Ten Most Influential African American Superheroes
Superheroes: since 1963 with Lee Falk’s Phantom, superheroes have been a defining set of icons in the United States since. From newspaper strips, all the way to movies, TV series, video games, toys and even podcasts, superheroes have filled the lives of everyone once, twice or too many times too count. With that being said, its safe to say that through long, strenous research(not really), the average viewer can deduce that most caped crusaders and high flying wall crawlers have one thing in common:
They’re white. Caucasian. Whatever you name it, from Hawkman, Dr.Fate and up to Wonder Woman, Iron-Man, Captain America, Superman and yes—even Batman.
But that doesn’t make it a bad thing. What is worrisome is the lack of other heroes who are darker, from different cultural backgrounds, and look like you and me (if you’re a non-white person reading this). So when we do receive heroes that are against the known paradigm of the s-curl burly hero, we take note. For some of these minority heroes, they’ve left an impact on us, especially the ones in the Black Community.
Today, I’ll go over the ten most influential African American Superheroes and their impact on the lives of many who finally got a hero to look up to.
Ultimate Nick Fury
Created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, Colonel Nicolas Joseph “Nick” Fury was orignally your staple hero back in the 1960s (hint: he wasn’t black). But after illustrator Bryan Hitch in his run on The Ultimates(2000) redesigned him to look similar to Samuel L. Jackson, the rest became history. Eventually the actor himself took on the role in Joss Whedon’s Avengers(2012) and its become his definitive look since. Be honest: when you think of Nick Fury, there’s few of us that imagine David Hasselhoff’s version from that 1998 movie nobody talks about(and will continute not too).
Decisive, wry, capapable and principled, Nick Fury can make the tough calls when other heroes can’t or choose not too. Who else was better to unite the Avengers together to get their smack together and make a legendary movie?
Static
“I’LL PUT A SHOCK TO YOUR SYSTEM!” That’s right! One of my personal favorites and one of my childhood icons, Static was created by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan and the other founders of Milestone Media. Mile-mannered nerd Virgil Hawkins was exposed to experimental riot gas, which altered his DNA and transformed him into one of the most known black superheroes. His ability over the electromagnetic spectrum, his witty, good-hearted nature alongside his fun, electrifying personality make him one of the most memorable heroes on this list. He was one of the first black superheroes with his own cartoon series, Static Shock(2000), which was nominated for Daytime Emmy awards, with strong ratings and being renewed for its second season just a month after its debut.
Sadly after 52 episodes, the series was cancelled, but we’re not gonna talk about that act against god.
A character that didn’t shy away from topics such as drug abuse, gang violence, grief and even sex, racism and social injustice, Static’s comic and show have a special place in the hears of adults who were lucky to view the hero in their younger years.
Spawn
Neither Marvel or DC, this doesn’t stop creator owned company Image Comics to release one of the greatest dark, gritty and “edgy” heroes of the century. And he also happens to be Black!
Created by Todd McFarlane, Spawn or Al Simmons, was a secret military operative, doing routine assassinations for good ol’ Uncle Sam, until he was backstabbed and sent off to Hell. But determined to reunite with his wife Wanda once again, Al made some pretty sore choices.
Like making a deal with a demon.
Now with new life, but with a gnarly date with armageddon, Spawn’s graphic nature, maturity and overall awesomeness(I mean the cape—who doesn’t like the cape) makes him a hero(loosely) that stands even today as a fan favorite with an added bonus of African American heritage.
Cyborg
“BOOYAH!”
A known catchphrase since his appearence in the Cartoon Network series Teen Titans, Cyborg or Victor Stone, was another benefactor for the respect of Black Superheroes.
Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, Victor Stone was a talented athlete and genius, destined for greatness, until after a terrifying accident (car accident, invasion from Darkseid, depends on the retcon), is saved by his father Silas Stone and transformed into…well a Cyborg.
He’s become a known figure in comic books, and has even made it to the roster of the Justice League, making it to Zack Snyder’s Justice League(2021) and becoming loved by readers and viewers worldwide. Lie to me and tell me you haven’t said that catchphrase at least once.
Luke Cage
Otherwise known as Power Man, Luke Cage or Carl Lucas, was created by Archie Goodwin, George Tuska, Roy Thomas, and John Romita Sr, and was one of the first African American superheroes to be the protagonist and holder of his own title series in Luke Cage: Power Man.
Carl Lucas was wrongly convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, common among African Americans at that era, and experimented on in prison. After the experimental procedure, Carl Lucas gained incredible superhuman strength and unbreakable skin.
A well known hero for modern audiences, Luke Cage gained his own Netflix series, Luke Cage (2016–2018) and garnered a bigger following of fans due to its grounded setting in a world plagued by corruption, violence and racial injustice. Luke Cage is not only influential because of his roots, but because of the message he evokes as a bulletproof black man who does the right thing and doesn’t tolerate injustice.
Miles Morales
Now we’re cooking!
Miles Morales is Spider-Man, arguably the most popular superhero of all time. A protege of Peter Parker with African American and Puerto Rican heritage, Miles Morales, created by renowned writer Brian Michael Bendis and illustrator Sara Pichelli, the young New Yorker’s life changed after being bitten by a radioactive spider. Deciding to take on the mantle of the web-slinger in his universe of 1,660 (obviously leaving out crucial details as they’re spoilers), and took the world by storm.
Seriously, when this kid came out as the new Spider-Man, even news outlets were raging over this. Miles Morales became one of the stepping stones in the new age of diversity in comics, but after his debut movie Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse(2018), he’s become a well known name among the lips of all Spidey fans.
Miles showed that “anyone can wear the mask” and that Spider-Man represents everyone, no matter the color.
Blade
The MVP and one of the greats who arguably started the Marvel universe of live action films, Blade is one of the coolest superheroes of all time.
Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gene Clan, Blade was the perfect vampire hunter with the strength of vampires but none of their weaknesses. Eric Cross Brooks was born to a mother who died after her blood was consumed by a vampire right before his brith. Luckily Eric survived, but with some of the vampire enzymes that transformed him in the womb and would define the rest of his life.
Known by creatures of the night as “The Daywalker”, Blade was featured prominently in his own solo movie in 1998, with two sequels and has become one of the best classic marvel films to this day.
Cited (by pretty smart sources ahem) as having one of the coolest costumes and entrances in movie history, Blade stands tall as one of the greatest Black superheroes.
John Stewart
The pot is boiling!
John Stewart or otherwise known as the definitive Green Lantern among most comic fans (or maybe its just me…hmm whatever) was created by writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Neal Adams and was the second black superhero to appear in DC comics. Inspired by the actor Sydney Poitier, John Marshal Stewart was a marine sniper and architect who was chosen to be the next Green Lantern after Guy Gardner, the previous backup and replacement to Hal Jordan was injured.
His fate to be black was after a heated debate between Neil Adams and editor in chief at the time Julius Schwartz over representation in the comic book medium. John was born and he planned to stay.
He appeared in dozens of Green Lantern comic books from that point forward, but his most well known role was in the 2001 Cartoon Network series Justice League and continued in the role in Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006).
As a young black child, sitting in front of the TV screen and seeing a character that not only was a superhero, but looked like you leaves a lasting impact, and John Stewart lived up to that power.
Storm
Don’t tell me she wasn’t one of your earliest crushes. Since May of 1975, Storm or Ororo Munroe was known as one of the most powerful X-Men and one of the first female African American superheroes.
Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, Storm or Ororo Munroe, came from a long line of African priestesses and just so happened to be a mutant, a subset race of humans with extraordinary powers.
Appearing in X-Men: The Animated Series(1992) and played later in the live action X-Men(2000) by Halle Berry(oof it’s getting hot in here), Storm has made a collosal name for herself inside and outside of comics. She’s so prominent that she was wife to the last and arguably most influential superhero on this list,Black Panther.
Black Panther
It would be a sin to not put this man on the list. The first African American superhero to ever appear in Marvel Comics, the king of Wakanda, and one of the smartest minds of the Marvel Universe, Black Panther is the most influential hero on this list.
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and being first introduced in Fantastic Four #52 in 1996 as an antagonist, but became his prominent MVP-ness throughout the Marvel Universe, T’Challa became a fan favorite. He is the King of Wakanda, a secret advanced civilization in Africa and the kingdoms protector the Black Panther. Given enhanced strength, speed, agility, and an assortment of senses as well as genius level intellect, from a sacred plant, T’Challa is one of the most skilled hand to hand fighters, inventors, rulers, and coolest characters in the Marvel Universe.
Trivia: due to his name being synonymous with the Black Panther party of the 1960s his name was changed to the Black Leopard but was changed back after feedback from fans was a hard no.
He was such a popular character that he eventually gained his own movie Black Panther(2018) that became one of the highest grossing movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Played beautifully by the legendary Chadwick Boseman, the protector of Wakanda, with his indestructible vibranium, his kingdom’s most prized mineral, he stands above the list of black superheroes as the greatest of all time.