# 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:** 3
**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, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/41 "2012-02-16T20:48:43Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > Nighthawk, from _Supreme Power_. _slaps forehead_ I read those trades just last month, too. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/42 "2012-02-16T20:49:14Z")
> [@planetcory](#): > > Also Guy Gardener. [Guy Gardner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Gardner_%28comics%29) was who came to mind to me (granted, I’ve read very few comic books in the last 20 years, so my impression is based on his behavior during the 1980s, particularly in Justice League International). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/43 "2012-02-16T20:51:27Z")
Naw, he was a dick to everyone. He even tried being a dick to Batman. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/44 "2012-02-16T21:16:39Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Luke Cage seems mighty anti-white at times. [No](http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwiz6ajaJ81qmavteo1_500.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/45 "2012-02-16T21:16:53Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > …you’ll note I didn’t reference the Smallville continuity, where Supe’s best man friend is Black. Best “man” friend? As opposed to Krypto? 😛 (who _is_ white, come to think of it). ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/46 "2012-02-16T22:21:52Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Some that haven’t been shown to be explicitly, but could definitely have the personality. > > Punisher. The Punisher actually turned black for a while in a really bad storyline best left forgotten. :smack: Depending on how you define racism, there are a lot of mutants that don’t like “flatscans”. Not generally a trait of heroic mutants, but sometimes a human hating villain will have a face turn and become a hero. Even happened with Magneto. Off hand, I can’t think of any non-mutants that qualify as heroes but hate mutants. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/47 "2012-02-16T22:46:12Z")
> [@planetcory](#): > > Also Guy Gardener. Guy (white)'s best friends include Kyle Rayner (Latino, Jewish\*), John Stewart (black), and Killowog (not even human), and before the relaunch he was very friendly with the Reyes family in Blue Beetle. He’s a jerk, occasionally comes across as a bit sexist, and I’d be unsurprised if he turned out to be a bit homophobic, but he’s quite clearly not racist. (Yeah, yeah, I know ‘some of my best friends are…’, but these are genuine friendships (especially John and Killowog), and not a ‘you’re a credit to your race’ thing.) - Not particularly religious, but he has been shown attending Jewish religious services. ---
**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, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/48 "2012-02-16T22:56:51Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Guy (white)'s best friends include Kyle Rayner (Latino, Jewish\*), John Stewart (black), and Killowog (not even human), and before the relaunch he was very friendly with the Reyes family in Blue Beetle. > > He’s a jerk, occasionally comes across as a bit sexist, and I’d be unsurprised if he turned out to be a bit homophobic, but he’s quite clearly not racist. > > (Yeah, yeah, I know ‘some of my best friends are…’, but these are genuine friendships (especially John and Killowog), and not a ‘you’re a credit to your race’ thing.) > > - Not particularly religious, but he has been shown attending Jewish religious services. Yeah, I was basing it off of his 80’s persona too. Thing is, most of us are trying to think of who the jerks are. But the hypothetical racist superhero could be an otherwise generally nice guy. I stand by blindingly vanilla midwesterner Barry Allen (until someone who reads more than I do proves otherwise). ---
**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, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/49 "2012-02-16T23:18:06Z")
> [@planetcory](#): > > _slaps forehead_ > I read those trades just last month, too. Also Nighthawk thought that the equally black Atlanta Blur was a sellout cos he used his powers to endorse energy drinks and get chicks. Dude was angry. ---
**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, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/50 "2012-02-16T23:20:49Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Off hand, I can’t think of any non-mutants that qualify as heroes but hate mutants. Judge Dredd. He’d kick your mutie ass over the Wall and back into the Cursed Earth before you could say snut. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/51 "2012-02-17T06:06:32Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Tarzan was definitely racist. I’d nominate Conan the Barbarian in that case, in Shadows In Zamboula he faces off with a group of African(oh sorry Darfar :rolleyes:) cannibals living in a diverse trading city. The author makes sure bit characters tell us just how gross and disturbing the mongrel population of the city is, what with all their racial mixing. Conan takes a break from the action to expound on why animalistic behaviour and cannibalism is in the blood of those from Darfar. Its really jarring and a shame too because its a hell of a good pulp adventure story. > [@](#): > > There were many of his kind in the city. Cannibalism was not tolerated openly in Zamboula. But Conan knew now why people locked themselves in so securely at night, and why even beggars shunned the open alley and doorless ruins. He grunted in disgust as he visualized brutish black shadows skulking up and down the nighted streets, seeking human prey — and such men as Aram Baksh to open the doors to them. The innkeeper was not a demon; he was worse. The slaves from Darfar were notorious thieves; there was no doubt that some of their pilfered loot found its way into the hands of Aram Baksh. And in return he sold them human flesh. > [@](#): > > He halted in the court. The drum was still muttering, and he caught the reflection of a leaping red glare through the groves. Cannibalism was more than a perverted appetite with the black men of Darfar; it was an integral element of their ghastly cult. The black vultures were already in conclave. But whatever flesh filled their bellies that night, it would not be his. > [@](#): > > He heard a frantic choking and gurgling such as might result from a desperate attempt to shriek, with a black hand fastened over the victim’s mouth. A close-knit clump of figures emerged from the shadows beyond the huts and started down the road — three huge black men carrying a slender, struggling figure between them. Conan caught the glimmer of pale limbs writhing in the starlight, even as, with a convulsive wrench, the captive slipped from the grasp of the brutal fingers and came flying up the road, a supple young woman, naked as the day she was born. Conan saw her plainly before she ran out of the road and into the shadows between the huts. The blacks were at her heels, and back in the shadows the figures merged and an intolerable scream of anguish and horror rang out. > [@](#): > > “They caught me in the streets,” she muttered, shuddering. “Lying in wait, beneath a dark arch — black men, like great, hulking apes! Set have mercy on me! I shall dream of it!” > > “What were you doing out on the streets this time of night?” he inquired, fascinated by the satiny feel of her sleek skin under his questing fingers. > > She raked back her hair and stared blankly up into his face. She did not seem aware of his caresses. > > “My lover,” she said. “My lover drove me into the streets. He went mad and tried to kill me. As I fled from him I was seized by those beasts.” ---
**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 17, 2012, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/52 "2012-02-17T06:19:14Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Best “man” friend? As opposed to Krypto? 😛 As opposed to Chloe… ---
**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 17, 2012, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/53 "2012-02-17T06:38:36Z")
> [@grude](#): > > I’d nominate Conan the Barbarian in that case, in Shadows In Zamboula he faces off with a group of African(oh sorry Darfar :rolleyes:) cannibals living in a diverse trading city. The author makes sure bit characters tell us just how gross and disturbing the mongrel population of the city is, what with all their racial mixing. > > Conan takes a break from the action to expound on why animalistic behaviour and cannibalism is in the blood of those from Darfar. Its really jarring and a shame too because its a hell of a good pulp adventure story. Good call. Conan and Tarzan should qualify as superheroes, showing strength, stamina, and skill beyond that of all other humans. Getting out to the fringe of what could be called a superhero there’s the original Buck Rogers also. In 25th century Aryan-Americans were aided by Buck in the great battle with the evil Asian Han in the original story, and the Great Mongol Empire in comic strips. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/54 "2012-02-17T07:27:32Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Good call. Conan and Tarzan should qualify as superheroes, showing strength, stamina, and skill beyond that of all other humans. Hell, Conan kicked [Captain America’s ass](http://datechguy.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/conancap.jpg) ;). 'course in that incarnation he was leading a black street gang, but still… ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/55 "2012-02-17T08:20:51Z")
Superman [says YOU can slap a Jap](http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Action_Comics_Vol_1_58) with war bonds and stamps! Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/56 "2012-02-17T16:32:14Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > Superman [says YOU can slap a Jap](http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Action_Comics_Vol_1_58) with war bonds and stamps! No more racist than calling the Germans "Nazis’ or “the Hun”. It was War, they were the Enemy. ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/57 "2012-02-18T03:31:19Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Tarzan was definitely racist. The Green Hornet treated his Asian sidekick like a chauffeur. Tarzan wasn’t racist, but er burroughs, sure was, devising his own evolutionary system for africans that ranked them some being lesser than apes, some better than apes, and a few being damn near good as an englishman (o faithful waziri). although the truly despicable villains in the erb books were whites from the european continent (i tink it blow purty hard purty soon…) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/58 "2012-02-18T03:37:54Z")
Or then there’s Burroughs’ Barsoom, which is pretty clearly racist, but the races are all scrambled up. The red men are on the top of the heap, the greens are savage but honorable, and the whites are bestial apes (plus a smattering of other races, each with their own universally-applicable stereotype). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/59 "2012-02-18T07:53:45Z")
> [@slowlearner](#): > > Tarzan wasn’t racist, but er burroughs, sure was, devising his own evolutionary system for africans that ranked them some being lesser than apes, some better than apes, and a few being damn near good as an englishman (o faithful waziri). although the truly despicable villains in the erb books were whites from the european continent (i tink it blow purty hard purty soon…) ERB was born in 1875, so let us not be guilty of the sin of presentism. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014/60 "2012-02-18T13:48:27Z")
For that matter, Sherlock Holmes is surprisingly racist with his evaluation of passionate, tropical races and suchlike. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-super-hero-is-most-likely-to-be-racist-when-hes-off-the-clock/613014.md?page=4)