How Marvel Changed My Life

Written by Shae Rufe

​I was watching Captain America: The Winter Soldier the other day, and I found it sent me into a spiral of nostalgia, and somewhat of a crisis. Because I still remember my friends coming up to me after it came out to hug me, and whisper in my ear 'Hail Hydra'. That kind of thing makes you stop trusting hugs and start reconsidering your life choices in the particular friends that keep tormenting you. Why? Well, I can honestly say that I did not see Sitwell's betrayal coming…at all. Actually, I didn't see any of these betrayals coming. Did anyone else? Am I the only one still sitting here like 'What even is this that just happened?!' But, while all of this betrayal was heartbreaking, as a plot device, it was utterly brilliant. 

Hydra has been a part of many a Marvel plot line in various comics, cartoons, and now their films and television shows. But, before the multimillion dollar films, before the hit television shows, Marvel was something completely different to me. Now, I was born in the mid 80's, which meant I got all the awesome cartoons that happened in the late 80's and 90's! While some get their first experience with Marvel through their vast array of comic books, I got mine from the X-Men cartoon. I didn't know about this series until 1993, which meant I was about 7, and it was my dad who showed me this show. Though, thinking back, I'm pretty sure he only showed me it so he could watch cartoons…regardless, this show was my first glimpse at Marvel and one of the many worlds that they had created. Despite the corny lines, the dated references, and the utterly horrid hair styles the women had; this show was the most influential cartoon I have seen to this day.

I'm going to share something insanely personal with you guys, but as most of you may know by now, I have a visual impairment. So, when this cartoon about Mutants, people who were different from everyone else came into my life…it was like something magical was happening. Suddenly, I wasn't alone; I wasn't just the freak at school who was different. I was unique and fighting my own problems, like my favorite characters. I don't think anything has ever made me feel so accepted. Of course, this also made me a geek/nerd and somehow that was not acceptable for the school yard. Through that, I've made some life long, amazing friends. X-Men was a gateway to a broader set of interests that still influences my life to this day.

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I've read many of the X-Men comics now as an adult, and watched almost every single film (with the exception of The Wolverine.) I went with my dad and saw them in theaters, opening night. The X-Men cartoon also led me to the 1994 Spider-Man series. Dad and I were not hugely into that show…actually, I have to confess that I am not the biggest Spider-Man fan out there. Granted, he's got some awesome qualities, some fine villains, and story lines. I am just utterly petrified of all things bug related and could never get past the whole, bitten by a spider and got superpowers, thing. I squeak when I think I see a bug. The movies were pretty cool though, and I'm happy with how Spider-Man: Homecoming turned out.
 
Everything has snowballed into this amazing amalgamation of awesome. With the X-Men, Spider-Man and other superhero movies, there was a shift in popular culture. One that would turn all those geeky kids, into happy, geeky adults. Despite what bullies used to tease us about, the comic culture became so popular, these movies were renewing interest. New cartoons were being made, which was great because I have a little sister, who liked cartoons, and I got to watch them with her. I got to see her get enthralled like I did.

Now, she's a teen and not as nerdy, but she loves going to these movies. My whole family does, actually, which is something that's kind of strange! And then, Iron Man came out…everything changed from that point on. Every movie was now held to a new standard. Everything was leading up to The Avengers. A film with multiple heroes? Most of which who had their own film, coming together into one…nothing like this had ever happened before. But it did, it happened and it was amazing. In every story line, there's always a hero, a villain, and suddenly, the ordinary person has the most power and holds the key to saving humanity. Every character is flawed, but they always come out the better. Whatever Marvel does, the heroes will always be there, the villains will continue to be bad, and their stories...amazing. They've completely reached out and changed my life and continue to do so. My addiction continues to grow like their stories. A reprieve from everyday life, and a reminder that no matter what, I am never truly alone.

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