Monday, September 11, 2006

Sue should dump Reed. Part 1

...For awhile at least.

A bit of background. Reed is part of a group called the Illuminati consisting of him, Black Bolt, Namor, Professor X., Dr. Strange and Iron Man that 'represents' the superpowered world and make decisions on their behalf. Of course the thing is, they aren't elected or appointed, they aren't even known about outside their little boys club. And it is a boys club. Everyone is male and everyone is white.

I love the idea. These are the big boys of the super powered world and people who've become so comfortable with their power and authority that they aren't even asking the basic question about whether this is right. It doesn't seem to even enter their thinking that they may be very wrong in presuming to speak for and direct the concerns of people that don't even know they exist. They know they're good people and they look across the table and see men they respect and gosh, no need to entertain any doubts. The claiming of power with no understanding of the need to be representative of and responsible to the people. That is entitlement and it's such a bad thing.

So then these 5 men (Namor violently disagreed) decide that the Hulk is a problem and he must be exiled. Abandoned in outer space. Reed Richards, a man who's known Bruce Banner for years, agrees to this. Why? I imagine because the club thinks this is a good thing. They've given themselves to power to act as gods and human considerations such as friendship and compassion are quaint, but not relevent. Reed does not see Bruce, he's sees the Hulk and the Hulk is a problem.

Now back to Sue.

Namor should tell Sue what her husband did to Bruce.

I imagine this would turn Sue's view of her husband upside down. She's been entertaining a few questions with his secrecy and enthusiasm about building a superhero community (again, build a place for superheroes to live without asking the people themselves?). But this...? This is Bruce. This is a man she's known and respected. I imagine she'd try to justify Reead's decision. The Hulk is a danger. People die as a result of the Hulk's actions. Maybe.

But I think the thing that would really anger Sue was that this was a decision Reed made without consulting her. Screw secret clubs, this man is her HUSBAND. She is supposed to be the person he comes to with major decisions and crises. And that this was a decision that decided the fate of a friend? What if the problem had been Ben? Or Johnny? Or herself?

Reed has chosen to assign the Illuminati more authority then Sue. She's second fiddle now when it comes to the most important matters. But he wouldn't see this. Sue would confront him, try to force him to see the issue but he wouldn't get it. He's Reed Richards. Mr. Fantastic, a superhero and a brilliant scientist. And he's a good man. How could Sue doubt that? How could Sue doubt his character and morals like this by implying he's not worthy to decide important matters?

How could she doubt his entitlement?

So she'd leave the marriage and the team. She'd still live in the Baxter Building and talk to Reed because they have children and she does still love him. But he doesn't value her as he should and doesn't trust her judgement when she points to cracks in his character. Being around him, taking orders from him in the team would be poison.

Cue Sue Storm 4 issue mini-series.

4 Comments:

At 2:33 AM, Blogger Marc Burkhardt said...

That would be the logical reason for the split, but I don't always trust Marvel these days to opt for logic.

Although I am really interested to see what happens when She-Hulk finds out what the Illuminati did to her cousin.

 
At 4:56 AM, Blogger Dawn said...

I didn't even think about how Jennifer would react! Oh boy, there's going to be a rumble.

 
At 12:04 PM, Blogger Dawn said...

Namor's actually a human/Atlantean hybrid and has traditionally been portrayed as pretty white looking. Regardless I wasn't sure of whether to use 'white men' either but I can't imagine Bendis being unaware of the symbolism of a group of men who present as white sitting around a table deciding issues they may not have a right to decide. It's something that merits discussion anyway.

But I can't agree that because this is 'business' he does not need to consult Sue. Reed's business is science, superheroing and the Fantasitic Four and Sue plays an intimate role in all of those pursuits.

 
At 3:20 AM, Blogger Dawn said...

Oh! I see.

I was thinking of the wife issue specifically as it involved the Richards and where it involves the other aspects you were talking about. But if Sue had been a non-superpowered wife who worked at a bank?

 

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