Black Superheroes On the Web

Black Superhero stories from around the web:

• Black Superhero Luke Cage Ignites Marvel Comics
• Cyborg for Mayor of DC
• Female, Muslim, and mutant
• Why Aren't There More Black Superheroes?
• Black People want affirmative action superheroes
• 
  

Re: The Black Panel at Comic-Con International

• Criticism of Comic Con’s “The Black Panel”
• Niggapalooza

N-Word? PLEASE!

Use of a racial insult in

Comic Books

By Prof. William H. Foster III

This is fair warning. As a famous oversized rapper once said, “it’s about to get ugly.”

It’s 2009 and the controversy lives on – the proper or improper use of a certain word. Who will be “allowed” to use the N-word and who won’t? The simplistic argument usually goes like this –“Why is it okay for Black rappers and comedians to use the N-Word and not okay for White people to say it?” “C’mon, it’s just a word. What difference does it make?”

But let’s be real. Everyone, even the densest of commentators suspects why the word is not for use in polite conversation. It has a complex history and despite all attempts to change it from an incredible ugly insult to a common everyday descriptive has failed. The word is a nexus for a number of sensitive issues – censorship, American history, power, and much more. It embodies issues that many Americans don’t ever want to think about, let alone talk over or deal with.

Well, if we can’t use it in conversation, how about the appearance of the N-word in comic books? Surely there couldn’t be a problem with the use of racial pejoratives in this fun filled, happy medium? Well, not exactly.
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You may wonder how things were done in the so-called innocent, white bread, and censor-prone days of yore. You’d be surprised. In the 1940s, a series of comic books was created to encourage young people to read classic literature. Back then, maintaining the integrity of the original work, albeit with the added incentive of graphic images, was considered important by both publishers and educators. Classic Illustrated Comics didn’t flinch to use the historically accurate N-Word. The works of Samuel Clements -- Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, Pudd’Nhead Wilson -- all still proudly carried the currently denounced word. Even the “Narrative of Fredrick Douglass” and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” didn’t expunge it. And while these comics are still available and the original tomes are required reading in schools and colleges across the country, the appearance of the N-Word in contemporary classrooms is not always tolerated without heated debate or the very real threat of censorship.

Back in the wild and radical 1960s and 70s, there emerged a new crop of young radical artists and writers. They seemed hell-bent on being as controversial, edgy, and offensive as possible Even in the heyday of underground comics, the N-word was rarely used. Apparently there was line that even the most rabid revisionist wouldn’t cross.

In 1997, Acclaim Comics’ great but under-appreciated series, Quantum and Woody, tried a unique approach to the N-word. They featured a story in issue #4 where the N-word was replaced with the word “noogie.” It expertly made fun of the controversy and is one of the funniest comic stories I ever read, but hey, I have a sense of humor. If you get a chance, pick up a copy of this issue – it still holds up.


But enough talk of the distant past. How do current comic books really fair in this race to control what we say, think and print? A few years back Marvel Comics’ reinvented title, Black Panther, weathered an appearance of the expression, “work like an N-word” (used by a white character, mind you) even though there were a storm of angry letters and much public debate. Four years ago their Max Comics line showcased the word, in their Supreme Power: Nighthawk book (about a very severe Black vigilante super guy) albeit as racist graffiti. In 2007 the Black character Barracuda, the character in The Punisher Presents: Barracuda use the supposedly least offensive version (“nigga”) to open and close the first issue. I guess I should also mention that Barracuda is not exactly a role model for anyone with his use of all kinds of obscene language, gratuitous violence, and public urination.

The popular current series Loveless by Vertigo (DC Comics’ “adult” line) is about the fictional lives of Americans just after the Civil War. This historically accurate comic book uses the N-word in its narrative regularly. It seems despite any number of censorship watchdogs that at least one main stream comic publisher is resisting the current trend to re-write history, even as fiction.

As an artist, a historian, and an educator I see this discussion, heated or otherwise, as something that must take place. And while I don’t see it being resolved anytime in the near future, current presidential race notwithstanding, we have to have it. We need a measured, in-depth, all parties listening and thinking creatively discussion. I understand parents (Black and White) making choices about how they want the N-word used or not around their children. But I also think that wishing it away is a bit unrealistic as well. Talking about the N-word does not make you racist, but not talking about it could well keep you ignorant.

Now if you find you have an appetite for more, I recommend you check out a segment on YouTube that has been widely traded around the internet. It features Motown Maven William “Smokey” Robinson giving his own eloquent response to words that are used to negatively describe Black people. Comics, conversation or whatever, I don’t think anyone could have done a better job.



And the struggle for control of our thoughts and language continues.

William Foster is a Professor of English at Naugatuck Valley Community College, and a long-time Comic Book Historian. His new book, “Dreaming of a Face like Ours” will be published this fall.

@ Marvel Publishing, Inc.

@ Acclaim Comics

@ Classic Illustrated R is a registered trademark of the Frawley Corporation

@ Vertigo is a trademark of DC Comics

Maggott

Maggot (real name Japheth) was one of the X-Men I never got. He's South African and his mutant power is the fact that his digestive system leaves his body in the form of a couple of slugs (hence the name), to consume food. These slugs can apparently eat anything and after feeding they return to his body and provide him with nourishment and some added strength and agility. He actually has to do this to survive because it's the only way he can digest food. Oh yeah, when his strength and agility is enhanced he turns blue.
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Everything about this guy's life seems to be pretty terrible. He had trouble digesting food and was always sickly as a child, plus he had to endure stomach pains. When he was one day told it was cancer, he left his village to not be a burden to his parents and to go wander away and die. He encountered Magneto who help him discover his inner maggot, literally. They returned to his village and found out his Father was killed by rebels. Magneto promptly killed them all. Needless to say Maggott didn't join Magneto's gang.

Later in life Maggott sought Magneto out anyway to get help with controlling his powers. Apparently it hurt immensely every time his slugs entered and exited his belly which they seemed to do up to 5 times a day. He ended up with the X-Men but never really bonded with them because of his consumption habits. He was young and was therefore encouraged to join the younger X-team, Generation X.

His adventures were weird at best and not worthy of mention at worst. Tragically he was captured by Weapon X and killed at their mutant concentration camp called Neverland. He gave his slugs to a couple of children in the camp before he died but now they appear to be in the hands of X-Men villain, Mr. Sinister.

There's not much redeemable to say about this character other than the fact that he was a good guy and had a good heart. He really got the bad end of the mutant stick though and a sucky life to boot. I couple of things I forgot to mention were that his digestive system was intelligent and they gave him the power of Psychometric Recall which allowed him to see past events of areas they fed. A lot of good it did him. He did however live long enough to earn an action figure of his likeness.

Planet Asia Is A Black Superhero

It's a Marvel vs. Capcom joint. "I'm the Black Spider-Man..."

Young Iron Man Gets A Black Superhero

The currently running 3-D animated Iron Man series called Iron Man: Armored Adventures has been a mixed bag for me. On one hand it's so far out of continuity that it gives me a headache not to mention that Tony Stark is a high school kid. On the other hand the series looks good and the re-imagination of the traditional characters is interesting.
Anyway next season we finally get a Black Superhero in the mix and it's not War Machine (though I think it ought to be). It's the Black Panther. Here's a taste:

The Talented Tenth Returns

I've believe it's important to support writers, artists, etc. that create content I like. Being the writer for the Black Superhero Blog enables me to support Independent creators. I've decided to highlight some of these individuals each month, especially those that make it a point to share their work with me. One such creator is Chris over at HeroesLikeMe.com. He's written a novel that features Black Superheroes. I found the concept interesting and he was kind enough to share a copy with me. The book is entitled: HEROES LIKE ME: THE TALENTED TENTH RETURNS. Here's the synopsis:

"JOIN the Fiery Furnace, Shining Star, The Buffalo Soldier, Black Dove, The Human Pearl, The Maestro and the legendary John Henry-The Steel Driven Man as they uncover a global and evil plot which began during the 1800s and stretches to the PRESENT and the FUTURE. Are they good enough to be Heroes? Can they become The Talented Tenth that will save the world before the Salesman of Doom’s evil plans become reality?"

He's also put together a video to promote the novel. How good is it? Watch the video then head on over to HeroesLikeMe.com. Download the first chapter for free and find out for yourself. Enjoy!

What's So Terrific About Mr Terrific?

Mr Terrific, Michael Holt, is not the first hero in the DC Comics universe to bear that name. The original Mr Terrific had a photographic memory, was an Olympic athlete, and a martial arts master. That Mr Terrific became a hero because he seemed to have conquered everything else. Michael Holt, the latest Mr Terrific was also an Olympic athlete and is the third smartest man alive. He chose to take on the name of this particular hero after hearing his story while he was dealing with a personal tragedy.

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Michael Holt really is a genius in every since of the word but his life was not easy. He had a mentally challenged older brother who died at the age of 15. It devastated him but did not dull his quest for learning. He obtained multiple PH.D's, became a multi-millionaire, and won a gold medal in the Olympic decathlon, all before he became a superhero. Tragedy struck him again as his wife and unborn child died an accidental death. While contemplating suicide he was told about the the original Mr. Terrific and decided to become a hero himself.

Mr Terrific is a black belt in at least 6 martial arts disciplines but his super abilities are derived from his technology. His T-mask, a black letter "T" that covers most of his face, is molecularly bonded to him. Its technology enables him to remain unseen to all forms of electronic detection. The mask has been known to project speaking holograms of himself and even pick up thought-waves. It also protects his face from chemicals and relays his commands to his T-Spheres. The T-Spheres are flying metallic balls that can among other things, be his eyes and ears, interface with other technology, self destruct, fly him around and even hit people like large flying bullets.

Make no mistake, technology, and Olympic ability aside, Mr Terrific's real power is his mind. He specializes in multiple fields of ... well pretty much everything from medicine to political science to physics. He is also multilingual and whatever he doesn't know, he picks up quickly.

One of the biggest revelations about Mr Terrific is that he is an atheist. Comic books don't always place heavy emphasis on religion but Mr Terrific's beliefs have been an issue that has come up more than once. Maybe it was due to the personal tragedies he lived through. Despite having personally witnessed events and entities whose essence speak to there being a heaven and hell, he remains resolute.

This character's appearance was in June of 1997 which makes him relatively new but he has had enough experiences to have an active, if not lackluster, history. He's done a lot in terms of leadership and working behind the scenes. He's been chairman of the JSA (Justice Society of America) and even maintained high ranking positions withing the government covert organization known as Checkmate.

Mr Terrific has made it to television in the Justice League Unlimited animated series but again, his role was minor though it did grow somewhat as he became team coordinator and the one who handed out assignments. He also has an action figure. Mr Terrific is very much a thinker and while he willingly answers any call to action, he hasn't really done anything overly exciting. Unless someone comes up with a new way to write this guy, he's not likely to ever get his own book but he's pretty good in a supporting role. I hope they don't kill him off before they find a way to show how terrific this character really is.

Here's a fan tribute to Mr Terrific that's fairly extensive and definitely worth a look.