# Help me catalog black superheroes (and villains) prior to the 1960s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 24, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936 "2004-10-24T21:24:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/61 "2004-10-27T04:09:04Z")
Man, and I thought Chop Chop had a bad deal **before**. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/62 "2004-10-27T10:52:54Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Hey! I just noticed – weren’t there ANY black female superheroes and supervillains prior to 1977? Don’t suppose Eartha Kitt as Catwoman counts? ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/63 "2004-10-27T11:08:55Z")
> [@Middlecase](#): > > Don’t suppose Eartha Kitt as Catwoman counts? Damn - that went off too soon. Shouldn’t Blackhawk from Tornado/2000 AD make the cut in the ancient section? He was abducted by the Ringmasters, but he was abducted from ancient Rome. I loved that strip when I was a kid. If your soul has been stolen by an alien demon who offers it back to you in return for your fealty, address it thus: “Hear me, Demon, and hear me well. My past is behind me. I create my own destiny and I say NEVER AGAIN WILL I BE CALLED SLAVE!” Then run it through with a sword. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/64 "2004-10-27T11:22:58Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > **Fenris.** Gabe Jones presents something of a curveball, being a war comic vet. I put him on the strength of his 60s S.H.I.E.L.D. service – Marvel’s superspy agency. Without that connection – Howling Commando or no – he’s an just an unimpressive WWII black vet, one improbably integrated in a mostly white combat unit Fair enough, but if he’s on the list, he still belongs in the '60s, not the '70s–He was running around as a super-spy in the early S.H.I.E.L.D. stories in STRANGE TALES circa 1966. By the '70s he’d mostly vanished along with S.H.I.E.L.D. And I agree with you about Ebony, and to add to that, he wasn’t a sidekick, he was a partner–their relationship was MUCH closer to Doc Savage and his pals than, say, Flash and the Three Nitwits. He was as smart (or smarter) than the somewhat dim Denny Colt and he was certainly shrewder. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/65 "2004-10-27T20:09:23Z")
Moved, dated Gabriel Jones of S.H.E.I.L.D. Recalculated Apocolypse’s timeline Added Powerman Added Blackhawk, with date Added Lothar, with date **Middlecase** : Eartha Kitt’s Catwoman never appeared in print as far as I know. Cite it and I’ll add it. REVISITED REVISED LIST, RE-LISTED **Dr. Mist** (DC) pre-history **En Sabah Nur, Apocolypse** (Marvel) dynastic Egypt, 3,000BC **Teth-Adam, Black Adam** (Fawcett/DC) dynastic Egypt, 3,000BC \*\*N’Kantu, the Living Mummy \*\* (Marvel) late dynastic Egypt and sub-Sahara Africa, 1000BC **Blackhawk** (Tornado/ 2000 AD) Ancient Roman **Reno Jones of the Gunhawks** (Marvel) late 1800’s, American West **Lothar** (syndicated) 1934 **Ebony White** , partner to \*\*The Spirit \*\* (syndicated) 1940s **Isaiah Bradley, “Black Cap,” Captain America’s** precursor (Marvel) 1940s-WWII \*\*Will Everett, Amazing Man \*\* (DC) 1940s-WWII **Ulysses Hazard, Gravedigger** (DC) 1940s-WWII **David Mitchell, Human Top** (Marvel) 1940s-WWII **T’Chaka, the Black Panther** (Marvel) 1944 \*\*K.O. Carson, the Black Badge \*\* (Image/Homage/ASTRO CITY) 1950s **John Henry** (DC) three months in 1959 **Gabriel Jones of S.H.I.E.L.D.** (Marvel) 1966 **T’Challa, the Black Panther** (Marvel) 1966 **Sam Wilson, the Falcon** (Marvel) 1969 SEVENTIES POT LIKKER STEW **Nubia** (DC) **Powerman** (original publisher unknown, Acme/Eclipse 1988 reprints) **Luke Cage, Power Man** (Marvel) **John Stewart, Green Lantern** (DC) **Blade, Vampire Hunter** (Marvel) **Jim Foster, Black Goliath \*\* (Marvel) Ororo Monroe, Storm (Marvel) Jefferson Pierce, Black Lightning (DC) Mal Duncan, Hornblower (DC) Dr. Eliot Franklin, Thunderball (Marvel) Karen Beecher, the Bumblebee (DC) Willie Walker is Death, the Black Racer (DC) Vikyn The Black (DC) August Durant of the Secret Six (aka Mockingbird) (DC) (Identity Unknown)** Black Manta \*\* (DC) (Identity Unverified) **Blue Knight** (Image/Homage/ASTRO CITY) Now: any errors? Omissions? I miss anything? Let me know! ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/66 "2004-10-27T21:16:06Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > \*\*Jim Foster, Black Goliath \*\* (Marvel) > [ > Now: any errors? Omissions? I miss anything? Let me know! His name is **Bill** Foster. Misty Knight belongs on there. While she wasn’t named until around 1975, her first appearance was in Marvel Team-Up #1, 1972. Brother Voodoo, circa 1974 There was a one-shot character from Savage Tales called “Black Brother,” an earnest early attempt by Denny O’Neil to be “relevant.” Was August Durant actually ever revealed as Mockingbird? I thought it was the magician guy. Question: Why the interest in retro-fitted heroes? Amazing Man (All-Star Squadron) was backfit into WWII, but comics never featured him until, like, 1982. Wouldn’t it be more culturally valid to focus on when the characters were actually created and published? Black Panther broke ground in a way that Amazing Man didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/67 "2004-10-27T22:33:24Z")
Waht about whatshisname–the black kid who was Rick Jones’ (short-lived) replacemnt as Hulk’s sidekick. IIRC he got AIDS or something later. I don’t know if he’s important enough to add, but wanted to toss him out as an option. And are you sure about The Falcon’s date? He appeared around CAPTAIN AMERICA #116 or so and I’d guess that that issue was more like 1967. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/68 "2004-10-28T01:07:45Z")
You also left off [url=“[http://www.blacksuperhero.com/exhibithtml/exh-marvel-nightshade.html](http://www.blacksuperhero.com/exhibithtml/exh-marvel-nightshade.html)”]Nightshade[/uro] who, as far as I can figure, was the first (IIRC) black super-villianess ever. ---
**Author:** ![dangergene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@dangergene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangergene)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/69 "2004-10-28T02:27:04Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1563896389/qid=1098792580/sr=1-1/ref=sr\_1\_1/104-0708715-5543103?v=glance&s=books](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1563896389/qid=1098792580/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-0708715-5543103?v=glance&s=books) > Ignore the reviews. Thanks **Bosda** hah! I’m such a fool. I already have this, so yes, I did ignore the reviews! I bought it for the ginchy story where Braniac makes Superman watch the explosion of Krypton, blinding him (albeit rather impermanently). The fun part was how Superman’s Irises turned into little burning suns for the duration of the story. urm… sorry for that hijack. We now return to our regularly scheduled thread. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/70 "2004-10-28T06:35:09Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Waht about whatshisname–the black kid who was Rick Jones’ (short-lived) replacemnt as Hulk’s sidekick. IIRC he got AIDS or something later. [Jim Wilson.](http://members.fortunecity.com/jmolinamuscara/imp212a.html) Died in [_Incredible Hulk #420,_](http://www.hulklibrary.com/hulk/comics/comic-show.asp?Id=tih2&Issue=420) from an AIDS infection. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/71 "2004-10-28T06:58:19Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > And are you sure about The Falcon’s date? He appeared around CAPTAIN AMERICA #116 or so and I’d guess that that issue was more like 1967. #117, 1969. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/72 "2004-10-31T19:36:49Z")
Sorry. Been away. **Krokodil.** I include retconned black heroes mostly so I can include sueprheroes outside Marvel and DC and personal favorites like the first **Jack-In-The-Box** from ASTRO CITY… and maybe **Nakia Wagner** from PLANETARY and TOM STRONG’s Ozu wife **Dhulala-Omotu-Strong**. Perhaps I should make additional notations to that effect… **August Durant’s** identity as **Mockingbird** was revealed on various web pages when I Googled the search terms August + Durant + Mockingbird. News to me, so if it’s wrong, let mne know and I’ll correct it. added **Buck Wild** (Milestone) added **Sugar Rollins** (Wildstorm) added **Nightshade** (my bad, **Fenris.** ) added **Misty Knight** added **Dhuala Strong** added **Jack In the Box** corrected **_Bill_ Foster, Black Goliath** moved up **August Durant** , added date REVISITED REVISED LIST, RE-LISTED, REVITALIZED **Dr. Mist** (DC) pre-history **En Sabah Nur, Apocolypse** (Marvel) dynastic Egypt, 3,000BC \*\ ***Teth-Adam, Black Adam** (Fawcett/DC) dynastic Egypt, 3,000BC **N’Kantu, the Living Mummy** (Marvel) late dynastic Egypt and sub-Sahara Africa, 1000BC **Blackhawk** (Tornado/ 2000 AD) Ancient Rome **Reno Jones of the Gunhawks** (Marvel) late 1800’s, American West \*\ ***Lothar** assistant to **Mandrake the Magician** (syndicated) 1934 \*\ ***Ebony White** , partner to **The Spirit** (syndicated) 1940s **Isaiah Bradley, “Black Cap,” Captain America’s** precursor (Marvel) 1940s-WWII **Will Everett, Amazing Man** (DC) 1940s-WWII **Ulysses Hazard, Gravedigger** (DC) 1940s-WWII **David Mitchell, Human Top** (Marvel) 1940s-WWII **T’Chaka, the Black Panther** (Marvel) 1944 **K.O. Carson, the Black Badge** (Image/Homage/ASTRO CITY) 1950s **John Wilson** , the vigilante **John Henry** (DC) three months in 1959 **Jack-In-The-Box I** (Image/Homage ASTRO CITY) 1964 **Gabriel Jones of S.H.I.E.L.D.** (Marvel) 1966 **T’Challa, the Black Panther** (Marvel) 1966 **August Durant of the Secret Six** (aka **Mockingbird** ) (DC) 1968 **Dhuala Strong** (ABC) 1968-1969 **Sam Wilson, the Falcon** (Marvel) 1969 SEVENTIES GUMBO 'SPLOSION **Nubia** (DC) **Powerman** (original publisher unknown, Acme/Eclipse 1988 reprints) **Luke Cage, Power Man** (Marvel) **John Stewart, Green Lantern** (DC) **Brother Voodoo** (Marvel) **Blade, Vampire Hunter** (Marvel) **Bill Foster, Black Goliath** (Marvel) **Tilda Johnson, Nightshade** (Marvel) – I think **Nubia** beats her out by a year. **Ororo Monroe, Storm** (Marvel) **Jefferson Pierce, Black Lightning** (DC) **Mal Duncan, Hornblower** (DC) **Dr. Eliot Franklin, Thunderball** (Marvel) **Karen Beecher, the Bumblebee** (DC) **Misty Knight** crimefighter and Iron Fist’s squeeze (Marvel) \*\*Sgt. Willie Walker is Death, the Black Racer \*\* (DC) **Vikyn The Black of the Forever People** (DC) **Buck Wild** (Milestone) **Sugar Rollins** (Wildstorm) (Identity Unknown) \*\*Black Manta \*\* (DC) (Identity Unverified) **Blue Knight** (Image/Homage/ASTRO CITY) Double asterisks (\*\*) preceding names indicate a character who was actually published by a comics company or syndicated comics strip prior to 1960 IRL, returning to the original intent of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/73 "2004-10-31T19:59:40Z")
Does Brer Rabbit count as a hero, I wonder? Given the voiceovers in the animation (and given the prior history of the character), he’s clearly intended to be a “black” character. And he was a comic book character as early as 1946 (Four Color #129). Couldn’t call him a “superhero,” though. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936/74 "2004-11-02T04:33:28Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > **Tilda Johnson, Nightshade** (Marvel) – I think **Nubia** beats her out by a year.\*\* Nubia was a good-guy (misguided, but good) IIRC. Nightshade is a baddie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-catalog-black-superheroes-and-villains-prior-to-the-1960s/270936.md?page=3)