Summary
X-Men’s Escapade is a supervillain worth rooting for, as her unique ability makes her a powerful asset and a wonderful addition to the world. Despite her criminal activities, Escapade is kind and well-attuned to calling out corruption and elitism. To celebrate Pride Month, Marvel Comics introduced Escapade with a debut inMarvel Voices: Pride #1in 2022.
Marvel Comics seems intent on adding more characters that better reflect and represent people in the world. Escapade isn’t the first transgender mutant introduced inX-Men. Jessie Drake was also introduced inMarvel Voices: Pride (2021),despite an unfortunately short-lived run. Escapade is Marvel Comics' attempt to correct their prior mistake of not including more stories about Jessie Drake. But if Marvel Studios is just as committed as Marvel Comics to featuring more underrepresented and LGBTQ+ characters, Escapade could have an opportunity to debut onscreen in the MCU.
Who Is X-Men’s Escapade?
Shela Sexton (she/her), also known as Escapade, is a tech-savvy, transgender mutant. She grew up experiencing gender dysphoria and fearing for her life at home. As an adult, she embraces her trans and mutant identity, as well as being a con artist and game designer.Before joining the X-Men on Krakoa, Shela was a thief introduced as a supervillain — albeit a good one. Her Swap ability allows her to temporarily swap locations, objects, attributes, abilities of others, and much more when she’s in close proximity to them. She often used her powers as a modern Robin Hood, stealing from corrupt organizations and “rich jerks” with the help of tech support from the most important person in her life: her best friend.
Some people have an epic romance. I have Morgan, my best friend.
After her fashion icon, Emma Frost, relays a tragic vision from Mystique’s wife Destiny, Escapade reluctantly teams up with the X-Men, hoping to prevent the prophecy that would lead to the death of her best friend and fellow trans mutant, Morgan Red (he/they). She isn’t exactly a fan of the X-Men. But, she still needs to learn to better control her powers and hopefully keepher best friend alive. Equipped with a utility belt and several gadgets to take on the strongest mutant or toughest safe, this quirky, daring supervillain may be a welcome addition to the MCU as a potential member of the Avengers in their battle against Kang the Conqueror inAvengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Why Escapade Should Fight With The Avengers
It’s obvious why Shela Sexton should join the Avengers to fight Kang, the tech-genius time-traveler. The potentialMCU X-Men connection aside, Escapade steals technology from corrupt people. As such, Kang would certainly be a target on her heist to-do list. That would put her Kang’s crosshairs, should he pursue the thief. Escapade’s hypothetical team-up with the Avengers would likely be as rioutous as Spider-Man’s inclusion. The Avengers' base is also well-stocked with attractive technology that Escapade could commandeer.
Even more valuable than highly advanced technology is Escapade’s swap ability. Depending on her level of mastery, Escapade could swap abilities, weapons, status, skills, etc. with anyone who’s within seven feet of her. Approaching the thief to confront her would not be advisable. Putting her in a holding cell isn’t even possible. All she’d have to do to escape is find something outside the cell to swap locations with.
In a fight to defeat Kang, who is usually presented as a powerless human, Escapade could prove invaluable. She could swap tech with the villain to render him less of a threat — that is, if she can get within seven feet of him. A horrifying thought, Kang may think, as he plays defense to keep his distance in this cat and corrupt-elitist-mouse chase.
Even if Shela Sexton isn’t an official or long-term Avengers member, she could debut as a possible recruit ofSylvie’s to help take down the Kang Dynasty. The inclusion of a superhero, or in Escapade’s case “supervillain,” from the LGBTQ+ community in the battle against Kang communicates that Marvel Studios appreciates the diversity of the present. It would show a commitment to giving queer superheroes the opportunity to fight for their own futures in the MCU multiverse. A multiverse war that threatens Escapade’s dreams and existence is an opportunity to give the queer community a voice, and a powerful onscreen superhero to look up to. Equally important is knowing how Kang would handle Escapade’s tech-disrupting glitter bombs.
Shela Sexton is not a mutant of theX-Menuniverse to pass over, and she deserves the chance to show her excellence onscreen. Marvel Studios should follow through with their commitment to better representation in the MCU. Escapade could be the studio’s chance to right their past missteps of including queer heroes onscreen only to silence their identities, or minimize them as romantic tropes.Avengers: The Kang Dynastyis a fight for the survival of all lives across the multiverse. And the multiverse war is the perfect time to go beyond the cliche of heroes simply battling an egomanic who seeks death and destruction. Instead, they’re bringing hope to people fighting for their identities to be respected and their right to exist in every world. This could be embodied by including Escapade, who fights for that every day.
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