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- I've seen someone online say, "Alex Fierro: SJWs in Valhalla!", and I kinda get it. Alex does, in some ways, feel like a stereotypical "Tumblr SJW" trans person: she has colored hair, she talks about her pronouns, she's aggressive, et cetera. However, of all things, I wouldn't call her "easily offended". We see her get a little upset if someone is blatantly disrespectful, but she doesn't judge Magnus for not fully understanding- which is how it should be.
- I like how the series has little nods to the fact that trans/nonbinary people have always been around, with discussions about the roles they played in Viking times and Native American tribes during the Civil War era and before that. Halfborn and TJ have catching up to do, but they're as progressive as people from their times can be. I also love Magnus trying to understand Alex with a comparison to being forced to use his right hand. That's always a good way to learn to empathize.
- Alex's clay warrior, Pottery Barn, is Rick Riordan's first nonbinary character. They walked so that Epiales and Hiss-Majesty from The Sun and the Star could run, although that book was co-written by a nonbinary author. I can imagine some nonbinary readers finding Pottery Barn problematic, since they're not human, which could feel like "othering", similarly to having a nonbinary alien or robot. Personally, I think that since nonbinary humans are mentioned, even if one doesn't appear in person, and we see another clay warrior who is presumably male and uses he/him, it feels less like "othering" and more like clay warriors have different gender identities just like humans. I could also see people complaining that Pottery Barn being nonbinary doesn't impact either the story or their character and is ultimately unnecessary. I think it's nice to have a nonbinary character who's just allowed to exist. LGBTQ+ characters don't all have to be impactful.
- I had to include Alex and Magnus' second kiss, as it's the reason the fandom collectively agrees Magnus is pansexual. Canonically, Magnus doesn't put a label on his sexuality; he just knows he's queer in some form. He has a "fruity edge"; that's for sure. Oh, and if you're wondering why he looks like that, he's just gotten back from playing tug-o'-war over a pit of chocolate.
- Spoilers: the series ends with Magnus turning his late uncle's mansion into a shelter for homeless youth. Magnus mentions that Alex occasionally sits alone with one of the kids they've taken in while they let their feelings out and tell their story. I imagine many, though perhaps not all, those kids are trans or LGBTQ+ in some form, going back to what Magnus said about knowing many homeless trans teens. It's certainly something Alex would relate to.
- My headcannon is that Alex, like most trans and nonbinary people, was given a different name at birth and later changed it upon figuring out her identity. We don't learn her birth name because it's not important. Oh, and in case you don't get the joke, let me remind you this is Rick Riordan's Dionysus, a.k.a. Mr. D. narrating this comic. Mr. D. has a hard time with names; he calls Percy "Peter Johnson".
That's all for now.
- I've seen someone online say, "Alex Fierro: SJWs in Valhalla!", and I kinda get it. Alex does, in some ways, feel like a stereotypical "Tumblr SJW" trans person: she has colored hair, she talks about her pronouns, she's aggressive, et cetera. However, of all things, I wouldn't call her "easily offended". We see her get a little upset if someone is blatantly disrespectful, but she doesn't judge Magnus for not fully understanding- which is how it should be.
- I like how the series has little nods to the fact that trans/nonbinary people have always been around, with discussions about the roles they played in Viking times and Native American tribes during the Civil War era and before that. Halfborn and TJ have catching up to do, but they're as progressive as people from their times can be. I also love Magnus trying to understand Alex with a comparison to being forced to use his right hand. That's always a good way to learn to empathize.
- Alex's clay warrior, Pottery Barn, is Rick Riordan's first nonbinary character. They walked so that Epiales and Hiss-Majesty from The Sun and the Star could run, although that book was co-written by a nonbinary author. I can imagine some nonbinary readers finding Pottery Barn problematic, since they're not human, which could feel like "othering", similarly to having a nonbinary alien or robot. Personally, I think that since nonbinary humans are mentioned, even if one doesn't appear in person, and we see another clay warrior who is presumably male and uses he/him, it feels less like "othering" and more like clay warriors have different gender identities just like humans. I could also see people complaining that Pottery Barn being nonbinary doesn't impact either the story or their character and is ultimately unnecessary. I think it's nice to have a nonbinary character who's just allowed to exist. LGBTQ+ characters don't all have to be impactful.
- I had to include Alex and Magnus' second kiss, as it's the reason the fandom collectively agrees Magnus is pansexual. Canonically, Magnus doesn't put a label on his sexuality; he just knows he's queer in some form. He has a "fruity edge"; that's for sure. Oh, and if you're wondering why he looks like that, he's just gotten back from playing tug-o'-war over a pit of chocolate.
- Spoilers: the series ends with Magnus turning his late uncle's mansion into a shelter for homeless youth. Magnus mentions that Alex occasionally sits alone with one of the kids they've taken in while they let their feelings out and tell their story. I imagine many, though perhaps not all, those kids are trans or LGBTQ+ in some form, going back to what Magnus said about knowing many homeless trans teens. It's certainly something Alex would relate to.
- My headcannon is that Alex, like most trans and nonbinary people, was given a different name at birth and later changed it upon figuring out her identity. We don't learn her birth name because it's not important. Oh, and in case you don't get the joke, let me remind you this is Rick Riordan's Dionysus, a.k.a. Mr. D. narrating this comic. Mr. D. has a hard time with names; he calls Percy "Peter Johnson".
That's all for now.
Category Artwork (Digital) / Comics
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