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How Marvel Goes From No Black Female Writers Ever, To Three, With Just One Comic
That Marvel Comics had never employed a black female writer on any of its monthly comics seems like the kind of thing that couldn't be true. But is.
Compared to DC Comics who employed Felicia Henderson to write Teen Titans and Angela Robinson on The Web, both back in September 2009, and Felicia again for Static Shock in 2011. That's still it.
This was underlined for some when Marvel announced the new Iron Man would be the teenage black female character Riri Williams, with stories written by a Jewish man.
Of course at that point, Marvel Comics knew what was coming next. And, in one fell swoop at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel beat DC's statistics with the announcement of one issue of a new comic.
In one fell swoop at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel beat DC's statistics by announcing World Of Wakanda. For which novelist Roxane Gay will be writing a new story that focuses on Ayo and Aneka, lovers – and ex-members of the all-female Black Panther protection squad, the Dora Milaje.
The comic will also include a story co-written by Yona Harvey and Afua Richardson. Also both black women.
Yes, with one single issue Marvel will beat DC's stats for the number of black female writers employed on their monthly books, ever.
You know, it would be really easy for DC Comics to claim the crown back again. All it would take is one single comic to draw even.
Writers they could consider might include Mildred Louis, Marguerite Abouet, Juliana "Jewels" Smith, Shauna J. Grant, Myisha Haynes, Nilah Magruder, Micheline Hess, Sharean Morishita – or if you want a little celebrity comic writer name to help with the PR, how about Amandla Stenberg or Erika Alexander?
Just a thought.
Also worth noting, the first appearances of the Dora Milaje, Ayo and Aneka might getting a boost on eBay shortly.