Racial Stereotyping In Comic Book Based Movies

[Morning Star]

Well Static Shock was created by a black person who didn't fit the urban label, nor intended to. However, he died a year or two ago, so any chances of getting an answer...is unlikely.

I think Andrea is right about the vernacular. They do that to bring in the urban viewers whiling alienating the rest of us. I am not sure if they do that because the creators are from the urban environment or to pull in more of what they think people are.

 

[The Dark King]

I hate to break it to you, but even suburban blacks from where I live would adopt a certain ghetto vernacular. It's not innate and to be frank, Static Shock/Vergil didn't speak in a black vernacular sense from what I'm getting at. He possessed the same virtuous qualities that any of the DC characters possess without too much ambiguity of character like Batman.

He didn't steal TVs, acted as though he's a pimp and any other stereotype you seemingly tend to associate people with who has a certain slang or lingo. Could it be that Vergil's voice is more of an accent than anything? So honestly, I don't see why you need to complain about nothing when it comes to that character.

Also, consider Todd MacFarlanes's character Spawn. Al Simmons/Spawn is another representation of a person. Like Batman, he has to make moral decisions. The difference, however, is when it comes to a strong sense of purpose, Spawn's decisions affect not just himself, but the fate of existence. He's a strong character that's troubled, but have redeemed himself ultimately.

Who's complaining? Just an objective observation. I never said he acted like he was from the hood. Arch explained what I was getting at so look at his post.
I was never a big fan of Spawn so I never really read his comics but here's another alpha male black guy who stumbled onto to powers like John Stewart and The Black Panther. I always enjoyed a hero who had never been more than ordinary but found greatness some how. Its kind of why I never liked the Superman character. It's easy to hit a homerun when you're already third base know what I mean?

 

[The Dark King]

Peter Parker swings through an urban environment. Static simply hovers through one. The same with Johnny. No offense but new york city has a very urban image. You don't do your self justice by naming nyc superheroes.

Static lived in a much less urban city when he was doing his super hero thing.

Batman also spends a lot of time in the main city. same thing with superman. There isn't much of the usual crime out of the urban place.

I think you missed this part of my argument. I was pointing out how you never really see black characters with that same free spirited fun loving attitude or kids who struggle with teen issues. You know normalizing them into mainstream culture. Like it always seems that the black heroes have to already be extraordinary to begin with. Like Black Panther being a Prince and one of the five smartest people in the world.

 

[Morning Star]

Spawn isn't perfect. He does have a lot of weaknesses and he's subject to being under the orders of Hell. But he broke free of those chains as the comics progressed. He's still a vulnerable character despite his powers and abilities. The lesson here is that he's able to find his own purpose and meaning, despite fate controlling him until the very end.

I understand where you're coming from with a simple human being doing extraordinary things. It's always a good reminder that anyone can overcome adversity. But still, is it necessary to wear latex while fighting crime?

Who's complaining? Just an objective observation. I never said he acted like he was from the hood. Arch explained what I was getting at so look at his post.
I was never a big fan of Spawn so I never really read his comics but here's another alpha male black guy who stumbled onto to powers like John Stewart and The Black Panther. I always enjoyed a hero who had never been more than ordinary but found greatness some how. Its kind of why I never liked the Superman character. It's easy to hit a homerun when you're already third base know what I mean?

That sort of mentality is reflected in the real world unfortunately when it comes to achieving goals or meeting standards. Is it not true that as a black person, you have to be 10 times better than your white counterpart? I think those comics serve as a subtle reflection of all that.

I think you missed this part of my argument. I was pointing out how you never really see black characters with that same free spirited fun loving attitude or kids who struggle with teen issues. You know normalizing them into mainstream culture. Like it always seems that the black heroes have to already be extraordinary to begin with. Like Black Panther being a Prince and one of the five smartest people in the world.

 

[The Dark King]

Spawn isn't perfect. He does have a lot of weaknesses and he's subject to being under the orders of Hell. But he broke free of those chains as the comics progressed. He's still a vulnerable character despite his powers and abilities. The lesson here is that he's able to find his own purpose and meaning, despite fate controlling him until the very end.

I understand where you're coming from with a simple human being doing extraordinary things. It's always a good reminder that anyone can overcome adversity. But still, is it necessary to wear latex while fighting crime?



That sort of mentality is reflected in the real world unfortunately when it comes to achieving goals or meeting standards. Is it not true that as a black person, you have to be 10 times better than your white counterpart? I think those comics serve as a subtle reflection of all that.

Yeah I never got the latex thing either kind of makes you wonder if those rumors about Stan Lee being super gay is true because I can't imagine any straight guy wanting to see Wolverine in tights.

Yeah its true but in the realm of fantasy I would like to believe even those average amongst us can be something great. It just adds to the white mythos that no matter how mediocore you are you're still better than everyone else despite their accomplishments. Just a little attitude and white skin is all it takes.

 

[archangel]

I think you missed this part of my argument. I was pointing out how you never really see black characters with that same free spirited fun loving attitude or kids who struggle with teen issues. You know normalizing them into mainstream culture. Like it always seems that the black heroes have to already be extraordinary to begin with. Like Black Panther being a Prince and one of the five smartest people in the world.

Most of the black superheroes mention in the thread are not extraordinary.
Virgil/ Static shock is just a regular kid in high school. John Stewart is a military man. Cyborg/victor stone is the son of scientists. Meanwhile, Batman is a millionaire and runs a huge company. Bruce Banner and reed Richards are top notch scientist. Aquaman is king of Atlantis. Wonderwoman is a princess. Superman is powerful beyond belief. It goes on and and on. There isn't really normalizing into mainstream culture for super heroes. The big three of Justice league alone are by no means ordinary(except maybe clark being a reporter).

I think they tried to do what you said with virgil/static shock. He was never the best at anything. In fact, I think his life was much more close to carefree than Peter parker who had to constantly deal with his powers. To the point that his powers looked like a curse.

The avengers alone have very high standard white people. Ironman is very rich and smart. Again, reed richards and spiderman are some of the smartest people on the team. You have antman/giantman as another smart individual. Bruce Banner is there as well. It isn't simply black people. You honestly can't expect for a member of the avengers to be ordinary in their regular life.

 

[archangel]

Well Static Shock was created by a black person who didn't fit the urban label, nor intended to. However, he died a year or two ago, so any chances of getting an answer...is unlikely.

I thought to myself that now the creator of static shock is gone, it is unlikely that black people will get equal representation in the DCAU. I think that is coming to be true.

 

[Morning Star]

Nah. Jack Kirby and his Superman creation started the latex trend. I was half-joking on the whole latex remark. I believe that the costume designs aren't really made of latex, but some fabric. This in part is more of a physical expression of them separating themselves from normal humans. That's how I generally see it.

Also, want to talk latex? Look at the NFL.

Yeah I never got the latex thing either kind of makes you wonder if those rumors about Stan Lee being super gay is true because I can't imagine any straight guy wanting to see Wolverine in tights.

Yeah its true but in the realm of fantasy I would like to believe even those average amongst us can be something great. It just adds to the white mythos that no matter how mediocore you are you're still better than everyone else despite their accomplishments. Just a little attitude and white skin is all it takes.

 

[Ymra]

There isn't a single black person in the line up of the x-men.

This is wrong.

 

[archangel]

This is wrong.

Keep reading the thread I was referring to the original x-men line up and not the one that kept growing.

 

[Ymra]

Keep reading the thread I was referring to the original x-men line up and not the one that kept growing.

Well black character's have gone back in XMen since the 70s...

...but none of this should be surprising. 200 million out of 300 million people are white.

Most of the black X-men character's were introduced in the 90s