# Which super hero is most likely to be racist when he's off the clock? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2012, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014 "2012-02-16T05:38:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/21 "2012-02-16T14:34:00Z")
My vote? Mr Fantastic. They’ve been turning him into the prime jerk of the superhero world for a few years now so closet racism will probably be the next thing revealed about him. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/22 "2012-02-16T16:23:09Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > We’re talking about the guy who handpicked a black dude as his replacement in the Avengers back in the '60s – before spending the '70s hanging out in Harlem with Sam Wilson, before spending the '80s dating a nice Jewish girl who was studying to be a lawyer? I think we’ve got decades of evidence that he ain’t exactly the guy in the Ultimates. True enough, everyone got a lot more conscious over time. Plus Cap really is meant to epitomise the _best_ of America. And I should clarify that I don’t think even Ultimates Cap is racist at all. I was actually more mentioning the 40s relict thing as regards _women_. Actually, talking about Ultimates, I can see Ant/Giant/Whatever Man, Hank Pym, being a racist - guy’s already a wife beater, and a colossal dick (which he shares with Mr Fantastic and Tony Stark - man, I really have zero sympathy for all the pro-registration heroes from Civil War, do I?). ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/23 "2012-02-16T16:29:47Z")
Yeah, my first guess here was Hank Pym. He was so cool back in the 1960s and then gradually became a total bad guy. He beat up his wife! Gaaah. Worst. Superhero. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/24 "2012-02-16T16:35:39Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Actually, talking about Ultimates, I can see Ant/Giant/Whatever Man, Hank Pym, being a racist - guy’s already a wife beater, and a colossal dick (which he shares with Mr Fantastic and Tony Stark […]. Unfortunate Turn of Phrase Award—now I’m stuck with the inadvertent mental image of Hank Pym sharing his colossal dick with Mr Fantastic and Tony Stark. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/25 "2012-02-16T17:34:30Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > We’re talking about the guy who handpicked a black dude as his replacement in the Avengers back in the '60s – before spending the '70s hanging out in Harlem with Sam Wilson, before spending the '80s dating a nice Jewish girl who was studying to be a lawyer? I think we’ve got decades of evidence that he ain’t exactly the guy in the Ultimates. Plus, Caps partner, for a time, was the Falcon, a brother. Also, if the fact that you would nail a black chick makes you “not a racist”. . . then I submit to you that all men are not racists. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/26 "2012-02-16T17:37:36Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > Plus, Caps partner, for a time, was the Falcon, a brother. That’s the “Sam Wilson” I was referring to. > [@](#): > > Also, if the fact that you would nail a black chick makes you “not a racist”. . . then I submit to you that all men are not racists. For what it’s worth, though, Cap actually got engaged to the woman I mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/27 "2012-02-16T18:19:04Z")
I’m trying to think of a black superhero who might secretly hate white folks. But I think for any black character to be successful, he necessarily has to be cool with white people. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/28 "2012-02-16T18:28:49Z")
> [@Tixenfleaz](#): > > The **Comedian** is a pretty safe bet, off the clock or on. He also strikes me as the sort who’d drug test welfare recipients with a turkey baster. Howabout, Captain Metropolis? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/29 "2012-02-16T18:29:11Z")
Underdog. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/30 "2012-02-16T18:52:02Z")
Luke Cage seems mighty anti-white at times. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/31 "2012-02-16T18:54:53Z")
Dr. Manhattan has no real concern for beings who aren’t blue. He left the Milky Way galaxy in order to find a Smurf culture. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/32 "2012-02-16T19:20:55Z")
Klansman? ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/33 "2012-02-16T19:22:55Z")
[White Hatin’ Coon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv7beQ9wHiM) ---
**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:** [February 16, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/34 "2012-02-16T19:26:54Z")
Green Arrow (in his '70s, ultra, stereotypical liberal phase, less so in more modern versions). He had (during that period) the same sort of cartoon-style liberalism as Mike/Meathead in All In The Family and the same condescending attitude (“It’s not their fault. They can’t possibly have any responsibility for anything they do. They’re such…children”). What did whatshisname call it? “The soft bigotry of lowered expectations”? Anyway, again, this is only the Green Arrow of the early to mid '70s, not most of his later stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/35 "2012-02-16T19:29:20Z")
> [@planetcory](#): > > I’m trying to think of a black superhero who might secretly hate white folks. But I think for any black character to be successful, he necessarily has to be cool with white people. Nighthawk, from _Supreme Power_. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/36 "2012-02-16T19:30:58Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Dr. Manhattan has no real concern for beings who aren’t blue. He left the Milky Way galaxy in order to find a Smurf culture. But maybe he doesn’t like them because they’re blue and have unobtainium, but because they [share his hatred of inferior races](http://www.cracked.com/article_19673_6-insane-but-convincing-theories-childrens-pop-culture_p2.html). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/37 "2012-02-16T19:36:38Z")
The original golden age Namor was racist against anyone who wasn’t from Atlantis. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/38 "2012-02-16T19:41:09Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > Nighthawk, from _Supreme Power_. IIRC, didn’t Hyperion figure Nighthawk out by noticing the guy never lifted a finger when he saw white people getting mugged? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/39 "2012-02-16T20:08:55Z")
Tarzan was definitely racist. The Green Hornet treated his Asian sidekick like a chauffeur. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/40 "2012-02-16T20:26:19Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > IIRC, didn’t Hyperion figure Nighthawk out by noticing the guy never lifted a finger when he saw white people getting mugged? Pretty much, yeah. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014.md?page=3)