Martin's List: Black Superheroes
By Martin Sargent - Posted Feb 27, 2002
Black comic book heroes weren't always so super. Early 20th century comics tended to depict blacks as buffoons, and until the 1960s they were often drawn as thugs or connivers (with some exceptions, such as Torchy Brown).
Starting in 1966 with Black Panther, black superheroes started becoming truly heroic. There have been far too many to mention here. If you want to learn more, I highly recommend two sites: BlackSuperHero.com and A Slush Tribute to Blacks in Comics.
Starting in 1966 with Black Panther, black superheroes started becoming truly heroic. There have been far too many to mention here. If you want to learn more, I highly recommend two sites: BlackSuperHero.com and A Slush Tribute to Blacks in Comics.
- Black Panther
- Luke Cage
- Steel
- Icon
- Spawn
Marvel's Black Panther first showed up in a 1966 Fantastic Four comic but didn't get his own comic until 1977. He was the first black character to appear in a mainstream comic in a favorable light. Black Panther was born T'Challa and was the scientist-king of the technologically advanced Wakanda African nation. The Wakanda people were depicted as modern and extremely scientific, a far cry from most contemporary depictions of Africa. Black Panther is known for solving catastrophes using brain more than brawn.
Also known as Power Man, Luke Cage first appeared in Marvel's "Hero for Hire" in 1972. He was a wrongly imprisoned gang member who participated in a medical experiment while in the pen. The procedure gave him superhuman strength and allowed him to escape. When he made it back to the outside he protected his 'hood and his lady using his newfound powers. Sporting a 'fro, open shirt, and butterfly collar, Luke Cage primarily fought other blacks on the streets until he finally duked it out with Spiderman years later.
The geekiest black superhero since Black Panther was Steel, a technological wizard and gadget freak. His first invention, which he completed while he was the star athlete John Henry, was a laser gun. The company who contracted him to make the gun, Amertek, used the gun for violent purposes so he quit. Amertek then stole the blueprint for Steel's suit and created an evil army. Steel battled the army until nearly getting killed. He was then saved by Superman.
Steel later became the chief inventor and technological miracle worker for the Justice League of America.
Icon was the Superman of the short-lived Milestone comic imprint, a 1993 offshoot of DC Comics that presented readers with a multicultural universe. Icon's spaceship crash-landed in 1839 Southern America and he was taken in by a slave.
For the next 150 years, Icon fought for racial justice, fighting in the Civil War as a Buffalo soldier. He married his wife during the Harlem Renaissance and together they fought for civil rights until her death in 1977.
Icon's partner was Rocket, perhaps the only single-mother superhero ever.
Todd McFarlan's Spawn is one of the best-selling comic heroes of all time. There have also been Spawn movies, TV shows, toy lines, and videogames. Here's the story: Al Simmons (Spawn) is tricked by the devil to lead hell's army. When he comes back to life he tries to use his powers to protect his wife, who has remarried.
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