Posted in: Comics | Tagged: black, Comics, dan slott, entertainment, marvel, Marvel Comics, spider-man

Dan Slott Lays Down The Case For A Non-White Spider-Man

Published Mon, 23 Feb 2015 11:00:41 -0600

A few years ago, I wrote an article, speculating that Marvel was to announce a black Spider-Man for the Ultimate line. It just felt like that something was in the air. The reaction was… let's go with mixed. Then when it was actually announced, I wrote another that showed not much had changed.

And now, with Marvel and Sony recasting Peter Parker, Spider-Man, the case for a non-white actor to play the role has been raised. And the same arguments against it have also been raised.

Well, Dan Slott, current writer of the Amazing Spider-Man comic book lays it out. Not that he needs it, but I agree completely. It's just that he, you know, writes Spider-Man. So there.

Some of the comments, rigidity, rationalizations, and– in some cases– flat-out-anger by some that Spider-Man MUST "be white" scare me.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

Marvel always works best when it's "the world outside your window". And sometimes that requires recalibration.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

It's not about "for the sake of it". It's because "Why not?" Why CAN'T an African American, Asian American, or ANYBODY be Spider-Man?

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

I'm not saying he "shouldn't". I'm saying ANYBODY should. That's different. RT @Daniel_Averill @DanSlott why shouldn't he be white?

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

He was a product of his time. Times change. RT @** @DanSlott It's not "Spider-Man" must be white. Peter Parker IS and has always been white.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

False argument. RT @*** @DanSlott Luke Cage would never be cast as white, and rightfully so. The outrage would be palpable.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

Luke Cage's race is built into who he is and why he does what he does. There is nothing inherently "white" about Peter Parker.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

Wait. If race has "nothing to do w/ it"… RT @***** @**** @DanSlott PP is a comic icon & should not be changed race has nothing to do w/ it

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

Wait. RT @*** @DanSlott why not create NEW heroes of color than shoehorn them into familiar roles? Move forward rather than repaint the past

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

Icons belong to EVERYBODY. Why making "NEW heroes of color" doesn't work: You can't just make an ICON. & "separate but equal" isn't America.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

MY grandma knew Jim Crow laws. Didn't make 'em right. RT @*** @DanSlott Cultural saturation. Peter Parker is an icon. My grandma knows him.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

Everything is… until it isn't. :) RT @***** @DanSlott I don't believe Spiderman has to be white, but Peter Parker must be because he is.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

RT @*** @DanSlott ok so if he were always black, would UB ok w/ changing him to white? If not your argument's invalid, it has 2 go both ways

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

In a world where Peter Parker had always been Black, we'd probably be in an alternate universe that was wonderfully color blind to begin w/.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

RT @** @DanSlott except the character's inception. He's "inherently white" in context, b/c he was created that way. Like human beings, yea?

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

No. He was "created that way" because he was a product of his time. And– thank God– in some ways times have changed.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

.@tomturbine28 Tobey Maguire had blue eyes even though for 50+ years Peter Parker's eyes have been brown. How did we ever survive? :-P

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

Wait. RT @*** @DanSlott What if some people just want things 2B traditional & consistent w/ the comics? I have nothing against black people.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

If your argument ends with the phrase "I have nothing against black people…" …you might want to rethink it. Friendly advice.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

You're not talking about his "character" RT @** @DanSlott 'cause your company drew him as a white kid… that's the character I grew to love

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

Please scroll back thru my feed to my Luke Cage response. And mentally add a facepalm .gif. RT @**** @DanSlott So, do a white Black Panther.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

It boils down to this: A non-white child is playing with a Spidey action figure, would YOU go up to him & say: "You can't be Spider-Man."

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

Game. Set. Match. RT @WilliamJWright1 @DanSlott Stan says it all at 1:16 https://t.co/2mu0yfmDTb …

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

"I hear you're telling people Spidey shouldn't be white." No. I'm saying EVERYBODY should get a shot at being Spidey irregardless of race.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

Story re-opened. Now, sit your ass down. RT @spidertrek813 @DanSlott Peter Parker is white. End of story. pic.twitter.com/zrzY3uePmT

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 21, 2015

*SNAP* There. Just made one in Spider-Verse RT @HunterKiller100 @DanSlott there's a ver of Fury that's black in comics. Not the same w/ Pete

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 22, 2015

In an age where Samuel L. Jackson is a perfect Nick Fury, we're past the point where the movies HAVE to look EXACTLY like the comics.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 22, 2015

Write down 10 words to describe Peter Parker. "White" shouldn't be in there. Or the first 100. Or thousand. If it is, you don't get him.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 22, 2015

You guys know that Hugh Jackman is 6'2, right? He is a FOOT taller than Wolverine is in the comics. Did that ruin the X-Men movies? NO.

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 22, 2015

The comics can look different than the movies… …and we'll all survive. YAY! (G'night.) pic.twitter.com/zXZwmOHgr0

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) February 22, 2015

And you know, folks, this isn't exactly new. My own contribution to this matter… here's another character from a TV comics adaptation who was recast mid-series with a different ethnicity….

…where are the nasty tweets about Eartha?