Where are the strong, black, male superheroes?
Comic Reviews for week ending 4/24/2022
Good morning, my friend,
I’ve been pondering a question but haven’t come up with an answer. Or at least, the one answer that makes sense is one that’s too despicable to accept without proof.
Where are all the strong, black, male heroes in DC and Marvel?
They exist in the greater canon of both companies. They pop up… once in a while. But, why don’t they have their own titles regularly appearing in solicits? Why aren’t they leading superhero teams? Where are they?
I was fortunate to appear on the Comics Aficionados roundtable yesterday, and the subject of diversity was a recurring theme throughout the show. You can hear my thoughts on the topic (and many others) via the video below.
While we discuss the topic of a lack of prominent, black, male superheroes, there is no clear answer other than DC and Marvel’s publishing group chooses not to make them a priority. If I allow myself to wander toward a cynical conclusion, the answer is that Marvel and DC don’t want to place black men in a position of prominence, or on the rare occasion that they do, it’s a poorly conceived mantle swap (see: Tim/Jayce Fox becoming Batman, Sam Wilson/Falcon becoming Captain America). I can’t say for sure what’s the intention of both companies, but it doesn’t look good from the outside.
What we do know is that both publishers have a plethora of black male characters going back decades. Everyone from Black Lightning to Luke Cage to John Stewart/Green Lantern to Black Panther and dozens more are established, recognizable, and ready for action.
Yet, all these characters languish or get abruptly canceled (BlackPanther being the rare exception). Luke Cage is currently in the midst of his 50th anniversary year, and the only appearance Marvel could muster is as a supporting character in a small-ish Daredevil event (Devil’s Reign). A mini starring the popular character was slated as a tie-in to Devil’s Reign but was abruptly scrapped at the last minute.
Why? The tea on that topic hasn’t been spilled but what we do know is that Marvel didn’t feel Luke Cage was strong enough to warrant a stand-alone series (mini or otherwise) without tying him into another character’s event, and we know they gave the writing duties to a writer with no experience writing superhero comics, for Marvel or anyone else. Why does Marvel think so little of one of their strong, black, male characters? A character who’s lasted for 50 years? A character who had a critically well-received Netflix show?
It’s a mystery. But what I can say for sure is I don’t like it. In an era of comics where you can’t turn your eyes 5 degrees to the left or right without hearing about the Big 2 pushing for diversity and inclusion, it’s mind-boggling to me that the materials for diversity are all present but are summarily ignored.
All I can do is ask “why?”, and I’ll keep asking until I hear an answer or until things change.
What do you think? Am I making something out of nothing? Is there plenty of strong, black, male representation in the Big 2? Or, are you seeing what I’m seeing?
Leave a comment below to tell me what you think, and share this newsletter with your friends so they can chime in as well.
Now, let’s get on with the comics.
This Week’s [Deals of the Day]
[DotD] Jane Foster Thor Funko Pop!
[DotD] Disney Plus Moon Knight Pop! Vinyl Figure
*SOLD OUT* [DotD] Avengers: Infinity War Iron Spider Pop! Vinyl Figure
[DotD] Batman Logo 18 oz. Ceramic Travel Mug
GRIMM TALES OF TERROR QUARTERLY: SEA OF SOULS – Review
SPEED REPUBLIC #3 – Review
JOHN CARTER OF MARS #1 – Review
JENNIFER BLOOD (VOL. 2) #7 – Review
HELL SONJA #4 – Review
ARMORCLADS #2 – Review
BLOOD, SKULLS, AND CHROME #3 – Review
STEAMPUNK SNOW WHITE #1 – Review
BLOWTORCH #4 – Review
DAVID BYRNE’S CANCELED – Review
EVERMORE #1 – Indie Review
THE RIVER OF BLOOD – Indie Review
Lead City #2 (Red 5 Comics)
Oz Annual: Dominion of Ozmo (Zenescope Entertainment)
Grimm Fairy Tales #59 (Zenescope Entertainment)
Grimm Universe Presents: Dracula's Daughter (Zenescope Entertainment)
Draculina #3 (Dynamite Comics)
Red Sonja (Vol. 6) #8 (Dynamite Comics)
Vampirella / Dracula: Unholy #5 (Dynamite Comics)
Barbarella (Vol. 2) #9 (Dynamite Comics)
We Don't Kill Spiders #4 (Scout Comics)
The Harbinger #7 (Valiant Entertainment)
C.H.E.S.S. #4 (Second Sight Publishing)
Silence #2 (Second Sight Publishing)
Young Rebels #1 (Indie Submission)
Big Bang Adventures #14 (Indie Submission)
That’s the shortlist. We’ll add more as time and resources allow.
Again, thanks for your support. Please share (the handy dandy ‘Share’ button is down below) this newsletter with everyone you can. Your support ensures we can keep bringing you great content for a very long time.
Also, follow us on all the socials (FB, IG, TW, etc.) via @ComicalOpinions
Have a great day!