Originally Posted by
Rodin
Another interesting realization I had today was that flipping it in a different way doesn't provoke the same reaction - A black man becoming Thor, and a woman becoming Captain America.
I guess it really does come down to the feeling that Thor is a mythological figure. If it's a super-hero, it's an alias that changes easily. If it's a super using the name of a god, there's certain things you expect. The only other gender-flips I can think of that cause the same thought are the "something-man" ones, for obvious reasons. If Batman's going on sabbatical, Batgirl/Batwoman can take over, but don't leave the name Batman.
The folks flipping out over the Captain America one are the only folks I don't have sympathy for in this one.