Posted in: Avengers, Black Lightning, Marvel Studios, Movies, Netflix, TV, Warner Bros | Tagged: black lightning, black panther, Cheo Hodari Coker, cw, daniel holloway, dc comics, HRL, luke cage, Marvel Studios, Salim Akil, Ta-Nehisi Coates, variety magazine

Variety Discusses Black Superheroes On The Screen

Writer Daniel Holloway has written an article for Variety Magazine discussing the surge of black superheroes into the realm of television and film for both Marvel and DC Comics as of late.

From Luke Cage and Black Lightning hitting the small screens to Black Panther's own film and Cyborg's participation in Justice League movie, heroes of color have finally been allowed to make a dent in the mainstream superhero scene.

Mr. Holloway discusses the transition, how long it has taken, and the early roots of both Luke Cage and Black Lightning in Marvel and DC respectively.

It's a great read and definitely deserves a signal boost, though Variety already has quite the audience.

And he is most certainly right. Blade and Spawn aside, neither of which were ever going to be large mainstream successes given their takes on the genre, it has taken a long time for black superheroes to be given a chance in the spotlight of superhero film and television.

I know I'm just another white liberal talking about how this is a good thing; some people are going to be talking about how this is pandering or "too PC." This will just be another drop in the raging sea of internet debate about social justice issues. Marvel's proliferation of non-white male characters will be brought up like it's a bad thing.

At the end of the day, I think everyone should be allowed to have their heroes. I can't say that I know what it feels like to not have a superhero who looks like me. As I said, I'm a white dude. Look at my photo. I'm a very white dude.

As someone who loves mainstream superhero comics, as someone who holds them to the same esteem to the likes of Kubrick films, Hemingway novels, and Shakespearean plays, as someone who is totally fine with devoting their life and career to the discussion of and — hopefully — even contributing to those comics, I can't help but be happy that more people have heroes who look like them.

And it's not even like those heroes are just for women and minorities. Personally, Luke Cage is probably my all-time favorite superhero, with Sam Wilson, Black Panther, and Cyborg not far behind. Carol Danvers, Huntress, Spider Woman, Jessica Cruz, Kamala Khan, and Black Canary all rank pretty high for me as well. Miles Morales, honestly, is my favorite Spider-Man. These characters are there for anyone to enjoy.

Give David Holloway's article a read. It's very thought-provoking and celebrates how far the superhero genre has come.

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