Why Color in Comics?

Reason for this page, pure and simple to combat ignorance.

“Maybe they should establish a separate league for all the negro superheroes. I’m not saying kick them ALL off. One would be okay. (Doesn’t Hollywood have some kind of law that says every movie has to have at least one black in it?) I just think they’re going overboard with all this diversity stuff. I mean, how many comics do minorities read anyway?”

That is a real quote and I can't have it!

Monday, July 6, 2009

The New Sorcerer Supreme





Marvel is continuing is road to diversity. Doctor Strange's replacement as master of all things mystic in the Marvel universe is none other than D lister Brother Voodoo.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Sex in the Marvel city


Marvel has put out some really interesting projects lately in their further attempt to shake up the status quo of their universe but I have to admit this one I did not see coming.

"Marvel Divas" follow four D list female heroes from different walks of the Marvel Universe. Patsy Walker (Hellcat) and Monica Rambeau (Currently no code name) both former Avengers have formed a out of costume friendship with former Spider Man girlfriend Felicia Hardy (Black Cat) and former New Warrior Angelica Jones (Firestar)*.

While I have only read the preview it came off as one of those internal windows tot he super world that happens between the big battles that we don't get to see. The things that put the human in Super Human.

And though I am not a huge fan of "Sex in the City" which this book has clearly taken part of it's inspiration from, there is a self depreciating humor that exist in this book which I will enjoy.




*V I know she was an Avenger but she never really fit there hence the NW reference.

Monday, June 29, 2009

We read them and make them!




Oliver Coipel is Black French and a Marvel comics exclusive artist. In 226 he was named a "Young Gun" in Wizard magazine and is currently the artist on Thor.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

I had to dust two years of dust off this page because of this!




They thought it was over and done with, but racial ignorance and proof that the election of Barack Obama means that we have entered a “post racial” society is a myth continue to raise their head in the most unlikely of places. My four color fantasy place, the land of comic books.


Dwayne McDuffie is a writer, director, producer and personal hero of mine. He is living my dream as a comic book writer. He was also the co-founder of the Milestone comic book company which focused on original characters who were largely characters of color. One of his characters was even picked up for a Kids WB cartoon series “Static Shock”.


For the last two years Dwayne has been the writer of one of DC comics flagship book Justice League of America. The JLA is the group that on the average of twice a month save the world, the universe, even sometimes the whole of creation. Most of your DC A listers including but not limited to Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Green Lantern (all of whom either have movies out or in the making). Justice League has been interpreted into a not picked up live action Tv show, and several cartoons including Super Friends. All of this to say that in the world of comic geeks and DC the Justice League is a big deal and DC does not just pick a name out of a hat at random to write there big time books.


So on one of the comics sights Newsarama, Dwayne posted a preview of his upcoming final issue. Some of the comments made left me speechless.


“…how many blacks did McDuffie manage to sneak onto the team this time–five? (I bet DC editorial gave him the same order as Burger King in that lawsuit–to “lighten things up around here.”)”


“Why don’t they call this the “Minority League”? ”


“I don’t think anyone will support an original black “mainstream” character. I know I won’t.”


"Couldn't they get Static, Black Lightning, or one of his daughters instead of Dr. Light on the cover of BET League of America? Ha!"


And my personal favorite…….


“Maybe they should establish a separate league for all the negro superheroes. I’m not saying kick them ALL off. One would be okay. (Doesn’t Hollywood have some kind of law that says every movie has to have at least one black in it?) I just think they’re going overboard with all this diversity stuff. I mean, how many comics do minorities read anyway?”


Yeah that last one bothers me more than any of the other comments ( and that whole All Negro superhero comment comes close I mean really NEGRO??????)


It is very difficlult for me to understand that when one of the most popular comic book properties right now is the X-Men franchise, a continuing story about a group of people that have spent the entire lives being discriminated against for no reason other than they were born different that this kind of ignorant and racism can raise it’s head.


So for the record all you sheet wearing geeks, much like anything else geekdom comes in all colors and creeds. Yes minorities read and yes they read comics. And yes we like to see people like ourselves in those books.


Oh and no there is no “rule” that you must include one black in a movie, blacks, browns, yellows, pinks, etc are all part of this country and all have stories to tell. It is not like there is not a need after all, most of the incarnations of the JLA have been a little all white.