Comments on: Crossing Lines: Deconstructing Black Superheroes

By: Monique

Monique — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 04:52:37 +0000

Wallruss….thank you, thank you, thank you! My sister and I have tried and tried to get people to remember the cartoon, but they look at us as if we have LOST it. I am so glad someone else knows what we are talking about and that they are in fact MEMORABLE!

By: Enigma

Enigma — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 22:11:43 +0000

In my opinion…While it isn’t extremely important to look at comic book characters for their ethnicity, there’s a greater aspect behind it. The created image of a ‘beautiful, strong, superheroine’ should VARY. Doesn’t that sound fair? Imagine if all heroes were white, as once upon a time ago. Do we remember the mindset back then? Creating these figures with only one color says much about the face of today, Hollywood, the media in general. And it takes a toll on that little black girl that sees beauty and strength in white characters only – how would she see herself? Beautiful as well? Strong like them? Equal? We know this issues goes greater than ‘who cares what color these fake superheroes/heroines are!’ When the young audience looks at this..The issue is much greater.

To say it doesn’t matter seems a bit ignorant. Let’s go ahead and say music and fashion plays no part of who you are. Let’s say what we see on tv has no impact whatsoever. Do we really believe media plays only as a source of entertainment? That’s what it’s suppose to be. That’s what it’s not.

By: Ace

Ace — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:44:05 +0000

overall*

By: Ace

Ace — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:43:22 +0000

knowledgible*

By: Ace

Ace — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:42:22 +0000

Wow. I felt moved to say some things:
Firstly, post 30 (the last one before mine) was downright painful. *Sigh*
Secondly – 2005’s Catwoman (Halle Berry) does not count as anything other than an example of a bad black character. More on that later.
Third – James (of post 25 fame) has a point. Should we really be debating the presence of ethnic features in comic book art? That’s at or near the point of both being anal and racist, in my view.
Fourth – I, too, felt the Black Marriage was totally forced. Prior to the requisite tie-in retcon, there was little—that I know of, anyway—to even indicate that they knew each other. Now, of course, they’re starcrossed lovers from the same country/village, but the initial news of this union struck me as a major WTF. Not racist, mind you, just random and stupid. I mean, instead of marrying, couldn’t they at least date first? (I know, “African customs,” but still.)
Fifth, (perhaps that should have been firstly, but whatever,) I will say that I’m glad to see this article, and at least some of the accompanying comments (didn’t know Bishop was Aussie). I didn’t bother with the BV slideshow in the first place; I hate internet slideshows, as a rule, and the top image/character (Frozone) made me cringe a little. I’m glad someone was willing to parse through it and highlight the BS.

Lastly, regarding the black Cat (Patience Philips, not Felicia “Party” Hardy); I’m not familiar with your history Naamen, but you seem to be a fairly rational and knowledge sort. With that in mind, I’m left simply to quote Drew Pinsky and Seth Meyers; really, Naamen? Really?

I think 2005’s Catwoman is just above the Schumacher films, in terms of blasphemy. And, uh, last I checked, North America’s audiences and critics agree with me. That you’d even mention her as something legitimate scares me. I’d be going too far if I said you put your entire article (and over geek cred) in question, but it’s close.

By: DANGERMAN Urban Superhero

DANGERMAN Urban Superhero — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:11:35 +0000

All I can say is this is very interesting stuff. See I’m not the Man of Steel but I’m keep’in it real I’m not a hater or the Caped Crusader.

By: Martha Washington = Rosario Dawson? | afrobella

Martha Washington = Rosario Dawson? | afrobella — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:24:24 +0000

[...] DarkFantasy’s article about Deconstructing Black Superheroes. [...]

By: Link Dump: Wristfail and Racefail Edition | Rebecca Allen: A Nerd at Peace

Link Dump: Wristfail and Racefail Edition | Rebecca Allen: A Nerd at Peace — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:31:46 +0000

[...] Crossing Lines: Deconstructing Black Superheroes I know a lot of people out there wonder why it matters. These are, after all, only imaginary superheroes. Why does the way they are created and portrayed matter so much? The answer is because they perpetuate the stereotypes as they play on them, they reinforce these ideas within the minds of fans. We are meant to look upon most superheroes as just that — heroes. We are meant to look up at them as people to emulate and aspire to be. This makes it especially unfortunate that black superheroes and specifically the ones chosen for this list are part of a pattern that continues to portray black people on the basis of opinions and stereotypes formed decades and even centuries ago, a pattern that continues to erase black women from any kind of discourse or agency. For a medium that endeavors to look into other worlds and possibilities, it seems reluctant to release the preconceptions of this one and that’s a true shame. This list doesn’t help dispel any of that at all. [...]

By: Marta

Marta — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:04:47 +0000

My granddaughter wants to be a superhero; I’d like to find her a female black superhero statute or action figure for Christmas. Monica Rambeau appeals to me, but I don’t see anything available other than a ‘heroclix’ game figure (my granddaughter is 3!). Please don’t suggest Storm — she’s become so white recently, Hale Berry notwithstanding. Thanks very much, grandma

By: wallruss

wallruss — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:31:42 +0000

Are any of you old enough to remember Superstretch and Microwoman? They were a Black married couple on Saturday morning cartoons. Oh and what about the Schoolhouse Rock episode about Verbs? That was another Black superhero moment on TV.