Marvel Studios has announced many of its upcoming shows and movies under the MCU. Along with these, the studio also announced many new characters that will join the MCU in the future. Among these new characters was a new superheroine, Sabra, who will make her MCU debut with the fourth Captain America movie. In the comics, she is a mutant who serves as a Mossad agent. The character has been the subject of controversy since his comic origin. Marvel also announced that Israeli actress and Emmy nominee Shira Haas will portray the character onscreen.
The character has been shrouded in controversy and has faced massive backlash since her announcement. For this reason, the studio chose to take a new approach with Sabra to Captain America: New World Order. Marvel Studios said, “The filmmakers are taking a fresh approach with the character introduced to the comics over 40 years ago.”
Read more: ‘She’s not a superhero’: Israel’s first superhero Sabra faces massive backlash after Captain America 4 announcement, fans say problematic character will eclipse Captain America Black
Why is the Israeli superhero facing a backlash?
Fans were unhappy with Marvel’s introduction of the character due to the controversies surrounding it. One of the controversies is over the name of the character itself. Sabra is a Hebrew term given to Jews born in historic Palestine. Many have even called the name insensitive, which evokes memories of the Sabra and Shatila massacre.
Sabra and Shatila were two Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon comprising Palestinians. These are the people who have been forced out of Palestine due to their ongoing conflict with Israel.
The Sabra and Shatila massacre of 1982 took place in Lebanon. Up to 3,500 civilians died in Palestinian refugee camps. At first, the Israeli army claimed to have surrounded the camps. But the UN later confirmed that the Israeli army had a potential role in the massacre.
After Marvel announced the character, people started commenting on how Marvel named the superhero during the Sabra and Shatila massacre in 1982. They also called out Marvel for glorifying war criminals and asking the actress Shira Haas to give up the role.
Sabra Introduction to comics
Marvel first introduced Sabra in the early 1980s with “The Incredible Hulk.” Its introduction brought Marvel comics into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the comics, she is a former Israeli Mossad security agency, introduced in the early 1980s. She was born near Jerusalem, Israel, and was with her family by the Israeli government in a kibbutz.
She is most likely a mutant with special abilities like super speed, strength, and high speed flight. She uses her powers to serve the state. She has a uniform inspired by the Israeli flag and uses weapons possessed by the Israeli army. The character shows no remorse for his action.
In the comics, she mistakes the Hulk for an Arab terrorist. She pursues him after he leaves with the body of a young Arab boy. It was the first time she showed remorse after the Hulk taught her about human values.
Read more: Captain America: New World Order features Mary Magdalene star Shira Haas as the MCU’s first Israeli superhero ‘Sabra’
Marvel takes a new approach to Sabra
Sabra will appear in the next Marvel movie Captain America: New World Order. The film is still in development. Due to the backlash, Marvel announced that they would be taking a new approach with it. It wouldn’t be the first time Marvel has done something like this.
Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight
The studio regularly hires cultural consultants to make sure they don’t include harmful stereotypes in their shows and movies. Stanford professor Priya Satia consulted Mrs Marvel, and the Egyptologist Ramy Romany consulted on Moon Knight.
They have even approached many comic book characters recently in their previous films. For example, After Marvel cast Tony Leung as Shang Chi’s father in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsit was also surrounded by much controversy.
The character, named Fu Manchu in the comics, was a racist stereotype. But, Marvel revived Xu Wenwu’s character for the movie and became one of the best and most dynamic MCU villains.
Shira Haas will star in Captain America: New World Order with Anthony Mackie. Captain America: New World Order will be released in theaters on May 3, 2024.
Source: Twitter
