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Mon Dec 21
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| posts about #blacksuperheroes more → |
Why James Rhodes Is Comics' Ideal Black Hero |
Fox News Only 40 Years Too Late In Calling For Black Superheroes |
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io9 
11/22/09
They did what to John Stewart's backstory?!?! I don't feel so bad about dropping out of reading comics after learning that.
11/23/09
You can blame the Justice League/Justice League Unlimited cartoon for that one.
Everyone liked that version of Stewart so much that DC just followed suit and added, "Marine," to John's resume.
11/22/09
The funny thing is, I've met many other black comic book fans. Latino comic fans, too. It seems to me like black and/or minority heroes in general should be more successful, but yet there's only a string of cancelled titles. Perhaps the problem is actually the paucity of books with a black protagonist. Since there's usually only a few going on at a time, it's seen as something different from the norm. So a black leading character attracts extra attention, which may increase the pressure on the creative team to make a "statement" about the black/minority experience. And that can turn some people off, Especially if they don't understand, can't relate to, or disagree with that author's statement. Various writers who've worked on Captain America have complained of a similar problem. Simply too much symbolic weight is added to the character, and it becomes leaden.
The other question is one of identification. Much of the old-guard comic book audience is white, and they'll want to see heroes they can identify with, that they can imagine themselves being. So they'll be more interested in protagonists that look like them, or some image of what they want to look like. That's just natural, but it does place an extra onus on a black character.
The weird thing is that books with alien heroes as their protagonist have done just fine. I'd like to think that's because regardless of the color of our skin, we all feel like aliens sometimes.
11/22/09
11/22/09
11/22/09
11/22/09
You know, I have a suspicion that the first truly successful black superhero will be written by the first author who learns to never or rarely think of the character as a black superhero. Just as a superhero.
11/22/09
#calendar
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
Maybe the crux of the problem is symbolism. Okay, I'm going deep into Lacanian territory here, but follow me: All literature is by it's nature symbollic. The word "Tree" is not an actual tree, but a symbol for a tree. (insert Choamsky blather here) So when an author (and particularly an American author) is creating a new character for their comic or novel or whatever, it's very tempting to make the choice about the race of your character be a symbolic one. In fact, it's very hard not to make it symbolic, because many of your critics and readers will still see it as a symbolic choice. They'll see the character and will have to engage that history on at least some level in order to identify with them.
That can be quite a burden, but it's one that people can overcome, particularly with good writing to help.
11/21/09
11/21/09
11/21/09
Personally I think black people have shortchanged themselves terribly. Decades of voting Dem have gotten them mostly nothing because the Dem politicians have convinced them that voting conservative is "racist".
11/21/09
11/21/09
Many of the Southern Democrats who backed Jim Crow got forced out of the party and snatched up by the Republicans (Strom Thurmond being the most prominent example). Beyond that, the Republicans openly courted Southerners who felt betrayed by LBJ signing the Civil Rights Act and fearful of the newly-empowered black men in their midst. They really weren't particularly subtle about it then, unlike now (when they do much the same thing, but don't voice it quite as loudly).
Try reading this, just to get started.
11/22/09
Or to put it another way, it's an unoffical part of the republican party platform to be a douche. I usually vote dem. Not because Im in any way convinced of the greatness of the party ( not at all ) but because so many republicans are flaming psychos.
11/22/09
A historical look at the two US political parties is always incredibly revealing and easily confusing - way more convoluted than the political history of Labour and the Dem's over here.
11/22/09
It still is nowhere near cut and dry. #calendar
11/22/09
11/23/09
What I meant from the "shortchange" comment is that Dems don't have to work to keep the black vote.
Black people are basically getting nothing but the status quo from Democrats because they give their vote so freely. #tips
11/23/09
That's the dilemma that they face, and it's the same dilemma that I (as a non-Christian) face.
11/21/09
11/21/09
Hello there, Mr. Racist.
11/21/09
11/22/09
11/21/09
This site is disgusting sometimes.
11/21/09
11/21/09
11/22/09
11/21/09
11/22/09
11/21/09
Furthermore, you're missing out on Bloodwynd who held Doomsday at bay for a bit until the League showed up and ruined the party; Black Lightning (and his daughters), static.
Additionally, let's put this into some RECENT perspective: James Rhodes no longer uses StarkTech in his armors, his armor (currently) is some other variety of tech modifgied by rhodes and shield, for his usage. I don't think Rhodes used stark armor since he acquire the Eidolon Warwear. Rhodes might have started as a sidekick but he has long since become his own hero, without requiring Stark to prop him up.
Also, I think we're missing one of the bigger characters: Josiah Power, founder of the Power Company, a sucessful lawyer, and he's GAY. That's not to mention that superman claimed that Power was one of the most powerful men that he'd ever met.
11/21/09
Steel is the Comics Ideal Black Hero, because he was played by Shaq.
11/21/09
11/23/09
Man, Kazaam can really kick some ass when he gets into some armor.
11/21/09
11/21/09
I can assemble twice as many snarky points to prove it too :)
11/21/09
11/21/09
11/21/09
John Stewart is NOT a replacement for Hal Jordan in my eyes. I was completely ignorant of the Green Lantern's history as a kid because I didn't understand how to read comic books, but the Justice League cartoon basically solidified John Stewart as the Green Lantern for me.
When I first saw Hal Jordan, I was actually *pissed* because I thought they had killed off John Stewart and replaced him.
John Stewart wasn't the first Green Lantern, but I think he stands out on his own as a good character and I will always think of him before Hal Jordan when I hear the name Green Lantern.
11/21/09
11/21/09
Thanks,
Communist Pope
President & CEO, His Own Personal GL Fan Club (and by GL he means '80s/'90s-era Guy Gardner)
11/21/09
11/21/09
It's like the hue and cry that goes up every now and then from the comics establishment that they can't figure out those darn women folk. As if writing for women or anyone other than brawny white punching-men is some great cosmic mystery?
Write convincing characters, give them honest stories, avoid cliche and for God's sake avoid stereotype. That alone would put you in the 90th percentile of most superhero comics.
11/21/09
Its almost like they don't read tvtropes.org in their downtime.
11/21/09