Comments

1. Tony wrote:

   While there is a freaking legion of issues with black characters in comics, I must disagree with the whole “Well, they replaced someone, so they’re less than the guy they replaced” thing.

   Remember, Hal Jordan was basically a replacement for Alan Scott.
   (And Hal was also later ‘replaced’ by Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner)
   Wally West was the replacement Flash of another replacement Flash
   And then there’s the sidekicks who get replaced alot (We’re on the 5th Robin IIRC)

   Being a “Replacement character” is really the single most popular origin in superhero comics.
   Yes, most black characters are ‘replacement characters’ but that’s because most comic characters are.

   Look at the JSA, it’s basically made up of 2 groups
   1-The original orignals (the first GL, the first Flash)
   2-The “Replacements” which make up the vast majority of the team.

   Posted 01 Dec 2009 at 3:34 pm ¶

2. DanL wrote:

   I saw this article when it was originally posted at io9 and I think the author is trying to make a point about the nature of black comic heroes that the title doesn’t necessarily sell. I think typical would have been a better term. The comments section isn’t too bad with a fair number of people pointing to Storm as the ideal black super hero given her powers, origin, and general lack of everything the author pointed out.

   Posted 01 Dec 2009 at 4:10 pm ¶

3. napthia9 wrote:

   There’s a lot of hero-replacement going on in comics, but some replacements stick and others don’t. (Ryan Choi vs Jaime the new Blue Beetle?)

   One of the i09 commentators pointed out that they were shocked John Stewart wasn’t the original lantern, and I have to second the influence of cartoon series on determining which person we expect to see in a given costume. But then, the original Batman movie cast a black actor as Harvey Dent, but that change never stuck- probably because the character wasn’t important to the plot and because later writers weren’t committed to that change. So it seems like whether a character will develop substance on his/her own depends on how familiar/likeable they are to audiences AND on whether writers will continue to use them? (Sort of how Heroes lists certain characters as regulars, but does very little with them so that in practice, they’re not as memorable/important?)

   Posted 01 Dec 2009 at 6:37 pm ¶

4. Jess wrote:

   As someone who has a little take on comics back in the day (I’m old enough to remember a 35 cent book):

   I think there’s a lot of issues with black superheroes, hell, with non-American, foreign heroes generally. But the replacement thing I think could just as well be read as an attempt to rectify things. I mean, remember, there weren’t so many black artists working in the 30s, when Superman made his first appearances, and that pattern held true really all the way into the 70s.

   So it stands to reason that a lot of heroes ended up being white with the only non-white ones being stereotypes, at least until the late 70s. Even then it wasn’t all that good, but I chalk it up to bad research and the fact that these are comic book artists, not ethnic historians, and they aren’t always the most hip folks. But at least they made some attempts, however ill-informed and sometimes silly. (I give ‘em a bit of credit because if you are trying at all, you at least see a problem).

   Those are the kinds of issues I think could be more salient and work better here. But if anything, I think the situation has improved a bit in the last 20 years or so. Slowly, in fits and starts, but it is a bit better than it was. But I am looking at it from the outside. I’d want to know how people feel black characters are handled now, and whether it has gotten better (even if it isn’t perfect).

   Also, what of Luke Cage? Misty Knight? Yes it was the 70s. But I always thought those were interesting cases. An example, I think, of a failed attempt at consciousness raising. Or the Falcon, who predates them both.

   (I remember a toy advertisement from when I was a kid. It was for action figures for the Marvel heroes. One of the tag lines was “The Falcon, the winged black superhero!” Like Mattel, I think it was, really wanted everyone to know that. It sounds almost offensive now, but again, that’s to me and I am an outsider to that).

   Posted 01 Dec 2009 at 8:44 pm ¶

5. Keith wrote:

   @Jess – The reason you saw the emergence of black characters in the 70’s was due to the success of Blaxploitation films. Had nothing to do with correcting wrongs.

   Black characters for the most part lack the powers their white counterpart have, but are usually very educated and clever. It’s kind how some movies will have a POC in a movie for a few scenes but make them highly educated to somehow make up for it. The only character that doesn’t follow the mold is the Blue Marvel who appeared in his own miniseries during Marvel civil war and before secret invasion, but I am not sure he will be part of the regular Marvel universe

   Posted 01 Dec 2009 at 11:21 pm ¶

6. Keith wrote:

   I wanted to add what they lack in powers they make up with overachieving in other ways.

   Posted 01 Dec 2009 at 11:34 pm ¶

7. Tony wrote:

   @Keith.

   Both could be true.

   Luke Cage and Misty Knight were rather obviously created due to the Blaxploitation boom, looking and (as much as comics would allow) acting alot like Blaxploitation characters.

   Black Panther and Black Lightning never really acted like Blaxploitation characters.

   Plus you have writers who before TRIED to have black characters, but were denied the opportunity.

   Allow me to quote Jim Shooter.

   “Ferro Lad (who was masked, remember) was supposed to be black.

   My plan was that when this was revealed, no one would bat an eye—it would be a total non-issue as one might expect in the enlightened future.

   Mort vetoed it on the grounds that if we had a black character ID wholesaler distributors in the South would refuse to carry DC Comics.”

   So, not only did he want a character to be black, he wanted to present race as a future non-issue (in the 1966).

   So, if we’re to believe what Shooter says, it’s kind of obvious some people DID want more black heroes, and wanted them before Blaxploitation even existed.

   Posted 02 Dec 2009 at 1:42 am ¶

8. Keith wrote:

   @Tony – I made the point of stating “The reason you saw the emergence of black characters in the 70’s was due to the success of Blaxploitation films.” for a reason. I am not talking about ideas someone may or may not have had, I am talking about actual green lighted projects.

   I don’t think most of us are old enough to understand how BIG Blaxploitation films were back in the 70’s and how important they were to Hollywood at the time. They saved Hollywood and have had a big influence on mainstream films till this day.

   Their was a black comic book character named lobo back in the 60’s he was a sheriff I think.

   Posted 02 Dec 2009 at 2:31 am ¶

9. Jess wrote:

   @Keith — yeah I get that Luke Cage and Misty Knight were products of blaxploitation at the time — I was thinking more of the spate of minority characters that started to appear after that and wasn’t all that clear, and the fact that even though it was blaxploitation lite, as you note those films were popular and an outlet for black-identified people to be in the media in some way, however bad it was, you know? And, as you say, it worked out well for Hollywood.

   So I wasn’t thinking that a bunch of artists and writers were correcting wrongs in the way we might think of now, just that they figured it was time to have some in there (and kind of realizing that the universe they had was a bit white bread). I don’t credit them with being terribly conscious in the way you or I might be.

   I mean let me put it another way: Star Trek (the original series) was full of stereotypes and ridiculousness, but it at least had a rather admirably internationalist outlook, given that it was produced in 1966.

   Anyhow, I hadn’t drawn the difference in black characters’ powers — the ones I remember best are

   Sunspot
   Luke Cage
   Misty Knight
   Cloak (from Cloak and Dagger)
   The Falcon
   Back Panther
   Storm
   (That’s Marvel)

   From DC (which I never read much of) there was Cyborg from the Teen Titans, and Green Lantern (post 1990 I guess??). The latter is one of the most powerful characters int he DC universe, I thought.

   The Marvel Universe people seem to be all over the place, powers-wise, so I am not sure your thesis holds up there, but I would want a bigger sample.

   Anyhow, don’t think I don’t understand that black (and minority characters generally) aren’t usually handled well — I mean, I always thought the origin story for Storm was chock full of “primitive African” stereotyping, and the “black” dialogue they used to stick Luke Cage with was groan-inducing. (Even for me as a kid who had never been to Harlem, I knew it was ridiculous). And don’t get me started on any character who isn’t a native English speaker. (People who speak foreign languages evidently always forget the word for “yes.”)

   But that’s how I would frame it — the stereotypes are often a lot more obvious and silly, you know? You needn’t delve into what powers people have. But again, I’d want to check out a larger sample of characters for that kind of thing, so I’ll reserve judgment there.

   Posted 02 Dec 2009 at 8:13 am ¶

10. Benjamin Meoz wrote:

    I guess I have two things to add to this discussion. One is Spawn, created by Todd McFarlane. Spawn is an original character who is Black. And also if you have not seen the opening sequence to the film “Chasing Amy” it begins at a comic convention with a Black comic book creator talking about this issue.

    It can be viewed here.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMCki0Z_AlA

    Posted 02 Dec 2009 at 12:30 pm ¶

11. Luis wrote:

    You’re missing example #3 for Rhodey:

    He inevitably becomes a cyborg

    If a black character doesn’t start his career as a futuristic machine-man (Cyborg from DC) then make sure they’re eventually stripped of human parts and turned into an unthreatening sexual being by way of prosthetics (Bishop, War Machine).

    They can only get out of this by having energy powers (Black Lightning, Static, even Black Panther uses Vibranium).

    In all seriousness, the buffoon that was Power Man/Luke Cage in the 70s has fallen away to make one of the more interesting characters in comics right now, thanks to Brian Michael Bendis. He is one of the few Black heroes whose powers involve super-strength/invulnerability (a traditionally masculine trait in comics, previously reserved for Black villains). He has a family. He was the leader of the Avengers for a while after Capt. America died (I was disappointed when he gave it up to Hawkeye, but better to have loved and lost…). The way he’s treated will be a bellwether for Black characters in comics.

    I was also always a fan of the new Blue Beetle. His series lasted as long as most new series, so that was heartening. There were issues in Spanish, including an untranslated special issue. They’re now using the character as the main “team-up” character in DC, which was something Spider-Man did in Marvel way back. It’s a good sign for the longevity of a Latino superhero, and for DC’s support for him.

    Posted 02 Dec 2009 at 12:40 pm ¶

12. Keith wrote:

    “The Marvel Universe people seem to be all over the place, powers-wise, so I am not sure your thesis holds up there, but I would want a bigger sample.”

    Not really when compared to their peers, Falcon compared to Captain America. Black Panther compared to the fantastic four or the rest of the Illuminati. Similar to how female characters like she hulk, and spider women tend to be weaker than their male counter parts She-hulk is about class 75 while Spider women is class 7. compared to hulk class 100+ and spider man class 10.

    I think you are not getting what I am saying about why blaxspliotation was important. Their wouldn’t have been a push for black characters after the success of comic book characters from that era if they weren’t green lit in the first place.

    Posted 02 Dec 2009 at 2:58 pm ¶

13. Cailyn wrote:

    This article, besides bringing up great points, makes me feel woefully uneducated on the genera as a whole.

    Posted 03 Dec 2009 at 1:32 am ¶

14. Jess wrote:

    @Keith — no, I got why blaxploitation was important, but maybe I was viewing it in a different way — I was framing it as blaxploitation was one of many things that pushed minority characters to the forefront, and while the comics editors were probably thinking “Hey, we should have this, it looks like money” there was also a change in the culture generally, you know?

    (I mean, Lois Lane was once recast as a black woman around that time, believe it or not — and it’s one of those well-meaning but cringe-worthy stories that seems to miss the point, but it was 1971).

    I still am not sure I buy that “black characters are always less powerful,” but like I said, my sample size of recent work (at least in the regular Marvel stuff) a bit small and the data set may be really, really flawed. So I’ll disagree with you — but only conditionally.

    I do see what you are saying about female counterparts to male heroes –that pattern dates back to the 50s when they started introducing Supergirl and was even more irritating when I used to read any 1960s-70s-era story with Susan Richards in it. It wasn’t until the 80s that I remember any writers — and I think Claremont was among the first — to realize that she should be arguably the most powerful member of the Fantastic Four.

    But for black (or minority characters generally) characters, can you draw a one-to-one comparison like that? Who is the white counterpart to Cloak, for instance? Storm? And Green Lantern is arguably one of the most powerful entities in the DC Universe.

    So I’m with you that there are all sorts of other issues, unrelated to the powers they attribute to them (or rather, that the stuff Graeme McMillan is talking abut manifests itself differently, see my comment about Storm’s origin story — did they ever change that? I hope so… ).

    (What’s a class 100 et cetera? Is that from a game? I was lost on that one. I am old But if that’s some kind of numerical comparison and you can tell me where to get the numbers, I’ll make up a sheet and we can test the hypothesis, if crudely).

    @Luis — I will have to pick up some more recent Luke Cage stories. I’ve heard great things about Bendis.

    Posted 03 Dec 2009 at 1:45 pm ¶

15. Keith wrote:

    Picking black characters at random does not really prove that the problem I mentioned doesn’t exist I mentioned how female characters who’s male counter parts tend to be stronger and you agreed but I could easy take characters out of context to make the point against it like super girl is stronger than bat man, or Ms Marvel is more powerful than spider man.

    Another thing ability and being powerful are 2 different things. Cloak is basically a drug addict who must feed off of cloak’s ora or absorb people into the dark force dimension in order to sustain himself and his teleportation ability has it’s limitation to others. Mutants magik and pixie teleported the entire Atlantian race to the other side of the world without breaking a sweat while cloak struggled with transporting a few hundred heroes from both factions of the civil war to the middle of Manhattan.

    I don’t really follow DC but compared to the Green lanterns the only advantage that John Stewart has is he was an architect so his constructs tend to be more solid. While both Hal Jordan and Kyle Ryner have had power upgrades from time to time. Storm is a possible omega level mutant but their are issues I have with her appearance when it comes to exotification of POC women.

    A good example would be comparing Black Golith who can reach 25 feet and still remain stable but can only life 1000 pounds. while wife beater Henry Pym as Giant man at 25 feet can lift about 10 to 15 tons, at 50 feet can lift 25 tons and at 100 feet can lift 50 tons.

    Posted 04 Dec 2009 at 12:40 am ¶

16. j wrote:

    Check out Spawn. The old spawn was black till he offed himself. Now he’s white.

    Posted 05 Dec 2009 at 2:24 am ¶

17. Reiter wrote:

    Wow, I’m surprised no one mentioned the character Blade yet. He’s a pretty popular black superhero who wasn’t a replacement or sidekick to anyone. He may have started off as a Blaxploitation character though as far as his comic book origins, but don’t quote me on that. All I know is that Wesley Snipe’s movies (I loved the first two films, the third not so much) about the character showed him off to be badass and a hero that can definitely hold his own as a star to carry a movie (until the third one anyway, when they introduced Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel’s “meh” characters, though Reynolds’ Hannibal King character had his moments).

    Posted 08 Dec 2009 at 2:49 am ¶

18. nick wrote:

    I was also wondering when someone was going to mention Blade. I’m not a comic book fan (at all) but I thought the first two films were awesome.

    He’s cool, tough, humorous, and his sidekick is a white guy.

    I know that one swallow does not a summer make, but I think he’s definitely worth considering.

    Posted 30 Dec 2009 at 5:21 pm ¶