Bi on the Small Screen: Marvel’s Runaways
Nico Minoru is one of my favourite characters in Marvel Comics. As the witchy Sister Grimm, or so she codenames herself, in Runaways (original comic book run), she was everything I wanted in a (soon-to-be) superhero: powerful, magical, determined, stylish — goth isn’t for everyone but I admired it as a wardrobe choice — and she had an emotional depth that fed into my lingering teenage angst.
When the TV adaption of this series was announced, I was concerned. Could they really capture what made all the Runaways, Nico, Gert, Molly, Karolina, Chase and Alex, so enrapturing to journey with? The announcement that Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage were helming the series did reassure me. I’d been a fan of shows, like The O.C., that they had worked on. They have the proven ability to handle humour and drama in an entertaining package.
As Runaways was one of the more ground level series from Marvel, character exploration would be as important, if not more important, than a spectacle of superpowers. Having watched the first season of Marvel’s Runaways, I’m happy to report that the show does a wonderful job of giving viewers a taste of what made the original concept; kids finding out their parents are part of a villainous group, while offering a bit more of the parents’ side of the story and thus making it a unique iteration of the story.
Diversity & Inclusion
Nico might be one of my favourite characters in Runaways, and really all of comic books, but she is also part of a group. What made the dynamics of this band of adventurers more refreshing and appealing to me, was the diversity. Nico herself is Asian-American, Alex is black, many of the other characters are white, but through Karolina we get an exploration of sexuality; she is a lesbian, and in later runs of the comics, we get a latinx character in Victor Mancha and a form of trans/non-binary representation in Xavin, an alien shapeshifter. In the translation into the TV series, the iteration of Molly Hayes becomes Molly Hernandez, giving her hispanic roots which feature in latter episodes, and she also becomes Gert’s adopted sister. Little changes like this help distinguish the TV versions of these characters from their print counterparts. Nico herself gains an older sister in the translation to screen, a new plot line for the first season of the show.
The series has received praise for continuing this diversity in casting, even upping the anti. Karolina as a softly spoken, powerful but not butch, lesbian has gained particular attention as it diverges from the norm for other lesbians on TV who have tended to be lent a masculinity along with their physical power. Yet, the bisexuality of Nico doesn’t seem to have been raised at all.
It has been debated online whether the Nico of the comic books really is bisexual. This surprised me. I’d always read Nico as bi, helped by her flirtation with both Karolina and Alex — not to mention the queer flags that get raised when queerness and the occult come together. While it’s Karolina who has a crush on Nico in the original run, Nico’s attraction to Alex being her focus, we see Nico show romantic interest in Karolina in the latest run of comics, written by Rainbow Rowell and Kris Anka. In the Marvel’s Runaways show, within the first season, we see Nico’s attraction to both Alex and Karolina.
Nico Could Be Coming Out As Bi
As in the real world, I’m cautious about labelling someone who hasn’t said the words, assuming they even want to label themselves at all. But, as we also know, bisexual and pansexual people don’t always feel empower to use terminology to describe their sexuality, whether because writers don’t think they “need” to or because they are too uncomfortable with aligning themselves with a misunderstood group within a marginalised group.
Nico’s comic book life has been filled with unrequited love on multiple occasions; from Alex’s demise to rejecting Karolina and then being rejected by Karolina, meaning she hasn’t really had any positive romantic experiences yet. In TV land, Nico seems to be heading towards a relationship with Karolina. Near the end of the first series, Karolina kisses her in a “what if I never got the chance to do this because we end up dying” moment, but, on their survival, Nico takes the chance to fully reciprocate and kisses her once they have escaped. Early in the season, her crush on Alex was established, and though they did seem to be heading in that direction, a betrayal causes her to re-evaluate her feelings for Alex.
All of this FEELS like valuable representation for bi people. A teenage superhero show that can respectfully show bi-ness should be a positive sign for young people. The next generation of teens has the chance to embrace bisexuality in a way that homosexuality was 10–15 years ago. We’re now in a place where there a numerous gay characters on TV, though fewer lesbians, and I’m hopeful that bi people are heading in the direction of being not only represented by respected.
Of course, if either of the Nicos wanted to actually say “I’m bi” that would be an amazing step in the right direction. Not everyone wants labels but putting it into so many words would help those exploring their sexuality to put a name to a feeling.
Only time will tell if the commissioned second season fulfils some bi dreams. Nevertheless, I highly recommend Marvel’s Runaways, whatever your identity, as a well paced and fun show. It has moments of laughter, emotional weight and enough drama and dinosaurs to keep your attention throughout. Plus, you too can become obsessed with the wonderful Nico Minoru.
