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15 of the Greatest Black Superheroes of All Time

bamkapow.com — In honor of the release of Hancock, Bam Kapow takes a look at 15 of the greatest black superheroes of all time.

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  • Cowgodx, on 07/01/2008, -0/+45Misty knight sounds like a pornstar name
    • sterntastic223, on 07/01/2008, -0/+6Or some sort of table top rpg character.
      • Acglaphotis, on 07/02/2008, -0/+6Who says they're mutually exclusive?
    • LegendaryHitman, on 07/01/2008, -0/+11Well, they definitely draw her like a pornstar, so I guess it makes sense...
      • MCA2142, on 07/02/2008, -6/+1So wait a minute...

        Is it February already?
  • iamronburgundy, on 07/01/2008, -14/+7I'm actually glad they left Blade off the list. He gets way too much hype.
    • sterntastic223, on 07/01/2008, -0/+10He was also a minor super hero until they did the movie.
    • IRoaChI, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2Yea, but he is still pretty sweet.
    • jgtg32a, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2I never read the comics or anything but from the wikipedia article it seems like the movies were nothing like the comics, the movie being much darker and mature.
  • flexmentallo, on 07/01/2008, -0/+19Sweet Christmas, Luke Cage rules!
  • shauntacular, on 07/01/2008, -0/+26Shaq killed any kind of street cred that Steel had.
  • scaliacheese, on 07/01/2008, -1/+18They forgot the greatest black superhero of all time, Blackula.
    • RajDhillon, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3Greatest black superhero of all time is Shaft.

      Prove me wrong, go ahead.
    • SteveLRowe, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Black Vulcan "Lightning in my pants"

      Wiki quote ""Apparently he used to go by the name of Super Volt before Aquaman suggested his present name, to which Black Vulcan responds that maybe they should just call Aquaman "White Fish". ""
  • CryRightardCry, on 07/01/2008, -6/+35No Rosa Parks?
    • vMsam, on 07/02/2008, -0/+15YO WHERES MY BOY STATIC SHOCK?

      YOU RACISTS.
    • isunktheship, on 07/02/2008, -0/+6I hear she could sit anywhere she wanted on busses, beat that green lantern.
    • heystellah, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3Imagine if Malcolm X had a superpower. He already has the name.
  • daimposter, on 07/01/2008, -1/+23hmmm....i didn't even know there were 15 black superheroes total! i thought the list was shorter than 'Famous Jewish Sports Legends'.

  • ichbeineinrcg, on 07/01/2008, -1/+30No Black Lightning?
    No Cyborg?

    Those are two big misses, right there.
    • antiorblkflag9, on 07/02/2008, -0/+7Nick Fury half of the time.
      • lamiaconfitor, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1actually, the new Nick Fury, or 'ultimate.'
    • BadAshe86, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2What about Lothar of Mandrake fame?
    • blckng, on 07/06/2008, -0/+2You forgot Mr. Terrific, the greatest of all.
  • rebotfc, on 07/02/2008, -0/+34honor Hancock? GTFO.
  • atomicartist, on 07/02/2008, -0/+7Black Panther!
    • Newedge14, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1Black Panther Partayyy.

      I was always this guy in Marvel Ultimate Alliance, just because I felt like being someone who was underrated that and he's pretty awesome for a furry.
    • TChalla, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2My favorite!
    • themightyhlp, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2I always found that he was boring and never written correctly.Remember when he put the Silver Surfer in an armlock? Ridiculous.
      • blckng, on 07/06/2008, -0/+1That's because you're reading the current stuff. Go out and find the previous run by Christopher Priest. Most of it will probably be in the quarter bin. The Black Panther was awesome then.
  • ssn697, on 07/02/2008, -0/+8Luke Cage is #10?!?!?!

    Puh-*****-LEASE!!!!

    Top 3. Re-write!!!!
    • markmckay, on 07/02/2008, -1/+3Luke Cage is the biggest bad @$$ there is. Dude is the leader of The New Avengers for Christmas sake.
    • bubbameister33, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1They weren't ranked. Its just listed.
  • batmanz, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5I didn't know there were any.
  • joemofo214, on 07/02/2008, -3/+18theres 15??
  • superkendall, on 07/02/2008, -2/+8In honor of Hancock?

    From the reviews it seems there is little to honor, which is really a shame...
    • senatorpjt, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1I haven't read any reviews, but I thought it was a great premise. Too bad it sucks.
      • superkendall, on 07/02/2008, -2/+1Take a look at RottonTomatoes.com 36% last I checked... not good.
    • jgtg32a, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2It sucks? Thats too bad, I guess they hit really hard on him trying to redeem himself
      • supermanred, on 07/02/2008, -1/+4I'll see for myself on iTunes...

        EDIT: Oh it isnt available as a legal download...going to Piratebay... brb...
  • destron, on 07/02/2008, -9/+2Martin Luther King Jr.? Anybody?
  • lynkdead, on 07/02/2008, -6/+2Wasn't Bishop originally white?
    • Owwmykneecap, on 07/02/2008, -1/+6smithers was originaly black
      • supermanred, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3Yeah, and back then Mr. Burns was really into him...after he turned white it was say no go.
    • brainscab, on 07/02/2008, -3/+3no, but smithers was
    • Chainheart, on 07/02/2008, -3/+2no, but i know smithers was
    • deusflac, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1actually Bishop was originally an aborigine. the mutant Gateway is one of his ancestors.
  • Enkairi, on 07/02/2008, -0/+12How about Static Shock?

    Nah, just kidding.
  • adventflux, on 07/02/2008, -3/+6You mean there were more than 4 of them?
  • Hazy, on 07/02/2008, -1/+12I always thought Storm was hot.
  • krewl, on 07/02/2008, -2/+19What about professor X's brother Malcolm?
  • SaladCactusKing, on 07/02/2008, -3/+4Luke Cage is not #1. Buried.


    Also: No Black Goliath. He's big and black!

    ... and dead :(
    • TonyTheTerrible, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2POW RIGHT IN THE KISSA
      or chest
      damn Mr Fantastic.
    • Tyrghast, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5Spawn is not #1. Buried. I mean Jesus H Christ on a bycicle, the Spawn cartoon was so freaking good...
      • ichbeineinrcg, on 07/02/2008, -0/+4...and then the movie came along and ruined the franchise.
    • p341250n, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2I think it is just a list of the characters. They are not ranked, simply listed.
  • Micetro, on 07/02/2008, -11/+0Green Lantern?!!?! he was origanlly white!! he was black for the justice league to have diversity in the league, this is an outrage!!!
    • supermanred, on 07/02/2008, -2/+3No, a black man was chosen when the original green lantern died. No outrage. More outrage when Nick Fury became all of a sudden black instead of white... not for a hero that "passes the torch".

      I have no problem with Green Lantern Corps giving the ring to a black man. No break in continuinity / canon... No problem with The Doctor (from Doctor Who) regenerating into a british black man either... but when Superman or Wonder Woman show up black or when the Black Panther becomes white then I have a problem.
    • xstarsprinklesx, on 07/02/2008, -0/+4He wasn't "originally white." It's a different man. Have you ever even read/seen JLA?
      • Micetro, on 07/02/2008, -1/+0Alan Scott was the first and original green lantern and he was white.
    • Dumbledorito, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5John Stewart being black resulted in one of the best (and most unexpected) lines in the Justice League cartoon, entitled "Legends." The league crossed over to a parallel world that appeared to mimic comic books from their past (basically a tribute to the JSA of old), set in the 40's and 50's.

      John Stewart rescued their version of the Flash and he said, "Good work, Green Lantern! You're a credit to your race!"
      The reply was, "Uh... thanks..."

      Pretty grown-up stuff for a kids show, and it was a nice touch of contrast between eras.
      • ichbeineinrcg, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1God, I miss that show. The classic theme music, the great storyline that built to a fantastic ending in each season; it was can't miss TV every week.
      • Nitesmoke, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1If you think that was grown-up, check out the JLA animated movies, they are definitely aimed at an older audience than the tv show was.
    • christopheles, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1The John Stewart Green Lantern dates back to the 70s when earth alternate Guy Gardener was incapacitated. And by the way, Earth has so many Green Lanterns because it is the axis of the multiverse.
    • lamiaconfitor, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3"Green Lantern" is a JOB, not a specific guy.
  • rz8472, on 07/02/2008, -6/+9Static Shock... anybody?
  • smoothmann, on 07/02/2008, -5/+4This is hypocritical racism at its finest.
  • Aurabolt, on 07/02/2008, -2/+20The Juggernaut Bitch!
    • Schmapdi, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3Since when is he black?
      • Aurabolt, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Honestly - I posted this comment, then checked the video and noticed Juggernaut Bitch was white, but I already had like 4 diggs =]
  • Owwmykneecap, on 07/02/2008, -3/+12quite a few of those were lame but Bishop, Black Panther, Storm and War machine are all cool.
  • speel, on 07/02/2008, -3/+2I forgot spawn was black.
  • aguywithnobeer, on 07/02/2008, -0/+8What happened to Shaft?
    • ganjaguru, on 07/02/2008, -1/+7You mean the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?
  • Hysteria, on 07/02/2008, -1/+10What!? No Pootie Tang.
  • eddie72, on 07/02/2008, -2/+3That was actually fairly informative. I never knew Storm married The Black Panther.
  • warlax27, on 07/02/2008, -0/+13WHERE IS SHAFT?
  • lynkdead, on 07/02/2008, -2/+1Nevermind, was thinking of Cable.
  • brainscab, on 07/02/2008, -1/+4Im kinda torn on this movie, it looks good, but at the same time Ive decided to not to give the fresh prince any more moneys since hes become obsessed with Scientology
  • phylo, on 07/02/2008, -1/+16No Blankman?
    • resevil83, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3hahah! Blankman! Glad you mentioned him. Now, I have to watch the movie again. He is the best Black Superhero ever to step foot on this earth.
    • gldfshnpcklejar, on 07/02/2008, -2/+1haha, gahd nostalgia.
      I wonder why no one has mentioned invisible man kel from mystery men!!?!~?~?!~?~!
  • MoebiusStrip, on 07/02/2008, -10/+11YIPPEEEE!!! Can we now have the top 15 list of WHITE Super Heros!!!

    what?? No? that's not appropriate? But... I don't understand...
    • Acglaphotis, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1It'd appropriate, but you could pick random superheroes and they would qualify.
    • Dumbledorito, on 07/02/2008, -3/+10Race aside, blacks are far more rare in comics and are a bit more noteworthy (especially since most comics are written by white guys who write some of the most unintentionally hilarious dialogue for ethnic minorities, women, and teenagers).

      I'd say a "best of" list in this vein is worth examining if, for no other reason, these characters have occasionally risen above being trash-talking "Shaft"-esque heroes whose core being is no deeper than a puddle of water on linoleum. Again, this was largely because the authors were writing for "funny books" and had little to no knowledge of how "real" people talked beyond what they saw on TV half the time (or their editors didn't).

      Equally digg-worthy would be a top 10 list of teen heroes who don't sound like their dialogue is coming from an imitation of a "damn punk" as made by a 45-year-old man (see Superboy in "The Death and Return of Superman" for some real groaners. They made him say "fresh" every other sentence for crissakes).
      • cactus476, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1I agree with most of your comment, but is it our fault that the majority of the readers and writers were not black?

        I'm sick of society acting different just because they are afraid to face the truth (whatever it may be).
    • TonyTheTerrible, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2dumble, dont pretend to know your comics
      my voodoo is a lot more powerful :)
  • DuffyDirect, on 07/02/2008, -0/+10Standing for truth, justice, and the hyphenated-American way!
  • Dumbledorito, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2Captain Marvel is my vavorite of the bunch, primarily because of Nextwave:

    http://www.marvel.com/universe/Nextwave

    If you haven't read it, seek it out. It's effing hilarious.
  • shiva14b, on 07/02/2008, -1/+5You know, I happen to like Falcon (and he's been playing an integral role in the current Captain America story arc, sort of playing Bucky's sidekick), but including him in a list of 15 Greatest? Sounds like you're just trying to put on every black superhero you can remember... especially when Blade (whatever your personal feelings about him) didn't even make the list.
    • RedViper1999, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5Yeah I feel this list is a farce when Blade is missing and you have Cloak on there.
    • Stormwern, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Blade is the only one I could think of off the top of my head.
  • MarrowMan, on 07/02/2008, -2/+2Where the ***** is Jack Boniface, or Mike LeRoi aka: ShadowMan?
  • VoidTemplar, on 07/02/2008, -2/+0Wow I have only heard of Storm and Green Lanturn...is it sad that I was expecting Catwoman
  • GuitarHeroDenn, on 07/02/2008, -6/+1ArmInAss, Captain B. Dick, Sgt. Shaved Balls, and Mr. Schwul aren't on there? Wtf.
  • HeDiggMe, on 07/02/2008, -5/+4No love for Undercover Brother?!
  • Tallon29, on 07/02/2008, -2/+23But... it's not February?
  • benburned, on 07/02/2008, -1/+5Mr. T should have been on this list fool!
  • Mik3y, on 07/02/2008, -1/+8Dang...Storm sure is hot!
  • tobsterius, on 07/02/2008, -1/+4No Frozone, no digg.
    • nephari, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Yeah, for some reason I was expecting him to be on the top of the list...
  • jgtg32a, on 07/02/2008, -3/+1Nick Furry?
    • richlw, on 07/02/2008, -2/+1Fury in the comics aint black, but in the movies he is, like the Kingpin.
      • christopheles, on 07/02/2008, -0/+7Ultimate Nick Fury is based on Sam Jackson. But I think Nick furry is an aardvark
      • xstarsprinklesx, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3Fury is black in the Ultimate universe of the comics as well.
    • Corte, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3Black, not anthropomorphic.
    • TheRealM3D, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2Fury isn't technically a superhero. He's a secret agent who works with superheroes. However, he is black in the Ultimate universe and apparently the movies.
  • speedyrev, on 07/02/2008, -1/+8I remember reading Captain America as a kid and thinking how cool it was for him to have a friend like Falcon. It was much later that I even thought of Falcon as a black character. He is a great super hero not matter what race.
    • ousthouse, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1I didn't realize the characters on that list were black until you just mentioned it
    • blackrage, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2One of my friends of almost 10 years recently confessed that when he was a kid he always wanted a ferrari and a black friend like Magnum P.I. And that he was a bit upset I didn't have a helicopter.

      Ahhh White people...they always make me laugh.
  • buddysystem, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2Too bad Agent 355 didn't make it. She's not a superhero, but she just about meets the criteria.
    • greenbird12, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1y: the last man reference. nice.
  • badenglishihave, on 07/02/2008, -8/+4wtf does skin color have to do with superheroes? wtf does it have to do with anything? We might as well make a list of "15 greatest blond superheroes" or "15 greatest brown eyed superheroes" if we truly believe that skin color does not have anything to do with the level of our humanity.

    Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but in my eyes this is nothing more than cleverly disguised 21st century racism and I'm tired of it.
    • Gregsaw, on 07/02/2008, -1/+3i would like both of those lists. get working, buddy
    • smoothmann, on 07/02/2008, -2/+2I couldn't agree more
    • supermanred, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5Well, yeah it does make a difference because each super hero is a character in a set story and race does have a lot to do with their origin, and personality. If Superman's ship had landed in harlem, he would be a much different character than the superman that landed in Kansas, etc.

      You can't make The Black Panther (who is the descended king of an African nation a white guy etc. and vice versa for some white characters... though in some cases I suppose you could change their color and it wouldnt matter... but so much of their character is based around their race that it's too far a stretch to see them as a black person or vice versa.

      It isn't fair to the original creators to mess with their creations so much. Imagine Falcon being made into a white guy, it would be awful to every black kid who grew up reading about Captain America's black super hero team-mate to find that all of a sudden he became a white guy from Texas...
    • ousthouse, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1the lists on digg are pretty diverse
    • markmckay, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2There are way to few minority superheros out there. Even superheros from other planets are white! Let these heroes get their props.
    • morgino, on 07/02/2008, -2/+1God u super liberals crack me, if you actually think this is racist then u have the problem. White people created comics therefore white people are usually the superheroes cause they can relate to them. If black people wrote comics guess who most the superheroes would be?
    • ighost, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2you're overreacting.
    • nukethewhales, on 07/02/2008, -1/+5Seriously, what is it about conservatives that makes them unable to live in a gray world?

      Why can't I ask for respect and celebrate my heritage at the same time? Why do I have to be 100% American or not American at all?
      • PiffanyB, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1I think it depends on where you live to be asked that question. You probley live in a very white neighboorhood.
      • badenglishihave, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1OK so you wouldn't have a problem if I made a "Top 15 greatest white superheroes" then? Your idea of "gray" seems to be telling everyone that blacks are better than whites.
    • PiffanyB, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2I totally agree!!
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