Comments on: Crossing Lines: Deconstructing Black Superheroes

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.

By: James Taylor

James Taylor — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:15:09 +0000

I had always liked comics, and I think there are some, though not a representative number, of non-white super heroes.

Of course, the complaint about “them” not looking “pure” enough makes me concerned since we are all “mixing.” Now, how are those who are the offspring of white and black, hispanic and black, hispanic and asian, asian and white, etc. supposed to feel because someone,not me, is now saying they don’t look….pure.

I don’t know the word that should be used, but I am not sure “pure” is it…

Hero? Go read Black Gun, Silver Star. Real life–Nothing like that kind of hero

By: Bankuei

Bankuei — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:28:50 +0000

It’s pretty telling how many names people are pulling up here, and the way in which so many of these superheroes are left as supporting characters, not carried over, explored, or brought back.

It’s both a sign of how the writers of the big two aren’t clued in (or just don’t care) about COC of their own universes and how much “Oh, I’ll just make a NEW token. There, happy now?”

By: Carole McDonnell

Carole McDonnell — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:59:03 +0000

What about Verb from Schoolhouse Rock? -C

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:07:59 +0000

What about Falcon? Christopher Priest wrote a brilliant run of Captain America and the Falcon a few years ago and it was absolutely top-notch. If you haven’t read it, it’s worth hunting down. Priest’s stuff is always very layered–a surface that fits the genre but also a running commentary on other issues, society, politics, etc.

By: Luis Contes

Luis Contes — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:19:16 +0000

Someone mentioned Cecilia Reyes, But she’s Puerto Rican not black. Anywho, Mr.Terrific from JSA is pretty cool.