# Why can't Spider-Man be black? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704 "2010-06-27T20:07:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/81 "2010-06-28T18:39:36Z")
In theory, he could be. But if it ever got made, it would end up being Tyler Perry’s Spider-Madea. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/82 "2010-07-03T21:49:07Z")
> [@Cumberdale](#): > > if Jesus even existed he’d probably look more black than the usual blond white guy he is usually portrayed as. Jesus is not usually portrayed as blond. Maybe he’s portrayed as lighter skinned than a middle eastern Hebrew would actually be, but it’s usually with brown hair. Often he’s shown as glowing, so maybe that’s causing some confusion, making people mistake brown for blond. As for Spider-Man, if you’re going to tinker around with a character like that, why bother? Just make a new character. Fanboys are less likely to bitch and moan about a black Arachnoid-Dude, plus then you don’t have to even pay Marvel for the rights. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/83 "2010-07-04T00:45:59Z")
**jackdavinci** , it’s interesting that you mention Aladdin, since he’s never, to my knowledge, portrayed as his original ethnicity. The story starts off “There once was a Chinese boy named Aladdin”. And **Skald** , I don’t think I’d say that Eartha Kitt was the best Catwoman (I, too, prefer Julie Newmar), but certainly, she wasn’t _bad_ in the role. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/84 "2010-07-04T01:16:03Z")
> [@Flying\_Saucer](#): > > Why is it all about what the audience expects? Why can’t we change their expectations? Subvert them? Overcome them? That’s what I’m thinking. What’s the point of a “reboot” that conforms to the same expectations as the previous iteration? I presently have zero interest in a new Spiderman movie, but if I heard that it was really subverting expectations, that could change. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/85 "2010-07-04T02:45:06Z")
> [@Flying\_Saucer](#): > > I don’t understand this. Why is it all about what the audience expects? Why can’t we change their expectations? Subvert them? Overcome them? Only if it makes the movie _better_, and not just subverting them for the sake of subverting them. People who don’t get that are what I hate most about postmodernism. > [@spark240](#): > > That’s what I’m thinking. What’s the point of a “reboot” that conforms to the same expectations as the previous iteration? You could try to surpass the previous one, instead of trying to go off in a new direction with cheap gimmicks. ---
**Author:** ![Mervyn\_Pumpkinhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@Mervyn\_Pumpkinhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mervyn_Pumpkinhead)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/86 "2010-07-04T03:55:54Z")
> [@Cumberdale](#): > > However, if done right, I could accept a different black, brown etc. playing Doctor Who, James Bond, Spiderman, Batman or Superman as long as they had the right actor. > > Frankly, I’m pretty bored with Superman, but if they did something this I’d be more inclined to see it. I hope that no one has mentioned this yet, but there already sort of is an alternate Superman who’s black: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel\_(John\_Henry\_Irons)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_(John_Henry_Irons)) In fact there was a movie made back in '97 with Shaq in the role. The only problem really is that as Steel’s story progresses it is revealed that he is actually the DC version of Iron Man, but he still kicked ass! ---
**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:** [July 4, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/87 "2010-07-04T04:59:09Z")
It’s my understanding that Steel never actually claimed to have the powers of Superman, or to be related to him in any way, just that he was inspired by Superman to become a hero. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/88 "2010-07-04T06:24:02Z")
What exactly do you think black people do? Do you think that when they get home and nobody is looking they walk backwards, speak Russian and subsist off a diet of wallpaper and dates? It’s not like Africa-American culture is an alternate universe that never touches our own. I grew up in a poor racially diverse area, and while there were differences I wouldn’t say that my black friends’ lives were “radically different.” You do know that even in the ghetto there are black nerds, black goths, black star students, black goody-goodies, black burnouts, black hippies, etc.? There is nothing Peter Parker does that is so quintessentially white that no black person could possibly live like that. There are tons of black people who live lives similar to Peter Parker, minus the Spider Man stuff of course. Personally, I like the idea. Movies are still art, right? Isn’t art all about challenging us? The reason why so many Hollywood movies suck is that they do go the safe least-common-denominator route. I bet a good filmmaker and a good actor could be so convincing that within ten minutes you’d stop dwelling on “OMG he’s black” and just get immersed in the character and story. Anyway, all movie adaptations are an act of interpretation, and I’d rather have an active and interesting interpretation rather than the safe and soulless things that pass for movie adaptations these days. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/89 "2010-07-04T06:32:35Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Only if it makes the movie _better_, and not just subverting them for the sake of subverting them. Well, sure, but that’s true of all possible direction and production choices in making a sequel, prequel, remake or reboot–including the choice to make the thing at all. ---
**Author:** ![SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SevenOfTeemingMillions)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/90 "2010-07-05T13:33:09Z")
Looking at the OP’s link to see the pictures of the actors being considered for the role of Peter Parker, I prefer Frank Dillane over Andrew Garfield because Frank looks more like Peter Parker than Andrew. Andrew has Peter Parker’s hair but his face is too squarish while Frank’s face is much nearer to Peter Parker’s face. But Andrew looks more like Peter Parker compared to the other three actors being considered, though. As I stated in another thread, SpiderMan fans might vehemently object to a black actor playing Peter Parker. Years ago, they were organizing a global boycott of SpiderMan comics because it was revealed that the Peter Parker they’ve been following for months was a clone and not the real Peter Parker. If they hated the idea of replacing Peter Parker with someone who looks exactly like Peter Parker, they might go apeshit over replacing Peter Parker who does not look like Peter Parker. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/91 "2010-07-06T21:41:43Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Jesus is not usually portrayed as blond. Maybe he’s portrayed as lighter skinned than a middle eastern Hebrew would actually be, but it’s usually with brown hair. If you’ll accept [a Wikipedia cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_of_Jesus#European): > [@](#): > > In the majority of Western art, narrative and cinema depicting Jesus, he is portrayed with brown hair and brown eyes, having a short beard and white skin. However, some artists, including notably Dürer, have also depicted him as blond and/or blue-eyed. This is also the case in several films, including Jesus of Nazareth (1977) in which he has dark brown hair but pale blue eyes. > [@SevenOfTeemingMillions](#): > > Years ago, they were organizing a global boycott of SpiderMan comics because it was revealed that the Peter Parker they’ve been following for months was a clone and not the real Peter Parker. _ **WE DON’T TALK ABOUT THE CLONE SAGA.** _ ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/92 "2010-07-06T22:03:24Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > If you’ll accept [a Wikipedia cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_of_Jesus#European): > > _ **WE DON’T TALK ABOUT THE CLONE SAGA.** _ :: steps to Gunny’s side and works action on M-590 :: What she said! ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/93 "2010-07-06T22:31:28Z")
Denzel Washington played an Italian prince in “Much Ado About Nothing”. For that matter, he’s no less Italian than Kenneth Branagh or that mopey “Dead Poets” guy that’s on “House” now. Sean Leonard Robert, or something like that? On the other hand, people would definitely freak out, at least at first. When Daniel Craig got the Bond role, I think there were even posts here on the relatively erudite SDMB to the effect that a blond James Bond was unthinkable. Then he turned out to be pretty bad-ass, so the criticism evaporated. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/94 "2010-07-06T23:00:16Z")
I remember there being all sorts of complaints on here about The Invisible Woman in The Fantastic Four being portrayed by a Latina, Jessica Alba, and the fact that she was a different ethnicity from her character’s brother. Can’t we look past race?! ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/95 "2010-07-06T23:08:53Z")
A new Spiderman, who’s black, could be great. But Peter Parker can’t be black, because he’s white. Just like his name can’t be Dale, because it’s Peter. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/96 "2010-07-06T23:13:09Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Isn’t art all about challenging us? No. It _can_ be about challenging us, but it can also just be about entertaining us. I think Spider-Man movies are definitely better suited for the latter role. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/97 "2010-07-06T23:27:33Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > Denzel Washington played an Italian prince in “Much Ado About Nothing”. For that matter, he’s no less Italian than Kenneth Branagh or that mopey “Dead Poets” guy that’s on “House” now. Sean Leonard Robert, or something like that? Othello is almost always portrayed as black on stage, although it is really unknown whether moor meant black or Arab in Shakespeare’s time. We could all be getting it wrong. > [@](#): > > On the other hand, people would definitely freak out, at least at first. When Daniel Craig got the Bond role, I think there were even posts here on the relatively erudite SDMB to the effect that a blond James Bond was unthinkable. Then he turned out to be pretty bad-ass, so the criticism evaporated. Two things are certain on the internet: porn and trolls. I’m not sure how much trolling this is, but from what I’ve seen Craig gets made fun of on the internet a bit, like that picture where people are accusing him of shaving his chest. > [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > I remember there being all sorts of complaints on here about The Invisible Woman in The Fantastic Four being portrayed by a Latina, Jessica Alba, and the fact that she was a different ethnicity from her character’s brother. > > Can’t we look past race?! She’s 87% European according to Wikipedia, whatever that means. They should have been complaining of the fact that she can’t act (but looks quite nice while doing so). ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/98 "2010-07-07T00:00:25Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > She’s 87% European according to Wikipedia, whatever that means. They should have been complaining of the fact that she can’t act (but looks quite nice while doing so). Yes, but why the hell would you make someone that hot _ **Invisible** _?!! :smack:😕:eek::dubious::(:smack: Slight hijack, sorry ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/99 "2010-07-07T00:38:13Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Yes, but why the hell would you make someone that hot _ **Invisible** _?!! > > :smack:😕:eek::dubious::(:smack: > > Slight hijack, sorry Maybe she should have used the invisible powers on her clothes when she was “stripping” in Sin City. ---
**Author:** ![SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SevenOfTeemingMillions)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704/100 "2010-07-07T07:46:24Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > _ **WE DON’T TALK ABOUT THE CLONE SAGA.** _ Ook! :smack: Sorry. - gets gun, steps into time machine, goes back in time, shoots self on foot to prevent said foot accidentally getting stuck in mouth \* 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-spider-man-be-black/544704.md?page=6)