Superheros in Film: The Un-Diversity among Capes

 

There was some great news to come across the Superhero Diaspora lately: Black Panther will be a forthcoming movie from Marvel Studios slated for a 2016 release date. Why is this great news? Well it seems that in a universe filled with superheroes making millions (revenue for Marvel Studios is in the billions), that it has yet to create a viable minority hero - so The Black Panther will technically be its first.

Why is this interesting? Because in Marvel Comics (not film), there is diversity happening all the time from Black to Gay characters; but in film...not so much. I am not asking that we have a full Kumbaya of hand-holding to bring a slew of black characters to the screen in full force...I am asking that at least the ones that are on screen have some sort of true significance in the films besides being the sidekick or used as a distraction for our white superheroes.

But we have Storm - of the Xmen!

If I have to hear that again, I think I will just puke, because she was the first travesty created in full force in an example of how White-Hollywood still continues to water down (and for that matter disregard), the African American presence in films. Halle Barry is an amazing actress (we forgive you: Catwoman), but her role as Storm was an insult to the hero herself -who is by far the most powerful Xmen in the group - The Phoenix non withstanding.

Storm's ability to change the weather is a testament not only of her abilities, but to the fact that in the comics she is considered a God - one in Thor's standing. Can you imagine just how powerful a being must be to not only create natural disasters such as lightening and ice, but to also be strong enough to survive them herself? She could suck the air out of any room if she wanted. But what does she do in Xmen movies? Toss a few lightening bolts around, and teach at the Academy. Pooh!

What other African American Heroes are there?

There are only a handful.
A shame, I know. If you blink, you will have missed them. I use the Xmen as one example, because in that universe, it caters to the minority (namely Mutants), and yet, there isn't a great minority population amongst them. There was one...can't remember his name, at the school, who died only moments after being introduced on screen. Others like John Wraith/ Kestrel in the Wolverine movies (played by Will I. Am), are only there as an aid to the main white characters. And I understand...it isn't his movie, but at least give them something exciting or worthwhile to contribute besides being a decoy.

Besides Storm, there has been: 

SPAWN (Michael Jai White)
A very good character, in a very bad movie. The comic book was amazing, telling the tale of a husband who was killed, only to make a deal with the devil to come back from the dead to avenge himself. Very dark film and character, and sort of an anti-hero. I find it ionic and funny, that this would be the one time that a Black dying first in a film, was a good thing. Yet while this was a good superhero, the franchise died, and being an anti-hero/vigilante isn't the best of role models for a superhero. 

BLADE (Westley Snipes)
Another anti-hero of sorts, and another example of "The Angry Black Man" in movies...and like the former movie, who seems only to work the night shift. While this one was more entertaining, it was still very dark, and Blade's agenda was more concerned with vanquishing vampires...which I guess, saves the human race by default. 

But when the town is in danger from otherworldly baddies, neither of these hero's would be called to the rescue. 

FROZONE/ The Incredibles (Samuel L. Jackson)
I know, I know...an animated character, but the choices are slim. At least Frozone could kick but, and had a cool (no pun intended) power. On very hot days, he has to work twice as hard. But I have to admit, he provided great assistance to the team, had a great sense of humor, unlike these other movies, he was a welcomed part of the family. Unfortunately, his union went only so far, and he became only a dot (if present at all), on any of the posters. It was all about the family. Sidekick status...again.

HANCOCK (Will Smith)
This movie I really liked, and the character of Hancock was well thought out - and the end of the movie is where I really wish it had actually begun. The backstory was so filled with depressive goop of him trying to actually BE a superhero, that by the end I was over it, and you could feel that the studio was too - which is why I assume there were no real villains in the movie, only a co-star antagonist. It was more of a romantic drama than a superhero action film, but I'll take gravy where I can get it, and this was the closest to true Black superhero I have seen thus far...minus the Al-Anon meetings.

FALCON (Anthony Mackie)
Now this is a story in itself.
Falcon has barely a presence in the Avengers franchise movies - while the character is actually the first African American superhero to be introduced into mainstream comics (Sept. 1969), is a very close friend of The Hulk (who had a sidekick which was Falcon's nephew), and has telepathic abilities and (please no fried chicken jokes) the ability to communicate with birds. In addition, when Captain America retires, it is Falcon that takes his place as the new Captain America (I know...right!), and leader of The Avengers.

But all we get is him distracting a few evil doers, and waving and smiling (shuckin and jiving), to the hero's of the day.

JOHN WRAITH / KESTREL (Will I. Am)
In X-men Origins: Wolverine - Kestrel is shown as a hero/anti-hero, as he is a free spirit for hire with his shifting alliances. What makes him more of a hero than a villain, is his unwillingness to kill others. He and Wolverine shared a past together when they were both a part of Team X, and in the movie Kestrel is shown as a worthy adversary, but still comes off as the Angry Black Man / Sidekick to Wolverine (although in this case, Wolverine is seen many times as the Angry White Man). It would have been great to see this character branch off into his own franchise - having such amazing skills as teleportation and weaponry - but he is coupled with a group of baddies, and the movie really isn't about him, now is it. 

I wont mention the roles that include that of Catwoman (Halle Berry), or War Machine (Terrance Howard / Don Cheadle) - although this character was to be the understudy for Iron Man in his absence from society, or The Guardian God: Heimdall (Idris Elba). These characters are already established as second banana to their white counterparts (Heimdall is suppose to have a larger role in the next Thor), and seem too much as a source for comedy instead of true intelligence.

This brings me to the future:

The Black Panther is next up in line to be showcased as perhaps the first African American superhero to have its own true franchise. Chadwick Boseman (42, Get on Up - James Brown story), is signed up to do 5 films as the Black Panther (the first two perhaps debuting in the upcoming Avenger 2-parter in 2016/2017), and then he is off on his own. 

It is a slow progress for sure, and perhaps this will lay way for other minorities to get their chance-in-tights too. It is too soon to say how they will treat this character. The Black Panther in comic-land was the first Black superhero in comic books, with a legacy as the King of Wakanda. His name is T'Challa, he is intelligent, very wealthy, and is the lucky husband to Storm (Yes...THAT Storm). He has great strength, and very heightened senses, along with scientific skills that could have him, Tony Stark, and Bruce Banner bumping heads. 

I would hate to see this one dumbed down to his basic elements of sidekick hijinks that seem to curse other superheroes on the dark end of the scale. I also would hate it to creep into stereotypical scenes just because it is character from Africa. The Black Panther could be jumping off point in Hollywood. It could be the very role model young African American kids need in superheroland. It could be so many things. I just hope they get it right.