The Official "Ask A Brotha" Thread - Part 1

[charl_huntress]

I still can't imagine Cyborg as part of the core 7. I'm not reading the new 52, so that's probably why. Personally, I'd like a really multi-cultural league with a black MM, a black GL and somewhat black looking AM. All them work for me. I'll even take the Latino Flash.

 

[RockSP]

There was a recent rumor that Michael B. Jordan was being considered for a small role in Supes/Bats/Whatever that would be a bigger role in later movies. The description was a black male in his early 20's. Most likely it's for Cyborg if true.

 

[Boy Scout]

I might actually give a **** about Cyborg if Jordan played him.

 

[Boy Scout]

Yet, I'm perplexed by the fact some took "pronounced lips + dark skin" as black.

Why? A lot of black people have those characteristics. They're pretty common.

Luthor's lips were pronounced, but how does that automatically signal black?

He also had dark skin. It was a combination of those things that made him appear black.

I don't see how it was an easy mistake to make, but I know that many did make it.

Those statements contradict each other, don't you think?

While we're on the subject, I'd be 100% okay with a black Lex Luthor.

 

[Manic]

I still can't imagine Cyborg as part of the core 7. I'm not reading the new 52, so that's probably why. Personally, I'd like a really multi-cultural league with a black MM, a black GL and somewhat black looking AM. All them work for me. I'll even take the Latino Flash.

I remember a few years back when Dwayne McDuffie was writing the JLA book. He had inherited Black Lightning and Vixen from the previous writer, and he was forced to use John Stewart instead of Hal or Kyle as the team's GL. There was a new Firestorm at the time who was a black teenager, and the editors asked McDuffie to add him to the team.

Half the Justice League was black, and oh boy did a bunch of idiots throw a fit over there being too many black people. He was accused of shoving a black agenda down readers' throats. Because my god, more than two black people and it's a Negro League.

 

[Erzengel]

I grew up on Kyle. I always preferred him to Jordan.

 

[charl_huntress]

There was a recent rumor that Michael B. Jordan was being considered for a small role in Supes/Bats/Whatever that would be a bigger role in later movies. The description was a black male in his early 20's. Most likely it's for Cyborg if true.

I'll have to google him. The name is familiar, but I can't recall a face. I'm sure I've seen him in something before though.

At this point, I'm more on board with Cyborg as part of the JL after JL: War, but I don't really have high hopes for this next movie. That's another thread and another topic though.

Why? A lot of black people have those characteristics. They're pretty common.

Yes, I know those are common features for black people, but I don't see how any one made that leap with this guy.


I really don't.

He also had dark skin. It was a combination of those things that made him appear black.

I don't get the dark skin either. The show always made it clear who was black.

One of these people is dark... I'll leave it to you to tell me who.



As I said before, I think Timm and Co. had a certain way of drawing their "white" villainous characters. Look at Corben. He's nearly the same shade as Luthor and he also has some prominent lips, but NO one thought he was black. Was it the hair?

edit: I'll add for BTAS fans. Look at Harvey Dent/Two Face. This is common for Timm and Co.

Those statements contradict each other, don't you think?

No, I don't see how it was an easy mistake to make. I just realize that many, many, many people did make that mistake...for whatever reason.

While we're on the subject, I'd be 100% okay with a black Lex Luthor.

I've never had a problem with that. I would be okay with a black Lois Lane too.

I remember a few years back when Dwayne McDuffie was writing the JLA book. He had inherited Black Lightning and Vixen from the previous writer, and he was forced to use John Stewart instead of Hal or Kyle as the team's GL. There was a new Firestorm at the time who was a black teenager, and the editors asked McDuffie to add him to the team.

Half the Justice League was black, and oh boy did a bunch of idiots throw a fit over there being too many black people. He was accused of shoving a black agenda down readers' throats. Because my god, more than two black people and it's a Negro League.

I remember that. *shakes head* Wonder how far we've progressed since then...probably not far enough unfortunately.

 

[RockSP]

I remember a few years back when Dwayne McDuffie was writing the JLA book. He had inherited Black Lightning and Vixen from the previous writer, and he was forced to use John Stewart instead of Hal or Kyle as the team's GL. There was a new Firestorm at the time who was a black teenager, and the editors asked McDuffie to add him to the team.

Half the Justice League was black, and oh boy did a bunch of idiots throw a fit over there being too many black people. He was accused of shoving a black agenda down readers' throats. Because my god, more than two black people and it's a Negro League.

The League was still majority white...just too black (plus one Asian) for the racists. Hell, Hal was still in the book. He and John "shared" the GL spot.

I'll never forget over on the dc comics boards someone complained about John Stewart and Black Lightning having a conversation with each other in McDuffie's first issue. "It's all I'm black, you're black!!!" Which was a total lie, of course. Race never came up.

 

[charl_huntress]

DC let's themselves get pushed around too much when it comes to stuff like that. They cave easily to racist fan demands.

 

[Manic]

DC caving in to racism? Surely not! Not the DC that advertised an issue of Superman where Supes was going to team up with an American-born Middle Eastern Muslim hero, only to pull the issue at the last minute and replace it with a reprint of a decades-old comic!

Seriously, what the F, DC?

 

[Anubis]

Then they take basically that same character, make him a Green Lantern and give him a Luchador mask and a pistol....so....I don't know wtf they're doing. I'm pretty much done with the big two these days anyway.

 

[charl_huntress]

This fill in issue contains a lost classic, Lost Boy: A Tale of Krypto the Superdog, set shortly after Superboy died in Infinite Crisis and Superman went missing.
DC Comics determined that the previously solicited story did not work within the ‘Grounded’ storyline. However, Chris Roberson, will be back for the final two issues of Superman’s year long walk across America. As we near the conclusion, catch up with Superman next month as he makes stops in Portland and Newberg, OR.”


Read More: Why Did DC Cancel Superman’s Team-Up with a Muslim Hero? | http://comicsalliance.com/superman-712-muslim/?trackback=tsmclip

The grounded approach ....

 

[Anubis]

Grounded sucked anyway.

 

[E-Man]

If WB wants to think outside the box they should've cast Paula Patton as Wonder Woman.

She's one of he few actresses who could play a believable Amazonian.

I'd also be interested if she could win over the fanboys despite being black.

I like Paula Patton, but she would have to bulk up big time. She's pretty thin as it is, but it's doable. It's all a matter of whether or not the people they get to train her properly does that. That's my biggest concern with Wonder Woman. Gal is 90 pounds soaking wet, so they better roid her ass up if they want her to properly pull off a character who can lift tanks and helicopters.

I remember a few years back when Dwayne McDuffie was writing the JLA book. He had inherited Black Lightning and Vixen from the previous writer, and he was forced to use John Stewart instead of Hal or Kyle as the team's GL. There was a new Firestorm at the time who was a black teenager, and the editors asked McDuffie to add him to the team.

Half the Justice League was black, and oh boy did a bunch of idiots throw a fit over there being too many black people. He was accused of shoving a black agenda down readers' throats. Because my god, more than two black people and it's a Negro League.

[YT]u16sKK-1oLQ[/YT]

I grew up on Kyle. I always preferred him to Jordan.

Kyle is the man. Unfortunately they'll never let him into the mess that is Warner's DC plans. He's somewhere off chillin with Nightwing knowing that they'll never get their proper shine. Damn you DC and Warner. Damn you all to hell!

 

[Boy Scout]

Yes, I know those are common features for black people, but I don't see how any one made that leap with this guy.

If you don't see it, there's honestly nothing more I can say. It's a difference in perspective.

I don't get the dark skin either. The show always made it clear who was black.

But again...not all black people look the same. The show didn't have to make all black people look the same, even if a lot of them did look the same. The fact that we're talking about a white Lex Luthor who regularly interacted with other white people and was still thought to be black supports that.

As I said before, I think Timm and Co. had a certain way of drawing their "white" villainous characters. Look at Corben. He's nearly the same shade as Luthor and he also has some prominent lips, but NO one thought he was black. Was it the hair?

To be totally honest with you, I thought Corben was black, too. I thought the flowing hair was an artistic choice, and considering the character was from a foreign nation, it made sense to me within the context of the cartoon.

EDIT: I should probably say that I got into the series when I was very young, and didn't give it too much thought when I grew up. For the most part, I'm only referring to and justifying my first impressions.

edit: I'll add for BTAS fans. Look at Harvey Dent/Two Face. This is common for Timm and Co.

Again...I thought he was black, too.

Not gonna lie, I feel a little embarrassed.

I've never had a problem with that. I would be okay with a black Lois Lane too.

Same here. I'd probably be fine with a black Superman, too, but such a decision would definitely make me raise my eyebrows.

 

[Hypestyle]

the new Aqualad is black. His origin is complex. The cartoon version is intriguing.

Re: animated Luthor-- from the beginning, I figured this was just Luthor with a good tan (which, obviously, he'd have the money for).. lol..

 

[charl_huntress]

If you don't see it, there's honestly nothing more I can say. It's a difference in perspective. But again...not all black people look the same. The show didn't have to make all black people look the same, even if a lot of them did look the same. The fact that we're talking about a white Lex Luthor who regularly interacted with other white people and was still thought to be black supports that.

The point is on the show all black people were clearly identifiable. It wasn't a small world. It was STAS... a cartoon. White and black was made very obvious. As for why we are still talking about this, I truly believe the idea of Lex being black was a rumor that spiraled out of control. It started on MBs and blogs because Clancy had a deep voice, the character was drawn with prominent lips, the name Clancy Brown sounded black, the character was colored with a Mediterranean in mind since Salvalas is Greek, kids usually believe everything the internet says, and it's fun to say Lex is black...

To be totally honest with you, I thought Corben was black, too. I thought the flowing hair was an artistic choice, and considering the character was from a foreign nation, it made sense to me within the context of the cartoon. Again...I thought he was black, too. Not gonna lie, I feel a little embarrassed.

Again, it's a common misconception and Timm and Co. have a way of drawing their "white" villainous characters so they look ethnic... I've always wanted to ask Timm why he subconsciously does this because I don't think the guy is racist or anything, but all his white villains look black in all his cartoons. So I was not surprised that people did think Lex was Black. People thought Harvey Dent was black too years before STAS. t:

Same here. I'd probably be fine with a black Superman, too, but such a decision would definitely make me raise my eyebrows.

I'm inspired by choices like that and respect anyone who is willing to make a change like that.

the new Aqualad is black. His origin is complex. The cartoon version is intriguing.

I loved Kaldur on YJ. I was one of the only ones who did love him though. For some reason he seemed to be the most hated of the characters.

 

[Boy Scout]

the new Aqualad is black.

Not to mention awesome.

I miss Young Justice.

The point is on the show all black people were clearly identifiable.

You could say that about the white people, too. Except...a lot of people thought Lex Luthor was a black male.

White and black was made very obvious.

For the most part, yes. But again...not everyone looks the same, and acknowledging those differences in a cartoon is not unheard of.

Again, it's a common misconception and Timm and Co. have a way of drawing their "white" villainous characters so they look ethnic...

I guess. It doesn't really matter to me. I'm not arguing that those characters were actually black.

I'm inspired by choices like that and respect anyone who is willing to make a change like that.

Will Smith could've been Superman if he'd wanted to.

I loved Kaldur on YJ. I was one of the only ones who did love him though. For some reason he seemed to be the most hated of the characters.

I liked him fine in season one, and really enjoyed him in season two.

I don't think anyone hated him; I think they just thought he was boring, especially compared to pretty much everyone else.

 

[Anubis]

Same with Harvey Dent in BTAS.

 

[Sawyer]

Grounded sucked anyway.

Just for that, Anubis? You're grounded for a month.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I remember when The Simpsons first became popular in the late 80's. Black people everywhere wanted to believe they were black.

I think it was Marge's afro and Barts flat top.

 

[charl_huntress]

You could say that about the white people, too. Except...a lot of people thought Lex Luthor was a black male.

Except he clearly wasn't black, but I understand a lot of people thought he was for various reasons.

For the most part, yes. But again...not everyone looks the same, and acknowledging those differences in a cartoon is not unheard of.

I still don't see how people made that leap, but I wasn't surprised that people did because many thought Harvey Dent was black because of his coloring and how he was drawn during the heyday of BNAS/BTAS.

I guess. It doesn't really matter to me. I'm not arguing that those characters were actually black.

I understand that. I just have never understood why people thought they were black to begin with, but considering so many did I attribute this to the way Timm and Co. designed the characters. Like I said before, almost all his white villains have an ethnic feel to them. Not sure if that's by design or subconscious, but almost all Timm's white villains have an ethnic vibe. This is not just exclusive to STAS. This includes BNAS, BTAS, Static Shock, Batman Beyond, JL and JLU

Will Smith could've been Superman if he'd wanted to.

I'm glad he passed on that. I think that would have been disastrous. Smith might have been a good Superman, but I think his Clark Kent would have sucked.

Same with Harvey Dent in BTAS.

I remember reading some posts in the TDK threads that people thought Dent was black because of BNAS and BTAS. t:

 

[Quasimod0]

The Simpsons are clearly yellow.

 

[Anubis]

High Yellow

 

[Boy Scout]

I'm glad he passed on that. I think that would have been disastrous. Smith might have been a good Superman, but I think his Clark Kent would have sucked.

I feel the opposite. I don't think he would've had much trouble pulling off Clark Kent, but Superman? I dunno.