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- Who Is Sabra (She’s Been Controversial Since the Beginning)
- The Controversy of Including Her In Captain America: Brave New World
- Marvel Has Changed Sabra to a Black Widow
- Why Did Marvel Even Adapt Sabra?
As a long-time fan of Marvel comics and someone with a deep connection to Jewish heritage, I find myself torn between excitement for the upcoming “Captain America: Brave New World” and disappointment in how Marvel Studios chose to adapt the character of Sabra.
I was thrilled when the trailer for “Captain America: Brave New World” dropped on July 12, 2024. As a fan, it was an exciting moment to see Sam Wilson stepping up as Marvel’s new Captain America in his first solo film. The Tiamut plot from “Eternals” and the Red Hulk’s appearance certainly piqued my interest. However, there’s one character from this upcoming movie that has left some fans feeling uneasy – Ruth Bat-Seraph, also known as Sabra. Her inclusion in “Captain America: Brave New World” has sparked a mix of nervousness and outright anger among the fanbase.
Brave New World” was made two years ago, and there were hopes that reshoots could eliminate her and any potential controversy. But, recent trailers reveal brief glimpses of her, leading to renewed controversy over Sabra’s appearance in the movie.
Who Is Sabra (She’s Been Controversial Since the Beginning)
Bill Mantlo penned the character Sabra’s creation, with Sal Buscema providing the artwork. Sabra made her first appearance in a minor role during Incredible Hulk #250, which was published in August 1980. However, it took another six months before she had a more significant role in Incredible Hulk #256, released in February 1981. Sabra serves as both a Mossad agent and the Israeli government’s official superhero, acting as their counterpart to Captain America in many respects. Furthermore, this character is endowed with mutant abilities that include extraordinary strength, healing powers, and the unique talent of imparting her own life force onto others.
Since making her first appearance, Sabra has been a subject of much debate. Her early comic portrayals raised concerns due to the problematic representation of Arabic characters. The name “Sabra” refers to native-born Israeli Jews, derived from the prickly pear cactus, symbolizing toughness on the outside and sweetness within. However, this metaphor is not universally accepted, as some find it offensive or inaccurate.
After Sabra was introduced in Marvel Comics in 1981, a disturbing event occurred. The following year, the name “Sabra” took on a tragic significance when it came to be identified with a Lebanon refugee camp. In 1982, during Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, a massive slaughter of thousands of Lebanese and Palestinian civilians took place at this camp, which subsequently became known as Sabra.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that the character in question is a trained Israeli secret service agent with a past as a police officer. Considering the complex Israel-Palestine politics, introducing a superhero who symbolizes the Israeli government and functions as an enforcer has long been a debatable and seldom promoted concept within Marvel Universe. When Marvel Studios unveiled her presence during D23 in 2022, many were taken aback and expressed strong reactions to this decision.
The Controversy of Including Her In Captain America: Brave New World
When Sabra was introduced by Marvel in September 2022, her announcement sparked significant criticism. The controversy reached new heights on October 7, 2023. As of May 2024, the UN reports that over 35,000 people have died in the Gaza Strip, among whom are at least 7,797 children, 4,959 women, 1,924 elderly, and 10,006 men. Despite repeated calls for a truce, the Israeli government has persisted with military action against Palestine. In light of this ongoing loss of innocent lives depicted in daily news broadcasts, the concept of portraying a superhero embodying the power of the Israeli government feels like an insurmountable ethical boundary.
Moreover, Shira Haas is another noteworthy figure in this context. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, she hails from a Polish Jewish family with grandparents who survived the Holocaust. Although Israeli law mandates military service for all citizens, she was granted an exemption due to a health condition. Nevertheless, she chose to volunteer with the IDF, a controversial organization amidst widespread criticism for its treatment of Palestinian civilians.
When Melissa Barrera was let go from “Scream 7” and Jonathan Glazer spoke for a ceasefire at the 96th Academy Awards, many were divided. Some supported Barrera for standing up for Palestine, while others backed Glazer’s plea for peace. However, the prospect of Marvel Studios providing a podium to someone with IDF background raises concerns for some. The announcement of Marvel adapting Sabra sparked calls for a boycott, long before the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in 2023. Initially, Marvel attempted to steer clear of controversy, but even this move faced challenges.
Marvel Has Changed Sabra to a Black Widow
Since Marvel Studios revealed Sabra’s involvement in “Captain America: Brave New World,” they moved swiftly to downplay any connection to the character’s contentious background in the comics. Initially, they declared that while the films drew inspiration from the source material, Sabra’s backstory and portrayal would differ significantly in their production. Some fans hoped that during the extensive reshoots for the movie, they might opt to cut Sabra’s character completely.
After unveiling the preview for “Captain America: Brave New World” and announcing Shira Haas’ involvement, some fans expressed their disappointment. In response, Marvel decided to provide fresh details about the character to ease tensions. The change included removing her affiliation with the Israeli government and transforming her into a former Black Widow who collaborates with President Ross. Her name was also adjusted from Sabra to Ruth. Notably, her description no longer references Israel, Mossad, or Sabra, making her a significantly different character compared to her comic book version.
Despite the clarification from Marvel Studios, some persist in calling for a boycott of “Captain America: Brave New World.” Some do so based on misunderstandings about the film’s portrayal of the Sabra character. For others, it’s a matter of principle, wanting an MCU version true to the comic character, regardless of changes. However, for some members of the Jewish community, this issue has sparked additional controversy.
Does Being a Black Widow Mean Sabra Isn’t Jewish?
Several Jewish news sources highlighted Marvel’s alteration of Sabra’s background in the MCU. They criticized this change as “downplaying” her Jewish identity, even though Moon Knight, another Jewish superhero, is already part of the MCU, and The Thing from the Fantastic Four is upcoming. Additionally, there was confusion due to misconceptions; some assumed Sabra’s designation as a Black Widow meant she would be Russian.
As someone who has been deeply invested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for years, I’ve always found the representation of characters like Black Widow and Sabra to be a complex issue. The recent news that Ruth Eilenberg, who was cast as Sabra in “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” is Israeli but not Russian, got me thinking about this once again.
Why Did Marvel Even Adapt Sabra?
As a long-time fan of Marvel comics, I’ve grown attached to many characters over the years. Sabra was always a complex and intriguing figure for me, with her unique backstory and distinct personality. So when I heard that Marvel was planning to adapt Sabra, I was both excited and apprehensive.
The first is that Sabra originated in an Incredible Hulk comic, which fits the very Hulk-centric supporting cast for Captain America: Brave New World, which includes Thunderbolt Ross/Red Hulk, The Leader, and Betty Ross. There is also the fact that she is a mutant in the comics and might have been part of Marvel’s plans to tease mutants in the MCU as they had done with Ms. Marvel and Namor. Yet it appears, at least for a while, that Marvel Studios always intended her to be a more grounded human agent working closely with President Ross. This is where the Black Widow change comes in.
In “Captain America: Brave New World,” having Sabra become only Ruth and a Black Widow agent opens up an opportunity. This change enables the storyline to follow up on the plot from “Black Widow” where several Red Room agents break free and chart their own courses. Additionally, it gives Marvel the chance to modify Ruth’s backstory with MCU-specific details in place of more realistic elements.
Instead of being mentored by Mossad for working as an undercover agent for the Israeli government, she has since been transformed into the Black Widow, using her skills to serve the President of the United States. This modification in storytelling allows for a more acceptable representation of a superhero combating covert threats, such as HYDRA – an organization linked to the Nazis but distinct enough to avoid offending military personnel who served during World War II.
As the release of “Captain America: Bran New World” draws near, there’s growing curiosity about how Sabra will be portrayed in the film’s promotion. Marvel Studios could choose to highlight her significantly, deviating from her comic book persona, or keep her under wraps in the trailers, potentially diminishing her screen time. This predicament is intricate, with some expressing outrage over her inclusion and others upset about alterations to her character. Will a boycott of the movie effect change or convey a message to Disney and Marvel? The answer remains uncertain.
It’s undeniable that the Israel-Palestine dispute remains unresolved, and unfortunately, lives are being lost instead of just being portrayed in a movie.
Check out the trailer for Captain America: Brave New World below.
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2024-07-20 01:36