In recent years, Marvel Studios has become synonymous with big-budget superhero flicks, with their films taking us on epic adventures starring larger-than-life characters. But Marvel just accomplished a remarkable feat by adding Echo, one of the few deaf comic book characters, who made her Netflix debut in Daredevil (2021). Disney+ and Hulu now offer Echo for streaming, which tells the story of Maya Lopez/Echo, a character created by David Mack and Joe Quesada.
Alaqua Cox’s portrayal of Lopez, aka Echo, has exemplified the power of compelling storytelling, far outweighing the shortcomings of Jessica Gao’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. As a result, Marvel is now enthralled by the potential of its street-level heroes and is actively brainstorming new ways to expand this lesser-known corner of the Marvel universe.
How Alaqua Cox’s Echo Proves Marvel’s Street-level Heroes Can Thrive
Well, maybe this past year at Marvel Studios was not quite as catastrophic as some people have claimed. Still, 2023 was unquestionably a difficult year, with multiple MCU releases going awry in some way and Marvel Studios paying a heavy price for putting quantity before quality. Therefore, there is hope that Echo will be the perfect flagship in 2024 to lead the MCU in the right direction.
With a 74% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, Alaqua Cox’s Echo is currently enjoying success on both streaming platforms (Disney+ & Hulu). In order to “build out its street-level heroes” Marvel is currently “developing new ideas”, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and they intend to work with Maya’s character on more projects.
In an interview with Deadline, even Cox expressed her aspirations for Maya’s future and said she would like to see the character become an Avengers member:
“I hope that she doesn’t go back to New York City. I really hope not, personally, because it’s just a horrible place for her to be [with] all those traumatic memories she has growing up, now that she’s able to reconnect and open up more with her blood-related family, and she realized that they never left her side. She was gone for so many years.”
Released on January 9, the series centers on Maya, an indigenous woman who is deaf and uses American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate while being hunted by Fisk’s criminal organization. Not only has Cox’s portrayal become an instant fan favorite, but it has also accomplished something that She-Hulk, despite a massive budget, failed to do.
She-Hulk Failed to Match Echo’s Success Despite Its Huge Budget
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, starring Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk was not universally beloved. The nine-episode series lacked “stakes or a distinctive style”, according to The Hollywood Reporter. We learned from Screen Rant, that the high budget of season 1 may prevent She-Hulk: Attorney at Law from having a second season. Marvel may have learned a valuable lesson, as evidenced by the recent and disappointing news regarding the second season.
While She-Hulk’s story follows the typical Hulk narrative, Echo provides a unique, refreshing, and inclusive experience. By highlighting the Deaf experience, Alaqua Cox’s Echo breaks down barriers and opens up a whole new world of superhero storytelling.
Echo outperforms She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, despite the latter’s enormous budget. According to TV Line, Jessica Gao’s miniseries had a budget of $225 million, with each episode costing $25 million. Meanwhile, according to THR, Echo reversed the downward trend of superhero-themed entertainment by standing out with its unique characteristics. It debuted at number one on both Disney+ and Hulu, solidifying actress Alaqua Cox as a viable lead.
Also, the show gave Marvel a “halo effect”, with insiders claiming that the first seasons of Daredevil, Hawkeye, and Punisher all saw notable spikes in viewership. This resounding success lends support to the notion that storytelling and authentic portrayals matter beyond lavish budgets alone.
Echo and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law are available on Disney+.
