Celebrating Black Superheroes

[neo_prodigy]

Cross-posted:


In honor of Black History Month, I thought I'd celebrate by showcasing a few of my favorite black superheroes (and supervillains) from comics and/or other fandoms with comic tie-ins.

And if you have any favorite black characters from comics or other fandom that you'd love to showcase, then by all means post lists and/or pics in the comments. I would love to see your selections.















Cyborg from Smallville. My man is fine isn't he. Go ahead and look. THAT'S CLOSE ENOUGH!!!!



And speaking of casting win on Smallville, THIS!!!!!!







































































































And just in case you previously missed this:

Over 60 Black Superheroines

An awesome site I found while composing this post:

http://blacksuperheroes.blogspot.com/

Comments

[grazzt]

You know, including that issue of Spider-Man made me think of the issue where he took J Jonah Jameson to court.

"I think the real reason why he doens't like me...is because I'm black."

[neo_prodigy]

LOL! WAIT WHAT?!!!!!!

[auggie18]

Oh, Eartha Kitt. If you were alive and single, I would woo you SO HARD. I don't care that you're many decades older than me, you are made out of all things awesome and win.

[arilou_skiff]

Motto!

[unicornicopia]

You know, sometimes child actors grow up and they're not as attractive as one would have guessed. Lee Thompson Young? Was fine when I was in middle school and is still fine today. SERIOUSLY GUH. The famous Jett Jackson ♥♥♥

Zoe! I want Gina Torres for Wonder Woman or Hippolyta so much it hurts.

I would like to add Agent 355 to this list. She might not have any superpowers, but if she existed in the main DC Universe she would dethrone Batman as biggest non-powered badass.

[sandoz_iscariot]

Not to disagree with 355's awesomeness, but that pic's Allison Mann, not 355.

[retro_nouveau]

This is retro's List of Favorite DC/Marvels of African Descent: Lucius "Frozone" Best, John "Green Lantern" Stewart, Jim "War Machine" Rhodes, Ororo "Storm" Munroe, Ben "Bronze Tiger" Turner, T'Challa "Black Tiger Panther", Kathy "Mystery of the Batwoman" Kane Duquesne, Amanda "The Wall" Waller. I also like John Henry "Steel" Irons from JLU, Victor "Cyborg" Stone. Michael "Mr. Terrific" Holt and Eliot "Thunderball" Franklin are on the radar because I love brainy people.

But how can you not have a picture of Frozone, Nick Fury, The Octopus, Mr. Glass, Mace Windu!!!1! He's a superhero geek like us!

Ouch, retro fails x 2.

[neo_prodigy]

you right. as a samuel l. "cooler than cool mother fucking" jackson fan, i lower my head in shame for forgetting him. i deserve to be spanked for that omission.

Not superheroes, but comic characters all the same

[nezchan]

Don't forget Martha Washington.

Not sure if Nävis counts or not, honestly. She's definitely not caucasian.

[dynamite]

Aw yis, Misty. Nobody can bring it like you. ♥

... out of curiosity, what is Monet's makeup? She was supposed to be from Monaco, but now it's Algeria or something something. French, all told, I suppose.

[arilou_skiff]

She was a resident of Monaco, but was the daughter of the algerian ambassador.

[cleome45]

I was organizing some bookmarks late last night (oh, the wonders of booze-induced insomnia!) and found these again:

(image-heavy, of course, so beware)

Dart Adams: The History of Black Superheroes... 1900-1968

Dart Adams: The History of Black Superheroes... 1969-2008

Now I can't remember how I first found them. Maybe it was here, actually. I lurked a long time before signing up. Anyway, for anyone who missed 'em before-- enjoy! :)

[arilou_skiff]

While he isn't a superhero (but then again neither are many of the other characters) I'm always surprised whenever Lamanda Lauga is omitted from these kinds of lists.

[goodfellow-puck.livejournal.com]

I love love LOVE me some Gina Torres, but as her name might imply, the lady is latina (Cuban and Puerto Rican descent).

You might argue that Zoe is supposed to be black, but I don't think that's stated on the show, and you used Gina's pic instead of the comic version, so... :)

I agree with adding Agent 355! Also, I've read like the bare minimum of superhero comics so I wish the images had the names of the characters with them.

[goldenbrowngod]

Yes but she is of African descent (Afro-Latina)

I'd say she counts as Black(as well as being latina) but understand that some people may view things differently.

[scottyquick]

God, Eartha Kitt. Just talking about her a couple a days ago, such an amazing actor, THE definitive Catwoman for me, and Yzma was hilarious <3.

May I add:



CONNOR HAWKE! He's the illegimate son of Oliver Queen and proudly continues the Arrow-family tradition of out-awesoming Ollie by roughly two billion. He's a pacifist and a martial artist and pretty bi and super cool.

and



Blade. Fucking yes, Blade.

[kirke_novak]

Connor? Really? The last time I checked he was wh.. no, wait, assi... no bla..., no wait, um. What?

(frozen)

[xammax]

Lack of Mr. Terrific disgusts me.

(frozen)

[insectposse]

and inclusion of Halle Berry Catwoman

[dimwit90]

I wish you had posted the names of these characters along with their pictures since I'm a n00b and don't recognize everyone :/

[lamashtar]

Moi aussi. Who is the guy in suspenders who's on fire? He looks awesome.

[mullon]

I'm not sure about Huey. And no Nick Fury and Mr. Terrific is unfortunate.

[neo_prodigy]

Well Huey (depends on which version the cartoon/comic and the former I can take or leave depending on the episode), is a revolutionist, a world class martial artist and has battled demonically possessed neighbors and has saved innocent men from being executed. I think he's earned the title of badass, considering he's only 8.

And it goes without saying, but this is just my personal taste, by no means is this list the end all be all.

That said, Mr. Terrific, I never kept up with but I am kicking myself for forgetting Ultimate Nick Fury.

[northstarfan]

Fred Perry.



What do you mean he's not a superhero? Have you seen this guy's workload?

Oh, fine then.

Penny Pincer from Gold Digger.



Penny is a genius, world-adventuring archeologist. She originally came into the book as an antagonist to the book's main character, Gina Diggers, seeing her as both a professional rival and competition for the hand of high-flying pilot, Ace.



Penny has had a phenomenal amount of character growth over the course of the book, however. She buried the hatchet with Gina, stopped playing games with Ace, and took on mentorship of a genetically engineered canary-harpy.



She and Gina work as colleagues more often than not these days, and if there's still a slight edge of profession competition between them, it mostly comes out as banter.

Which is cool and all, but I do occasionally miss the wedgie wars... ;)



...in Fred's defense, the book is equal-opportunity cheesecake/beefcake.

[halloweenjack]

I had to look closely at the, ah, southern part of that first Penny pic to make sure that I wasn't seeing what I thought I was seeing at first glance.

[jcbaggee]

I'd just like to say holy shit, M.A.N.T.I.S.

Also, it's kind of funny that DCAU's Vixen has a lower cleavage dip in her costume than the DCU Vixen.

[halloweenjack]

Gina Torres was in M.A.N.T.I.S.? I must have this now. Also, your juxtaposition of Torres as Zoe with Monica Rambeau makes me think of how awesome she would be playing Captain Marvel/Photon. Also, big props for including Sisko.

I'd also include Jackson King, aka Battalion from Stormwatch. Penny Johnson as Kasidy Yates from DS9 as well. And, what the hell, let's toss in Hiro Protagonist from Snow Crash as well.

[3goodtimes]

*claps*

Impressive list. You may have missed some people, but goodness gracious, I appreciate all the effort.

Cyborg!

[neo_prodigy]

I used the Smallville version of Cyborg because well, Lee Thompson Young is just too damn fine for words. ;D

[jazzypom]

Doc Hartford, Galaxy Rangers



Luke Cage. Once the conscience of the new New Avengers, and bad. ass.




Bishop! He lost his two friends, Malcolm and Randall when he came chasing after Trevor Fitzroy. :(

[arilou_skiff]

Isn't Bishop Australian native though? Not african-american? Or is it one of those complicated things?

[darkblade]

"And speaking of casting win on Smallville, THIS!!!!!!"

Amanda Waller is in Smallville?

[scottyquick]

Smallville: Absolute Justice or something like that. Pam Grier was the highlight of the episode. Mmmmmm.

[sistermagpie]

OMG. Smallville!Cyborg is...Jeez! He's beautiful!

[rebecky-mo.livejournal.com]

That, my friend, is Lee Thompson Young.

The man was hot as a boy 12 years ago in The Famous Jett Jackson, and damn if he didn't grow up nicely. UNF.

And I really do like him as Cyborg. He has attitude, but also has the intelligence to him.

[kirke_novak]

I approve but see no Wildstorm representatives. Jackson King, anyone?

[kingrockwell]

ooooohh Eartha Kitt
think clean thoughts

Anyway. here's a few of my favorites that weren't here.


Michael Holt


Sam Wilson


Dorrie Lopez


Crispus Allen


Tike Alicar

[kingrockwell]

I forgot Philippus!

[koschei]

Nice to see someone else was a M.A.N.T.I.S fan.

[neo_prodigy]

*Mantis fan fist bumps*

[hopeofdawn]

Because I haven't seen him listed yet, and he was the first superhero ever that I loved (along with his partner) ...



Cloak! My fav character ever, along with Dagger. (They're pretty much a matched set, after all ...)

[tornadotwin.blogspot.com]

Tattoed Man was left out too. (I'm still under the impression he's an anti-hero now, unless he went back to crime) As well as Jakeen Thunder and if we went by DC Elseworlds the two Black Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. (I dunno how to upload pictures or else I would)

[tornadotwin.blogspot.com]

Oh and the black Star Boy from the Legion 3-boot of 04 (or 05. those issues are too far buried for me to get out and not die of asphyxiation)

[btravage.livejournal.com]

Capital G of the Justice Friends.
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/dexterslab/images/c/ca/TheJusticeFriendsWhole.jpg