Pinay superhero Pearl Pangan makes a splash as Peter Parker’s new crush
The Marvel Universe has always been a rich tapestry of heroes with diverse personalities, powers, and backstories. Among these, Spider-Man has always stood out as one of the most beloved, not just for his incredible abilities but also for his relatability and charm.
On Disney+, fans have had the chance to revisit Spider-Man in various animated series and live-action films, and one of the most exciting recent additions is “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man,” which just debuted on the platform last Jan. 29.
The show not only reintroduces Peter Parker in a fun, fresh way but also introduces new, exciting characters from across the Marvel Universe, including our very first Marvel Filipina superhero, Pearl Pangan, also known as Wave, who makes her debut in the show.
Wave brings a unique perspective and powerful abilities to Spider-Man’s expanding universe of allies, and her inclusion is a significant step in broadening the representation of global heroes in mainstream superhero stories. That was exactly the goal of the series.
Showrunner executive producer and head writer Jeff Trammell, along with supervising director Mel Zwyer, had an online chat with us at around 5 a.m. Philippine time, just to know what’s up.
Jeff said that it was his initiative to ask Marvel to have Pearl in the storyline, “including Pearl meant a lot to me, even early on, I knew I wanted to have this vast diversity since the setting is New York. Right now, I’ve already worked with so many Filipinos from my previous show, and I want Filipinos to be represented. I said to Marvel, ‘Can I use Pearl?’ and Marvel said yes, so and it means a lot to me to have her in this show. It is her first time to be in an animated series.”
What makes Wave’s presence in the series especially significant is the representation she brings to the screen. As one of the first Filipino superheroes in the Marvel Universe, Wave provides Filipino fans with a hero they can relate to and be proud of. In a landscape often dominated by Western superheroes and men at that, her inclusion in the show helps ensure that the diverse cultures of the world are reflected in the media of today. Wave’s character serves as a reminder that heroism knows no boundaries and that powerful stories can come from all corners of the globe.
Just a little backtrack, Wave first appeared in the comic book War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas back in 2019, and she was created by our kababayan Leinil Francis Yu.
After her debut, Pearl quickly became an important figure in the comics universe of Marvel. Pearl, a marine biologist from the Philippines who hails from Cebu, possesses the ability to manipulate water, making her not only an environmental champion but also a formidable force in battle.
Her powers, which enable her to control the sea, create tidal waves, and shape water into weapons, are visually stunning and offer a fresh dynamic when paired with Spider-Man’s acrobatic and agile fighting style.
But in the series, as it is based on the generation of Spider-man’s youth, fans can expect this from Pearl: “Pearl is an upperclassman to Peter Parker, and he has a bit of a crush on her! She is a very smart capable person. She’s very good at swimming, too.”
Catch Pearl break in on TV on the show “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man” out on Disney Plus now.
- Latest
- Trending
