I understand the MCU is adding more diversity to their characters. Not just in gender and color, but in disabilities. In the Eternals and the Hawkeye TV show we saw a pair of deaf women Makkari and Maya Lopez. I don’t see the logic of the two women being deaf.

Let’s start with Makkari. She’s an Eternal, which is a superpowered being created by a celestial being. A celestial created her with superspeed and the inability to hear? Okay? Why? And worst of all, the character in the Eternals Phastos is their tech guy of the group, someone who can create anything. Phastos even made a machine that can trap and negate the powers of Ikaris. So, you’re telling me he couldn’t just make a hearing aid for Makkari?

I got into a very long argument online questioning logic of Makkari’s deafness. I argued that her being deaf is a hinderance to the group. Apparently, she can sense vibrations in people’s voices so she can tell what people are saying, but the group still needs to do sign language for her. Not only that, the group battles monsters. Which in a fight, having the ability to hear is kind of important? Also being able to comminate with your teammates is also important. So, besides checking off some diversity boxes, why would they make her deaf?

Now to Hawkeye. Lopez is one of the henchmen of the Kingpin, who is one of the riches most powerful crime bosses in the Marvel Universe. Lopez is deaf and also missing a leg. Oddly enough the actress is really deaf and is missing a leg, which is very impressive especially with all the fight scenes she’s in. mt issue is that disabilities like these shouldn’t exist in Marvel. Tony Stark built a time machine in a night; you’re telling me giving people the ability to hear and see is impossible? That Bucky has a vibraniam arm and the Kingpin can’t afford something like that for Lopez? That forcing fellow henchmen to learn sign language so they can communicate with Lopez was a better idea than just giving her the gadgets she needs or simply releasing her.

I know its nice to give actors and actresses who have a disability like this a chance to be on screen and most importantly look awesome on screen. Both women were incredible to watch. The fight scene was Ikaris was one of the best fights in the MCU and Lopez is reported to have her own spin off show called Echo (which ill get to another time) and was one of the best characters in the Hawkeye show. 

I have no issue with the idea of having a character with such disabilities, but I just think in both situations it made little sense. What do you think about that?

Simptastic Joe