Rowell to help explore all facets of what make Janet so special.

Check out Marvel Unlimited’s Women of Marvel Reading List for The Wasp!: https://www.marvel.com/articles/podcasts/listen-women-of-marvel-wasp-janet-van-dyne-podcast-episode-highlights

To follow along with Emily as she surveys The Wasp’s 60 years of looks, you can find Russell Dauterman’s variant cover here: https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/107651/wasp_2023_1_variant/variant

Princess Shuri is the Black Panther T’Challa’s sister and has been the Black Panther herself – and she is the ultimate scientific genius! The Women of Marvel podcast takes a look at her many scientific discoveries and inventions, how writers and actors get inside the head of a scientist like Shuri, and how she inspires young scientists in the real world.

Joining Ellie and Preeti for this scientific investigation are writers Nnedi Okorafor and Nic Stone, actors Letitia Wright and Daisy Lightfoot, and chemist and educator Dr. Sibrina Collins.

Check out Marvel Unlimited’s Women of Marvel Reading List for Shuri! https://www.marvel.com/articles/podcasts/listen-women-of-marvel-shuri-podcast-episode-highlights

And for more on vibranium and the periodic table, you can read Drs. Collins and Appleby’s Journal of Chemical Education article here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jchemed.8b00206

There’s a LOT going on in Jean Grey’s head! The first woman of the X-Men can communicate with others and move objects with her mind.

Women of Marvel hosts - editor Ellie Pyle and writer Preeti Chhibber - examine how Jean tries, succeeds, and often fails to maintain her sanity with the universe on her shoulders.

They enlist the help of X-Men: The Animated Series writer Julia Lewald, Women Write About Comics Editor-in-Chief Nola Pfau, scientist Dr. France Jackson, and cosplayer Indra Rojas to give new perspectives into Jean’s powers, mind, and cultural influence.

Check out Marvel Unlimited’s Women of Marvel Reading List for Jean Grey!:https://www.marvel.com/articles/podcasts/listen-women-of-marvel-jean-grey-podcast-episode-highlights

Women of Marvel is celebrating Women’s History month by highlighting four of the artists that are featured in the Women of Marvel exhibit at Disney Hotel NY in Disneyland Paris. Host Ellie Pyle interviews artists Peach Momoko, Elena Casagrande, Stephanie Hans, and Natacha Bustos about their their life, their journeys, and their pieces in the exhibit. 

Women of Marvel closes out our season on mentorship by bringing three “generations” of Marvel comics editors together for a roundtable conversation: Jenny Lee (Wolverine, Daredevil: Redemption, Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra), MacKenzie Cadenhead (Avengers and Power Pack, X-Men and Power Pack, New Warriors, Elektra: The Hand), and Sana Amanat (Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, The Mighty Captain Marvel). Jenny mentored Mackenzie, who mentored Sana, who is a friend and role model to our three hosts!

Valeria Richards has had a complicated life with various influences….good and bad.  In the Fantastic Four, Sue Storm is a loving mother, leader, and mentor to Valeria. Conversely, in Marvel’s Wastelander’s podcast, Valeria’s parents are dead, and the only person left who can match her intellect is Victor Von Doom. We examine and contrast these two very different mentors in Valeria’s life.

The X-Men fostered one of the greatest mentor relationships in the Marvel Universe – the one between Storm and her “Kitten”, Kate Pryde. Kitty first enrolled at Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters at age 13 and Storm helped her become the leader she is today. Marvel’s own Robyn Belt walks us through their relationship via some key 1980s X-Men issues featuring heartbreak, Cyclops, Storm’s mohawk hairstyle, and more!

Read Robyn’s 2020 Mother’s Day article on Marvel.com featuring Storm and Kitty here: “Listen to These Super Hero Moms, They Know Things”

Possibly the most visible example of female empowerment in the Marvel Universe is the relationship between Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel. We explore how Kamala’s admiration for Carol is foundational to her character, especially at the beginning – literally taking up Carol’s former mantle - and how Carol’s lessons helped Kamala grow into herself as a hero.

Women of Marvel travels to Wakanda this week to meet the incredible women in that world! Host Angélique talks to legendary artist Alitha Martinez about Wakanda in the comics and specifically Black Panther: World of Wakanda (2016). We also get a special appearance from star of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Angela Bassett – Queen Ramonda herself!

Meet Moon Girl, the certified genius 9-year-old Inhuman with a dinosaur sidekick and a pair of rollerskates! Host Angélique talks to two writers – both the writer of the upcoming Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2022) #1 and one of the co-creators of her character. They explore how a genius like Lunella can still have a lot to learn from mentors like Ms. Marvel and Wolverine and from connecting with peers as a mentor figure herself.