Created in 2011 by Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta, America Chavez, also known as Miss America, is one of Marvel's most recent and also coolest superheroes. She's a Latinx lesbian with the ability to open multidimensional portals. This week, she debuted in the MCU as part of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, portrayed by Xóchitl Gómez.
Since the film focuses mostly on Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch, it doesn't explore America as a character as deep as fans would've expected. There are still many things that not everyone knows about her, whether it is because they're casual fans or because they don't read comics.
Spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ahead!
10 Xóchitl Gómez Wasn't The First Choice To Play Her
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness marks the MCU debut of Xóchitl Gómez as America Chavez. Gómez, who is only 16-years-old, is a Mexican-American actress known for her role as Dawn Schafer in the Netflix series The Baby-Sitters Club. Her performance as America has been widely praised. However, she wasn't the first choice to play this powerful heroine.
Before casting Xóchitl Gómez, Marvel Studios considered a different actress for the role. Their first choice was Peruvian-American actress Isabela Merced, known for playing Dora in Dora and the Lost City of Gold, and CJ Martin in Nickelodeon's 100 Things to Do Before High School.
9 She Was Replaced By Another Character In Spider-Man: No Way Home
Since Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was originally set to premiere before Spider-Man: No Way Home, the latter included America as a central character in the story. This was revealed by concept art published by artist Maciej Kuciara on Twitter — which incidentally includes Isabela Merced as America, not Xóchitl Gómez.
Unfortunately, when Marvel Studios modified its schedule, Erik Sommers y Chris McKenna, the film writers, had to erase her from the script. In order to remove America from Spider-Man: No way Home, Sommers, and McKenna gave Spider-Man's best friend, Ned, a sling ring and tasked him with bringing Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker iterations to the MCU Universe.
8 Opening Portals Isn't Her Only Superpower
As the film shows, America Chavez has one of the coolest powers in the Marvel Universe. She can open star-shaped portals through different realities in the multiverse. In the comics, she does this by kicking or punching the air, while in the film, she's still learning how to control her abilities. However, this isn't her only ability.
In addition to her multiversal traveling skills, America possesses superhuman strength, durability, and the ability to fly. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the audience can see her super strength when she breaks the glass cage where Christine keeps her, but her other abilities are yet to be shown.
7 This Is Her First Live-Action Version, But Not Her First Time In A Film
Contrary to most characters in the MCU (some of which are turning 60 this year), America Chavez is a fairly new superhero in the Marvel comics. Given this, there aren't any other live-action versions of this character besides the MCU one.
However, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness isn't the first time America has starred in a Marvel film. In 2018, she appeared in the animated film Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors, voiced by Cierra Ramirez. Additionally, she's a playable character in half a dozen videogames, including Marvel Contest of Champions and Marvel: Future Fight.
6 She's The Seventh Young Avenger In The MCU So Far
Almost since she debuted in the comics, America has belonged to the Young Avengers, a teenager superteam that comprises several superheroes with a connection to the Avengers. The Young Avengers were created by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung in 2005.
So far, the MCU has introduced seven out of 12 Young Avengers members from the comics. Cassie "Stature" Lang in Avengers: Endgame and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Kid Loki in Loki, Eli Bradley aka Patriot in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Billy and Tommy Maximoff in WandaVision, Kate Bishop in Hawkeye, and America Chavez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Nothing has been said about a Young Avengers project in the MCU, and there are some members still missing, but fans are hopeful.
5 She's The MCU First Latinx Superhero
Although she was raised in the Utopian Parallel outside reality, America is a Latinx superhero. Her last name is of Hispanic origin, she often uses Spanish phrases, and she provides Latinx POC representation. In fact, she's the first Latinx superhero to star in a Marvel solo comic series.
In the MCU, she's also a pioneer when it comes to racial representation. As of 2022, she's the first Latinx superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This isn't taken for granted. For instance, America speaks Spanish several times in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In fact, the first line of the film is in Spanish.
4 She's May Be The Latest LGBTQ+ Superhero To Join The MCU
As one of the most diverse characters in Marvel, America is Latinx and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. She's an openly sapphic woman — originally bisexual but a lesbian after Gabby Rivera's run — who has had at least one girlfriend, Lisa Halloran, as well as a lot of worth-shipping tension with Kate Bishop.
So far, the MCU hasn't delved into America's story to confirm or deny her sexuality, but she wears a Progress Pride Flag pin on her jacket in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Only time will tell if Disney will respect this important dimension of her character.
3 Her Backstory Wasn't Welcomed In Certain Countries
Besides tentatively being queer, America is the daughter of a same-sex couple. Her mothers are Amalia and Elena Chavez. They appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness during America's Memory Lane flashback to her childhood, right before she traveled through the multiverse for the first time.
Although this scene only lasts 12 seconds, it has caused a big ruckus. Since it depicts an explicit LGBTQ+ couple, certain Middle-Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, requested it to be erased. As of May 2022, Disney has refused to edit the film.
2 There's A Reason Why She Doesn't Have Any Variants
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced a very interesting detail about America, but it never properly expands on it: she doesn't have alternate versions. While Doctor Strange gets four different iterations of himself and Wanda has at least one, America Chavez is unique. She knows this because she never dreams.
Now that the movie has been out for a week, Michael Waldron, its screenwriter, confirmed there aren't any other Americas in the multiverse. The reason behind this is that America is a Nexus Being or whatever a Nexus Being MCU counterpart will be. About this, Waldron stated that he would "like to see explored in the next chapter of America's story." Surely all fans think the same.
1 She's Nothing Like Her Comic Version... Yet
Comic fans who already saw Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness probably noticed that the MCU's America Chavez is nothing like her comic counterpart. In the film, she's a spunky teenager still trying to learn about her own powers. In the comics, she's already a tough girl in total control of her abilities.
Some fans were disappointed about this change. However, it may be a matter of patience. Obviously, the MCU America is younger than her comic version by about 3 or 4 years. Her time in the MCU is only starting. Hopefully, she will become a total badass soon in the future.