I know that comics are against change. We’ve had the same people playing the same roles for years and whenever you try and introduce a new character it’s met with backlash.

But I want to talk about the concept of the Thing from Marvel Comics and his girlfriend, Alicia Masters. They are one of the main members of the Blind and the Beast trope. Where a blind person can move past the physical appearance of someone so that they can fall in love with that person’s soul. Alicia Masters has the good taste to fall in love with the Thing. A solid(in more ways than one), loving, all around great guy.

The two of them deserve to be in love and have been for awhile. But… the thing is that they came through in a different time. When it would be unthinkable that a woman with sight could fall in love with someone that looks like the Thing. We’re living in a post Shape of Water world, where women are allowed to indulge their love of monsters(which the Thing isn’t but that’s how he’s treated). It’s even spread to Barnes and Noble:

But let’s be clear, it’s not just that women are attracted to the shape of these creatures. It’s that they’re looking for someone that is going to actually be a good guy, which is becoming harder and harder as misogyny rises in the world. These monsters are going to make sure that their ladies have a good time and that they feel loved and cherished. Just like the Thing would.

Everyone is allowed to be attracted to whatever, but in another instance, I’m just saying that Sif fumbled the bag when it came to Beta Ray Bill. She’s not at fault, I’m just saying I would have gone for it.

Comics might not change but our attitudes towards monsters should have changed. It can also be financially stupid to not be there for those with different forms. Just look at this group of panels as Killer Croc tries to go legit.

I think that maybe he should set his sights on something a little different. Like, maybe he should go to to work a nightclub or something. Do you think any arrogant little shit is going to start mixing it up, if they know that at any moment a god damn crocodile man is going to show up and ask him to politely but firmly to leave? They would have to spend more on their cleaning services as people wet themselves when he says that to them but all in all, it would be effective.

Everyone deserves to be loved and I feela great number of problems in this world could be solved if people were just shown more love. But let’s hear it for the monsters. And then let’s go to pound town with said monsters because…

Girl, look at that body. Or lack thereof.