Is DC more progressive than Marvel?

[Arach Knight]

I'm just presenting the facts. Sure black panther was the first actual black super hero, but even he falls off the charts, frequently. And he isn't a bad character. Marvel just tends to nothing with minority characters that aren't Storm. Don't ask me why, that's just the trend. When I say this however, I am thinking broadly. We as comic fans have more insight into these books and characters...but at large...most people couldn't point out as many ethnic Marvel characters, as DC ethnic characters. I'd dare to say, that Black Lightning, is more recognizable than Black Panther, as a comic book hero figure.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I don't know, it seems BP's done pretty well for himself to me. He's been an off-and-on member of the Avengers through some of their best runs, he rivals Batman in tactical skills and Iron Man in scientific genius, he's had a critically acclaimed series under Chris Priest, etc. I wish some of my favorite characters could "fall off the charts" the way he has.

 

[XwolverineX]

Arach Knight, greatest.. Sig.. EVER.

 

[Arach Knight]

Being a well developed character, and being a popular character, are two completly exclusive, but sometimes co-existing, concepts. Black Panther has utterly sagging sales right now, which is the primary, arbitrary reasoning, behind the marriage of Storm and Black Panther. I never said Black Panther, or other Marvel ethnic heroes, were bad characters. I merely said they fall into the wayside of the story telling element. They are not nearly seen as often as they should be, and even when they are around, hardly gain any note worthy success. As a matter of fact, Black Panther is currently the 85th out 100, in the August 2006 charts. I applaud Marvel for doing something to try and pick up the books sagging sales, but what about other characters? How come Forget hardly does anything these days? Sunfire is dead, Goliath is dead, Synch is dead....well that leaves Falcon...and it's nice to see him, and Cloak...but so many Marvel ethnic characters, just fall off the charts and books, for long periods of time, until it's convinent for a story. DC keeps their ethnic characters (super or not) in a much more regular rotation in most of their books like Anaya and Trevor Scott in Wonder Woman. John Stewart in Green Lantern. Mr.Terrific in JSA. Most ethnic folks in Marvel books, are best left to the X-Men. Hell, I was amazed that Robbie was getting so much attention during Civil War. Haven't really seen that character (in Amazing at least) for some time.

 

[Arach Knight]

Arach Knight, greatest.. Sig.. EVER.

I miss my old signature, with the Gwen and Peter dialouge, from Ultiamte Spider-Man, but this sig is much more reflective of my mood with Marvel at the moment. When Dragon first said it a couple of weeks ago, I thought it was about the most brilliant thing i'd read, in a while, on these forums. It had me laughing pretty hard. I was originally considering

"Q:What's the fastest way to get somebody to read a DC comic?

A:Let the read a Marvel one first"

But Dragon said this in a Spidey thread...and I decided to go with that.

 

[Darthphere]

That sig is stupid.

 

[Arach Knight]

This coming from the man with the self gratifying signature? :P Seriously though, your sig is pretty funny. Some people don't put enough thought into sig quotes or statements sometimes, so it's good to see somebody with some taste. You don't have to like my sig by the way...you just have to deal with it briefly anytime we're in the same thread :P

 

[fifthfiend]

So wait...

Comics are 3.99 now?

WTF?

 

[Darthphere]

This coming from the man with the self gratifying signature? :P Seriously though, your sig is pretty funny. Some people don't put enough thought into sig quotes or statements sometimes, so it's good to see somebody with some taste. You don't have to like my sig by the way...you just have to deal with it briefly anytime we're in the same thread :P

Its not the sig itself, its the statement behind it. Everytime I pick up a marvel comic, I know I have a pair of Aces in my hand, you just gotta know what to read and stop reading the crap.

 

[Arach Knight]

No they are still $2.50 (Such as DC's 52) or $2.99 (the majority of Marvel and DC books). The price Dragon was refering to, was the "Stan Lee Meets Spider-Man" issue, that Stan Lee recently wrote. Sombeody was expressin their disappointment in the writing, beacuse for $4, they were expecting better. The only other book I can recently remember, being $4, was Justice League of America #1.

 

[Darthphere]

Eternals is $3.99

 

[fifthfiend]

Its not the sig itself, its the statement behind it. Everytime I pick up a marvel comic, I know I have a pair of Aces in my hand, you just gotta know what to read and stop reading the crap.

Also and I'm just throwing this out there, but it's not like you have to spend that three or four or whatever dollars to find out what happens. It's called flipping through it in the store, fellas.

I mean really, it's more like if you were able to pull the slot handle, see if you win, and then put three dollars into the machine to collect your prize.

 

[Arach Knight]

I always flip through books at the comic shop, before I go and buy books that I am not already following.

 

[droogiedroogie2]

cripes, arach is very selective with his points.....

they dropped the code for the books in which it was appropriate to drop it.

 

[droogiedroogie2]

Well no, not true.
To do a drugs story was the governments idea, to do a drugs story without CCA approval was marvel decision. Also not giving them credit for using their biggest character is very unfair.

The nature of the story was counter to the CC. It wasn't their decision to reject the CC.

 

[gildea]

I'd dare to say, that Black Lightning, is more recognizable than Black Panther, as a comic book hero figure.

I wouldn't think so. Just count the number of issues they each had in their respective comic runs.

Plus there is a BP movie in the works.

 

[gildea]

The nature of the story was counter to the CC. It wasn't their decision to reject the CC.

When you make the decision to publish a story counter to the CC you are deciding to reject it.

thats pretty simple.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I wouldn't think so. Just count the number of issues they each had in their respective comic runs.

Plus there is a BP movie in the works.

But Black Lightning's got the Super-Friends cartoon behind him.

 

[Arach Knight]

I wouldn't think so. Just count the number of issues they each had in their respective comic runs.

Plus there is a BP movie in the works.

I can concede that Black Lightning has had several, shorter runs than Black Panther, but only if it is accepted that creator differences caused Black Lightning's book to get cancelled. Also, the creation of the Black Panther movie, is just Marvels way of turning everything into a marketable format. I mean they made the Blade movies (great films...the first two at least) and then went on to try and revive the book (which to my understanding is selling poorly at the moment). Im not going to out right say it's a gimmick tactic. It's logical business...but it is a business driven choice. Marvel is quickly focusing on being a content provider of characters. Even their own website refers to them as the largest provider of character based entertainment, with something over 4,200 characters. That is just paraphrasing of course...but for them, they have to make these characters known. It's the Marvel model now.

 

[gildea]

But Black Lightning's got the Super-Friends cartoon behind him.

Oddly enough they wanted to use BL on JLU but weren't allowed.


Regarding BL vs BP for the past 5 years there has been a BP book (which joe Q used to hype all the time under priest in interviews at least). BP was in the avengers on and off recently as well.

Really don't think BL comes close in terms of exposure.

 

[Arach Knight]

Ummm...he was in Lex Luthor's presidential cabinet...he was key to taking down Brother Eye in Infinite Crisis, and was recently added to the Justice League of America...which I might add, was August's best selling book (as in #1). Where as in August, Black Panther's book was 85th on the list. I'd say Black Lightning has more exposure, and better exposure. Unless you want to throw in those sorry direct to DVD Ultimate Avengers movies.

 

[Kitsune]

But Black Lightning's got the Super-Friends cartoon behind him.

That would be Black Vulcan, along with El Burrito... um El Dorado, Super Samuri and Manitu... ehem Appachie Chief.
Here's a link for better information http://www.seanbaby.com/super.htm

 

[Eros]

Ummm...he was in Lex Luthor's presidential cabinet...he was key to taking down Brother Eye in Infinite Crisis, and was recently added to the Justice League of America...which I might add, was August's best selling book (as in #1). Where as in August, Black Panther's book was 85th on the list. I'd say Black Lightning has more exposure, and better exposure. Unless you want to throw in those sorry direct to DVD Ultimate Avengers movies.

does black Lightning currently have his on comic book series? No BL is a supporting character, thats all he will ever be.

 

[Arach Knight]

I think a supporting character in a major comic event as well as a supporting character in the number one book right now, is way better than being the lead in a book that is utterly failing, at 85th out of 100. Black Lightning used to have a book. In fact they've tried several times
Just like the Black Panther. You act as if being in a solo book, means something. It just means the company wants to see a character do well. Not that they are, doing well. The New Warriors used to have a solo book too, would you call that writing gold by any chance?

 

[Eros]

I think a supporting character in a major comic event as well as a supporting character in the number one book right now, is way better than being the lead in a book that is utterly failing, at 85th out of 100. Black Lightning used to have a book. In fact they've tried several times
Just like the Black Panther. You act as if being in a solo book, means something. It just means the company wants to see a character do well. Not that they are, doing well. The New Warriors used to have a solo book too, would you call that writing gold by any chance?

lol i hated New Warriors, but IMO Black lightning is more Morgan Freeman, while Black Panther is closer to Denzel Washington.