There’s a Marvel superhero you may have heard of if you’re into really obscure comics (like me). She’s sort of the Aquaman of the Marvel world, in that she’s often tragically underestimated to the point of mockery. Her wonderfully rhythmic name is Doreen Green. However, you might know her as Squirrel Girl.
Let me start out by saying that she did not get bitten by a radioactive squirrel. However, like Spider-Man, her powers are not unlike her animal namesake. She’s got enhanced strength, agility and reflexes. No squirrel sense, but she does have a bushy and prehensile tail. She also has the ability to communicate and empathize with squirrels.
Just because you’d be hard pressed to work her into any kind of ultra-gritty movie, that doesn’t mean that her powers are anything to sneeze at. Originally donning her suit in an attempt to pay homage to her favorite hero, Iron Man, Squirrel Girl quickly proves herself by single-handedly beating his arch nemesis, Doctor Doom.
How does she do this, one may ask. Why, by overwhelming him with her furry little friends, of course.
I’ve always had a special affinity for Squirrel Girl. This is not only because knowing about her helps me sound like I know more about comics than I actually do, but it’s also because her attitude, her humor and frankly her height (she’s short) all helped relate her to me.
I don’t have adorable rodent sidekicks or any crime-fighting-enabling mutations (yet), but I do know what it’s like to be bullied for how you look. Admittedly, I didn’t take up crime-fighting to prove my worth, but I do think I’ve come farther in life than a lot of people have said I would.
Squirrel Girl overcomes the absurdity of her powers and turns them into an asset. She isn’t a comedic sidekick or a throwaway character but an amazing hero in her own right. More than that, she’s also just a nice person, someone who’s fun to root for throughout her adventures.
For me, Squirrel Girl has always been a bit of an inspiration. And though she probably won’t be getting a feature film anytime soon, I still hope that you’ll consider picking up one of her comics sometime soon.
