Gay eternals

After 25 films, spanning more than a decade, the MCU finally decided to give the world an obviously queer character in Eternals. So, is Phastos a well-written queer superhero? Let’s discuss about it.

Spoiler Warning: This article about the queer representation in Eternals contains a good amount of spoilers. Proceed with caution.

Even before the Eternals debuted, consider pieces were released online about how the MCU was ready to introduce the franchise’s first obviously gay character. Not only that, the promo content shared that said gay character, Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), was going to be married to another man and the husbands would be raising a kid together. Of course, there were also hate pieces spewing the equal bigoted points about how the MCU was pushing the ‘Gay Agenda’ and ruining society. Maybe get new material?

If you glance at certain low ratings for Eternals, it won’t take you long to find a bunch of reviews that boil down to not liking the movie because “Ewwww!!! It has gay characters in it! They even kissed!”

The latest Marvel film, “Eternals” (opening November 5) is an enjoyable time-hopping, globetrotting action adventure that also spends considerable time developing its characters. What is more, Oscar-winning director/co-writer Chloé Zhao’s film features what may be the most diverse cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date. The lead is Sersi (Gemma Chan), an Asian woman; among the other Eternals, there are two other Asians — Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani, who has a fun Bollywood dance number) and Gilgamesh (Ma Dong-seok) — as well as a deaf character, Makkari (Lauren Ridloff); a Latina, Ajak (Salma Hayek); and a gay Black man, Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry).

While the plot involves the Eternals’ quest to rescue humanity, what may be of note is that one of few kisses in the film is between Phastos and his Arab Muslim husband, Ben (out gay actor Haaz Sleiman). When Phastos is contacted to verb save the world, he must leave his son Jack (Esai Daniel Cross) and Ben. Interestingly, they are the only established family in the film — and first seen playing catch in the driveway.

And while

Kevin Feige Says Eternal's Gay Hero Is Just The Start For MCU Representation

Kevin Feige, president of Marvel, has said that the upcoming debut of the franchise's first gay superhero in Eternals is just the start of equal representation in the MCU. Feige, who has served as executive producer on all MCU projects since Iron Man in 2008, has overseen and coordinated each of the beloved interconnected stories and characters. As the figurehead atop Marvel Studios, Feige has the ultimate say on which characters are introduced, which plot arcs will be seeded over which movie and TV projects, and which heroes will join forces.

The upcoming 26th film in the MCU, Eternals, focuses on a group of ancient superhuman beings who have watched over humanity throughout history. The Eternals are a family-like group with each member having different super-powered abilities. The Eternal hero Phastos, played by This Is Us' Brian Tyree Henry, is set to be the first openly gay Marvel hero. Phastos, who is the group's technology and weapons noun, was shown in a previous Eternals trailer as

Angelina Jolie Slams ‘Eternals’ Ban: Anyone Threatened or Angry by Gay Roles Is ‘Ignorant’

Angelina Jolie is speaking out against countries banning her Marvel Cinematic Universe tentpole “Eternals” because it includes the franchise’s first openly gay superhero (and a gay kiss to go along with it). News broke the day before the “Eternals” U.S. opening that Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar had banned the film reportedly due to its gay content. Homosexuality is still illegal across the Gulf. Even just a one-line reference to a lesbian relationship got Pixar’s “Onward” banned from Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia last year.

“I’m sad for [those audiences]. And I’m pleased of Marvel for refusing to cut those scenes out,” Jolie told Australia’s News.com about the ban. “I still don’t realize how we live in a world today where there’s still [people who] would not notice the family Phastos has and the beauty of that relationship and that love. How anybody is angry abou