Things in mainstream superhero comics can get better for women and minorities, as this Atlantic profile of Marvel Comics writer Kelly Sue DeConnick attests. Marvel is trying, slowly, to bring more female characters to the forefront.

"I think that the message is that no one is 'other,' that white males are not the 'default human being,'" DeConnick said on Comic Con's final day, crystallizing her credo.

I think the glaring overabundance of white dudes on their movie slate is causing Marvel some embarrassment as they move more and more into the public eye. (It probably helps that strong female character advocate Joss Whedon is spearheading their movie universe, too.) Whatever the behind-the-scenes reasons, I'm glad they're pushing for a broader, more inclusive array of superheroes.