# Why Aren't There More Black Superheroes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 20, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682 "2009-07-20T22:08:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/21 "2009-07-21T13:18:20Z")
It’s simple. The fanboys who read comic books are the same white, angry, overprivileged, undersocialized, suburban neckbeards who populate Internet message boards, and they don’t want to see black people in their comic books. I remember the outrage and blatantly racist griping by the same fanboys when it was announced that GTA:San Andreas would have a black protagonist. Mainstream comic books are, by and large, made by Angry White Males for Angry White Males. They like their male superheroes authoritarian and mesomorphic, their female superheroes underdressed and overmammaried, and their black superheroes… absent. An [amusing bit of biting satire](http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/01/17/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-138/) by someone in the comic industry about black superheroes. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/22 "2009-07-21T13:31:14Z")
**STS** When you get over your rant/s I may consider reading in full what you post. Until then, get a grip fergawdsake ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/23 "2009-07-21T13:38:46Z")
> [@](#): > > (Make that krypto-Jewish in Superman’s case). Funny, he doesn’t _look_ krypto-Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/24 "2009-07-21T13:45:41Z")
Here’s the long and short of it. Comic books and Superheroes originate in the 1930s. 90% of the characters from DC and Marvel were already in existence by 1963. Before the 60’s, America was pretty much entirely dominated by white men. White men ran the country. Black characters in comic books before then were often relegated to comic relief roles. There were a few white women heroes, but the numbers were pretty sparse. And to an extent, even though gender and racial divides in this country have been narrowing, superhero comic books are still mostly white men. Marvel and DC make pushes at diversity - but the sad fact seems to be that new characters fail most of the time. Irrespective of gender or race. But Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man remain consistent sellers. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/25 "2009-07-21T13:47:38Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Funny, he doesn’t _look_ krypto-Jewish. Oh, I dunno. The dark hair is a bit of a giveaway (and really, how many blonde male superheroes are there?). And look at [this](http://www.spruillarts.org/images/Superman_1panelCUFull.jpg) picture - that’s a Jewish nose if I ever saw one. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/26 "2009-07-21T14:06:33Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Oh, I dunno. The dark hair is a bit of a giveaway (and really, how many blonde male superheroes are there?). And look at [this](http://www.spruillarts.org/images/Superman_1panelCUFull.jpg) picture - that’s a Jewish nose if I ever saw one. Dude, that would only be a Jewish nose if it was an “after” picture in Dr. Feldman’s subway ad. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/27 "2009-07-21T14:37:39Z")
Alessan: > [@](#): > > how many blonde male superheroes are there Are you serious? Tons of male super-heroes are blond. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/28 "2009-07-21T15:02:30Z")
Superman? Batman? Spider-Man? Wolverine? Those are, by any account, the top four superheroes - and none of them is blonde. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/29 "2009-07-21T15:10:08Z")
Captain America? The Human Torch (both the Golden-Age one and the Fantastic Four version)? The Golden-Age Green Lantern? The Golden-Age Hawkman? Green Arrow? Aquaman? The Silver Age Flash? They may not be the elite-level heroes that the four you named are, but they certainly are “A-Listers”, or were in their era. And tons more, if we get into B-Listers. Especially long-lasting B-Listers whose feature you might not realize lasted so long, such as Johnny Quick. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/30 "2009-07-21T15:15:04Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > How about **Ant Man** from SNL.😛 Watch out for him - he’s got the strength of a human being. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/31 "2009-07-21T15:24:33Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Funny, he doesn’t _look_ krypto-Jewish. Well, he can’t be circumcised. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/32 "2009-07-21T15:40:30Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Why? Because all the superheroes are Jewish. > > (Or at least crypto-Jewish). > > (Make that krypto-Jewish in Superman’s case). More to the point, there’s so much that is inescapably Jewish about the _genre_ of comic books. Inside the world of the stories, there’s: -the preoccupation with justice -the need for an outsider to bring it about -the essential urban-ness of the typical setting -the need for an alternate identity -and of course, the constant presence of threat Outside of the stories, there’s the making of the books: -the tradition of storytelling with morals -the drive to bring meaning and seriousness to a “cheap,” “pop” medium -the eternal love-hate symbiosis between the artist and the businessman ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/33 "2009-07-21T15:46:24Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Well, he can’t be circumcised. What, you don’t remember [Superman and the Mohel Men](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_and_the_Mole_Men)? ---
**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:** [July 21, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/34 "2009-07-21T15:52:29Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Green Arrow? > > Aquaman? In both cases, there’ve been two - both blond. For GA, the second has black and asian ancestry that comes through strongly in his appearance, depending who’s drawing him…and he’s STILL blond. Add Booster Gold, Geo-Force (officially strawberry blond - it switches between that, red, and straight blond depending on the colouring), Captain Britain, Chase Stein, Element Lad of the Legion of Superheroes (also Brainiac 5, but since he’s, you know, green…), Havok… Again, no ‘Superman’ level popularity, but hardly an obscure list. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/35 "2009-07-21T16:27:42Z")
Why does Superman have blue hair? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/36 "2009-07-21T16:27:45Z")
Here’s a shortlist of black superheroes, just off the top of my head: Black Panther Falcon Black Lightning Storm Brother Voodoo Black Goliath (later Giant-Man #2) Mal Duncan (Alternately ‘Hornblower’ or ‘Guardian #2’ in the original Teen Titans series.) Bumblebee (Mal’s g.f. Joined original TT shortly before the series was cancelled.) Cyborg (of the New Teen Titans) Luke Cage, Power Man Misty Knight Nubia (‘black Wonder Woman’ - made appearances in early 70s issues of WW) Black Vulcan (of “Challenge of the Super Friends”) Amazing-Man (from “All-Star Squadron”, retconned into Golden Age DC history.) Sunspot (“the New Mutants” and “X-Force.”) Bishop (X-Men) Captain Marvel #2 (later changed name to “Photon.”) Night Thrasher Rocket Racer Prowler Ant-Man Garrett Morris (one-shot SNL skit) Hancock Invisible Boy (“Mystery Men” movie) Invisible Kid #2 (Legion of Super-heroes) Tyroc (Legion of Super-heroes) Rage (Avengers and New Warriors) Shadowman Frozone (“the Incredibles”) Green Lantern John Stewart James Rhodes - Iron-Man #2, later War Machine Blade Steel Vixen Spawn Static Super-Stretch & Micro-Woman (short-lived mid-70s saturday morning 'toon.) Vykin the Black (of Jack Kirby’s “the Forever People”) Tempest (member of the mid-70s Doom Patrol) Not a complete list by any means. Feel free to add to it. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/37 "2009-07-21T16:41:06Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Not a complete list by any means. Feel free to add to it. Mister Miracle (Shilo Norman) Manhattan Guardian ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/38 "2009-07-21T16:52:28Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Captain America? > > The Human Torch (both the Golden-Age one and the Fantastic Four version)? > > The Golden-Age Green Lantern? > > The Golden-Age Hawkman? > > Green Arrow? > > Aquaman? > > The Silver Age Flash? > > They may not be the elite-level heroes that the four you named are, but they certainly are “A-Listers”, or were in their era. And tons more, if we get into B-Listers. Especially long-lasting B-Listers whose feature you might not realize lasted so long, such as Johnny Quick. Thor Hawkeye Hank Pym (Giant Man, Ant Man, Yellowjacket, current the Wasp) Lots of Blondes on the Avengers. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/39 "2009-07-21T16:52:34Z")
Hawkeye is blonde. So is Thor. ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682/40 "2009-07-21T16:57:38Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Not a complete list by any means. Feel free to add to it. Firestorm #2 (Jason Rusch) Mr. Terrific (Michael Holt version) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-more-black-superheroes/503682.md?page=3)