She-Hulk digs into Steve Rogers’ intercourse life, however it doesn’t penetrate deep sufficient

Throughout the primary episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law — which explores the backstory of how Jennifer Walters obtained her Hulk powers — Jen has one massive, urgent query for her cousin Bruce: Did Captain America die a virgin?!

[Ed. note: This post contains some spoilers for that above question, lmao.]

Image: Marvel Studios

At first, Bruce refuses to outright reply this, and for good cause, since it’s an intimate query about his deceased (so far as Jen is aware of) pal and colleague’s intercourse life. But the episode’s post-credits scene reveals a drunken Jen rambling about how unhappy it’s that Steve Rogers died with out getting some. It’s then, out of pity or maybe as a result of Jen appears too drunk to recollect, that Bruce reveals Jen’s assumption is flawed.

“Steve Rogers is not a virgin,” says Bruce. “He lost his virginity to a girl in 1943 on the USO Tour.”

“YES,” shouts a all of the sudden sober Jen. “I knew it!”

So, there we’ve it: Marvel Cinematic Universe Steve Rogers has banged a minimum of as soon as in his life. Hurrah!

Image: Marvel Studios

But this affirmation feels… missing. For one factor, the MCU is essentially devoid of intercourse and romance (not that these two issues should go hand in hand, however usually in Hollywood, they do). With only a few exceptions, the heroes within the MCU don’t even kiss, not to mention get busy within the bed room. Yes, there are winks and nods to the Casanova characters’ dalliances, however that’s simply one other means the MCU depends on telling as a substitute of exhibiting. We get to listen to about Peter Quill and Tony Stark’s conquests, however God forbid we get something past the extremely awkward intercourse scene in Eternals.

Because a lot is left to the creativeness, some aspects of the viewers wish to think about what may very well be between the characters. And not like Jen Walters, followers are usually a little bit extra beneficiant to Steve relating to his intercourse life, particularly since he’s saving the world with a bunch of licensed hotties. (I’ll forgive her, since he’s technically a real-life particular person in her world.) In truth, the 2 hottest MCU relationships on fanfiction hub Archive of Our Own focus on Steve — with greatest pal and tortured mercenary Bucky Barnes and billionaire playboy philanthropist Tony Stark, in case you have been questioning.

Image: Marvel Studios

You see, MCU followers do wish to know Captain America fucked! But not some random girl who doesn’t even get a reputation. What they really need is an emotional connection between characters, a historical past constructed up between them, pressure and emotions and sparks, be it devoted childhood buddies, bickering rivals, or long-lost loves. But the MCU continues to undermine most real relationships with snarky jokes and punctuate moments of emotional resonance with foolish quips. So as a substitute of heartfelt, genuine-feeling relationships, we get different characters telling the viewers what’s up with those self same sarcastic zingers.

Steve Rogers isn’t a virgin, and that entire joke feels prefer it’s making enjoyable of followers who’re invested in his romantic relationships (to not point out making enjoyable of being a virgin, which simply seems like an affordable early-2000s bro comedy dig). And it has nothing to do with the truth that the preferred Captain America ships are male pairings (hey, folks like to see him with Peggy Carter, too!). It’s the truth that this lady will get no title or backstory or emotional connection. It’s the truth that Jen’s thirst is filtered by way of some bizarre worth system about intercourse. It’s the truth that Jen’s curiosity about this query exists simply to get constructed as much as a punchline, as a result of haha, isn’t it humorous that Captain America fucked? Isn’t it humorous on this world of attractive individuals who struggle greater than they take pleasure in one another’s firm that one in every of them may’ve presumably had time for intercourse? Isn’t it humorous that folks even take into consideration this?

But folks do take into consideration this. Not simply intercourse (although that too, sure), however romance and emotional camaraderie and a connection past tense co-workers who’re obligated to get alongside to defeat a foul man. The comics these heroes come from have by no means lacked for love, however one way or the other when packaging it up for the multimillion-dollar family-friendly expertise that’s the MCU, even essentially the most harmless hallmarks of romance — the kissing and stolen glances and fade-to-black heated moments — get misplaced alongside the way in which. And in the event you’re questioning the place all of them went, apparently you’re the butt of the joke.