Marvel announces the new smartest person in the universe

[lordultimus]

Source: newsarama.com

Marvel Comics has demonstratively pushed to diversify their superhero line the last couple of years - a push that seems to continue to gain steam. Now the publisher is seemingly making a point to call attention what they announced somewhat innocuously at Comic-Con International: San Diego on Sunday - that none of the usual braintrust of Reed Richard (or his daughter Valeria), Tony Stark, Peter Parker, Amadeus Cho, T’Challa, or even Doctor Doom for that matter, are considered the smartest person in the Marvel Universe. Instead, Marvel’s top genius is officially (or at least will be) little Lunella Lafeyette, the nine-year-old hero of Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur.

The announcement of Lunella’s status was made, somewhat off-handedly, in SDCC’s Women of Marvel panel by Marvel’s Director of Content and Character Development Sana Amanat, who may be best known as one of the co-creators of the current Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan, the character that may have been the flashpoint for Marvel's aggressive diversity push.

"Moon Girl will discover she's the smartest person in the Marvel Universe at only 9 years old," said Amanat Sunday, referring to an upcoming story in the planned relaunch of Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur as part of "Marvel NOW!"



Interestingly and importantly, Lunella isn’t just the smartest person in the Marvel Universe, she’s also black and female – two characteristics not typical for the Marvel’s usual cast of super-geniuses. Female scienctific super-genuises are rare for either of the two major comic book publishers, relatively even more so, in fact, than black super-genuines. The role has been historically filled by males, a product of both major publishers' superhero lines' birth in the late 30s and early 60s, respectively.

Naming the smartest person in the Marvel Universe a nine-year-old black female is definitely grounbreaking, a fact that seems to have subsequently occurred to Marvel over the last couple of days. While not initially promoted by the publisher as a convention announcement, Marvel seems to be pushing the story through more 'mainstream' news outlets such as Buzzfeed and Teen Vogue over the last two days.

It was not made clear how Lunella earns the lofty status of being the smartest person in the Marvel Universe, whether it’s a product of great minds like Reed Richards, Tony Stark, and Bruce Banner potentially being off the table because of the events of Secret Wars or the possible outcome of Civil War II, or if she discovers she's just plain smarter than everyone else.

Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur will relaunch as part of Marvel NOW!, likely with an added emphasis on the pressures of being the smartest person alive.

Comments

[lordultimus]

Why do I see it going something like this:

Tony Stark: This is the Macguffin equation. I, Reed Richards, Hank Pym, and some other smart guys have been working on it for years but we've never been able to-

Lunella: Here you go.

Tony: UH-WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA?????????????

[crinos]

Or better yet:

Tony: The universes are colliding with one another, we have to destroy one to keep the others safe.

Lunella: Or you could not do that. I designed these space time bracers that will keep the universes from colliding. And the best part is, they will naturally degrade over time, and by the time they are gone the universe wont be colliding anymore. Its like Braces, but for the multiverse.

Tony: Oh come on, there's no way that will.... *Looks over the blueprints* Huh, the math actually checks out. I think, its a little dense...

Lunella: You need a calculator Mr. Stark? I have a calculator.

Tony: Um, no no... I can get it.... Excuse me I need to call some people in a hurry.

*Later*
Tony *To the rest of the Illuminati*: Okay guy, I got us a new member for the Illuminati. Now before anyone says anything. I want you to keep an open mind. Also keep in mind she has a pet dinosaur.

Lunella: PARTNER!

Tony: Excuse you?

Lunella: Devil Dinosaur is my PARTNER. NOT A PET.

Tony: My mistake.

Dr. Strange: Why is there a little girl with you?

Lunella: Hi, I'm Moon Girl. Tony asked me to join your group since I helped with that whole universe colliding thing.

Reed: That was you?

Lunella: Anyways my mom made Snickerdoodles. Anyone want any?

*After a few seconds of Silence, Black Bolt raises his hand*

[insolent_one]

We need this in a What If story. At the very least. It's awesome.

[icon_uk]

>>Applause!<<

I want to read this comic!