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During the comic book industry's Golden Age in the ‘30s and ‘40s, the star of every major title was white. For decades readers had to deal with the fact that the only black characters featured in these stories were corrosive racial stereotypes played just for laughs.
In the ‘60s, major publishing houses like Marvel and DC began to feature more black characters in supporting roles and, eventually, as the stars of their own books. Still, the industry is dominated by white male characters.
And as we celebrate Black History Month this February, let The 25 Most Memorable Black Comic Book Characters be a call to arms for even greater diversity in a medium that needs it.
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Written by Jason Serafino (@serafinoj1)
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25. Tyroc (DC Entertainment)
First Appearance: Superboy #216 (1976)
Creators: Cary Bates, Mike Grell
Being memorable isn’t necessarily a good thing, and no character epitomizes that better than DC’s ill-fated attempt at bringing a black character named Tyroc into the Legion of Superheroes stories. The character’s first appearance was in Superboy #216, a story that featured a kid version of the Man of Steel teaming up with the Legion of Superheroes in the distant future. And, of course, in the future all black people live apart from the white population on an island called Marzal.
Why did DC put all of the Earth's black people on an island? Because the company realized that its Legion comics featured characters of nearly every skin color: white, blue, red, green, but, for some reason, not one character was black. The company tried to rectify this by giving the black population its own island, led by Tyroc, a radical separatist. it's a move more insulting than if DC was to just ignore it all together.
Sporting a fierce afro and high-collared spandex disco suit, Tyroc soon became a symbol of the out-of-touch comic book writers who were soon to be ushered out by a new wave of progressive creators.
24. Deathlok (Marvel Entertainment)
First Appearance: Astonishing Tales #25 (1974)
Creators: Doug Moench, Rich Buckler
There have been many versions of Deathlok over the years, but the original 1974 one remains the best. Hailing from the future (at the time, 1990), Luther Manning was a soldier from Detroit who was fatally wounded and re-animated as a cyborg. This RoboCop-like creation then dedicated his artificial life to taking down evil corporations and military complexes.
Like the Terminator, Deathlok is often found time-traveling back to the mainstream Marvel Universe to fight alongside Daredevil and Spider-Man.
The most recent incarnation of Deathlock was featured in Rick Remender’s fantastic Uncanny X-Force title. Armed to the teeth with cybernetic implants and advanced weapons, Deathlock is a ruthless side character from Marvel that deserves significantly more love from the company.
23. Mister Terrific (DC Entertainment)
First Appearance: Spectre #54 (1997)
Creators: John Ostrander, Tom Mandrake
Being the third smartest person in the world, Michael Holt is DC’s resident brainiac, forever on-call when one of the more muscle-bound heroes run into a problem that fists can’t solve. Taking on the guise of the new Mister Terrific, Holt manages to be both a consultant and an action hero in the comics as a member of the Justice Society of America and Checkmate.
If you want to get into Mister Terrific, pick up some Justice Society trades or DC’s ongoing Earth 2 series.
22. Mother’s Milk (Dynamite Entertainment)
First Appearance: The Boys #2 (2006)
Creators: Garth Ennis, Darrick Robertson
One of the leads in Garth Ennis’ The Boys, Mother’s Milk is the team’s resident brick wall. Born with Compound-V already in his system, he has enhanced strength and durability, plus he was trained in combat as an Army Ranger. Despite those aggro attributes, he’s even-tempered and rational, arguably the most methodical member of the entire group.
He's also one of the more sensitive members of the group. He raises his daughter solo because her mother was an addict. But in typical Ennis fashion, Mother’s Milk has a perverse secret: His mother nursed him well into adulthood to keep up his strength and health. You were wondering where that nickname came from...
21. Barracuda (Marvel Entertainment)
First Appearance: The Punisher #31 (2006)
Creators: Garth Ennis, Goran Parlov
There are few people capable of striking fear into the Punisher's heart; Barracuda is one of them. Built like an NFL linebacker and mentally wired like Ted Bundy, Barracuda proved to be one of the most serious villains that Frank Castle ever faced. During their battles, Barracuda routinely killed people, both innocent and otherwise, just to get under Castle’s skin.
Barracuda doesn’t just use violence as a means to an end. He just loves inflicting harm. Perhaps its because he can't seem to feel much pain himself. The Punisher has shot and stabbed him countless times, even going so far as to blind him in one eye, but Barracuda always comes back for more. In the end, his cartoonish insanity was the perfect foil for the grim, monosyllabic Punisher.
20. The Fox (Top Cow Productions)
First Appearance: Wanted #1 (2003)
Creators: Mark Millar, J.G. Jones
Forget the movie—Mark Millar’s original Wanted miniseries is an absolute must-have for any fan of the superhero genre. No character embodies the anarchic tone of the series better than the Fox, modeled after Halle Berry by artist J.G. Jones. In the book, Fox is an assassin who tries to induct Wesley Gibson into The Fraternity, an organized group of super villains that secretly rules the world. In typical Hollywood fashion, a white actress (Angelina Jolie) played her in the film adaptation.
She’s amoral, psychotic, and sexy, each attribute carefully balanced by Millar so that readers couldn't help but root for her. She’s a villain in every sense of the word, but sometimes it’s just cool to root for the bad gal.
19. Ultimate Nick Fury (Marvel Entertainment)
First Appearance: Ultimate Marvel Team-Up (2001)
Creators: Brian Michael Bendis, Mike Allred
Nick Fury is the most unique member of the black comic book character pantheon, because when the character was first introduced in the ‘60s he was white. Then, in 2002, Marvel launched The Ultimates, a modern retelling of the Avengers’ origin. In this new universe, every Marvel character was given a makeover.
Modeled after Samuel L. Jackson, this Nick Fury is far more world-weary than his pasty counterpart. And because he’s become a movie star, an entire generation of fans have grown up knowing only this version of the character. That's a step in the right direction.
Less ‘60s superspy, today's Fury is more of a government figure, with an entire army of S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers ready to follow his every order. It makes for a far more compelling and proactive character. Not content to sit back and pull the strings, Nick Fury is always in the middle of the fight, guns blazing.
18. Joe Robertson (Marvel Entertainment)
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #51 (1967)
Creators: Stan Lee, John Romita Sr.
He might not seem to important in the grand scheme of the Marvel Universe, but Joe “Robbie” Robertson’s creation was a watershed moment for the company. As one of the first African-American characters at Marvel, Robbie has played an integral part in the Spider-Man mythos over the years. He’s part father figure, part older brother, and part teacher to Peter Parker.
Though the Black Panther’s creation pre-dated Robertson by a year, Robbie is important because he marked the beginning of black characters coming into comics in non-starring roles, roles that weren't necessarily defined by skin color.
17. Vixen (DC Entertainment)
First Appearance: Action Comics #521 (1981)
Creators: Gerry Conway, Bob Oksner
Able to tap into Earth’s morphogenetic field, Vixen has the most unique set of powers among black characters in comic books. She can mimic the physical attributes of any animal on the planet, such as the flight of a bird, the strength of an elephant, the speed of a cheetah, the vision on an eagle, and anything else you can think of. Because of her awesome powers, she's become one of the most feared heroes of the DC Universe, landing spots on the Justice League, Suicide Squad, and the Birds of Prey.
For her civilian job, Vixen is a supermodel. Plenty of artists have gone out of their way to capture her beauty to the fullest. Sex appeal aside, she's one of the most prolific heroines at the company.
16. Steel (DC Entertainment)
First Appearance: The Adventures of Superman #500 (1993)
Creators: Louise Simonson, Jon Bogdanove
Movie geeks, put your memories of Shaq aside. Comic book stans, forget that Steel was created to be a wannabe Clark Kent during the “Death of Superman” storyline. Because despite those inauspicious beginnings, Steel's become one of DC’s most recognizable black characters.
Inspired by the John Henry folk legend, Dr. John Henry Irons is a former weapons engineer who decided to stop making instruments of destruction for large corporations in favor of fighting crime with his powerful armor.
After his debut, Steel managed to stay relevant in DC and avoid becoming a cheap Iron Man knockoff because of real personality and cool armor enhancements. Check out DC's New 52 reboot for proof.
15. Bishop (Marvel Entertainment)
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #282 (1991)
Creators: John Byrne, Jim Lee, Whilce Portacio
Bishop came into the world during a time when the X-Men franchise was introducing new characters nearly every month, but something about this time-traveling antihero resonated with fans. Lucas Bishop came to the past to join the X-Men in an attempt to defeat Trevor Fitzroy, but he decided to stay in the present, acting as a part of the main team of mutants, as well as part of an FBI program to stop mutant-related crimes in District X.
Whereas most characters introduced in the ‘90s were little more than overblown action stars, Bishop has demonstrated real complexity over the years. His relationship with Cable and Hope during the Messiah Complex storyline made for captivating reading. Plus, dude sported a mullet like nobody’s business.
14. Misty Knight (Marvel Entertainment)
First Appearance: Marvel Premiere #21 (1975)
Creators: Tony Isabella, Arvell Jones
Misty Knight debuted in Marvel Premiere #21 in 1975, at a time when blaxploitation and kung-fu movies were a real force in the mainstream. She began her career doing small appearances in books like Premiere and Marvel Team-Up alongside detective Colleen Wing, but she eventually carved out a niche following and was soon a regular in the X-Men comics, as well as Power Man and Iron Fist stories.
Knight is a bionically enhanced detective with strong martial-arts skills and a boisterous personality—in other words, the complete opposite of the other women at the company. Kudos to Marvel's writers for fashioning her into a self-sufficient character that doesn’t wait around to be saved by her male partners.
Despite the camp of her original appearances, Misty is a refreshing figure for all readers to look up to. She's never over sexualized, and never gimmicky. Sadly, that's rare in the superhero genre.
13. Static (Milestone Comics/DC Entertainment)
First Appearance: Static #1 (1993)
Creators: Dwayne McDuffie, Robert L. Washington III, John Paul Leon
Created by the late Dwayne McDuffie, Static first appeared courtesy of Milestone Comics, a small, independently-owned imprint of DC. Milestone focused on minority characters in a time when most publishers were focused on their pre-existing properties, most of them white. When he debuted, Static was a 15-year-old kid with the ability to fire electric bolts.
McDuffie crafted storylines for Static where he dealt with problems like gang violence and drugs. The character reached the pinnacle of his fame when he got his own cartoon on Kids WB. He was later absorbed into the larger DC Universe.
Although the Static Shock comic reboot of 2011 wasn’t a critical or commercial success, the company still keeps the character around for various Teen Titans stories and larger company crossovers.
12. Cyborg (DC Entertainment)
First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #26 (1980)
Creators: Marv Wolfman, George Perez
After an intellectually-enhanced teenager named Victor Stone was severely injured in an experiment at S.T.A.R. Labs, the boy's father equipped him with cybernetic prosthetics to save his life. But after being ostracized because of his deformities, Victor linked with the Teen Titans.
Cyborg, as he’s come to be known, became one of DC’s most popular heroes outside of the Justice League. Despite the sci-fi trappings of his story, his social struggles kept readers relating, which led to the company including the character in many cartoons over the years.
As popular as the character was during the ‘80s, it doesn't compare to DC’s recent push to make Cyborg a top name. When the New 52 launched in September of 2011, Victor Stone was re-introduced to readers as a member of the Justice League. From Teen Titan to Justice Leaguer, Cyborg has established himself as one of the premier heroes at the company.
11. Michonne (Image Comics)
First Appearance: The Walking Dead #19 (2005)
Creators: Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard
When Michonne was first introduced in The Walking Dead comic book series, the mere sight of a woman armed with a sword and leading two captive zombies grabbed everyone's attention. As the years have passed, she's established herself as the woman to watch in the series, truly one of the most complex and interesting characters its produced.
The highlight for Michonne’s character came during the arc with The Governor, where she's beaten, raped, tortured, and suffered the death of her lover, Tyreese. The experience only made her stronger, while also giving readers a look at what's behind her rugged façade.
Now if we could only get her TV incarnation to emote a little more.
10. Falcon (Marvel Entertainment)
First Appearance: Captain America #117 (1969)
Creators: Stan Lee, Gene Colan
Falcon is Marvel’s first African-American superhero, and ever since his debut in 1969, the character has grown in popularity with each passing year. Originally introduced as Captain America’s sidekick, the Falcon soon became a fixture in Cap’s solo title, with the name of the book itself eventually changing to Captain America and the Falcon.
Where'd the Falcon come from? There was a man named Sam Wilson, who had his mind melded with a falcon named Redwing by the Red Skull while he was using the cosmic cube. Not only can he communicate with Redwing, he can also “see” through the eyes of nearby birds and fly, thanks to the use of a winged harness.
Falcon might not have found his own voice in the form of a long-running solo series, but as a part of Cap’s supporting cast, he's indispensable. In the upcoming movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the character will make his big screen debut, played by The Hurt Locker’s Anthony Mackie.
9. Martha Washington (Dark Horse Comics)
First Appearance: Give Me Liberty #1 (1990)
Creator: Frank Miller
Enough with the Sin City and Dark Knight accolades. The world needs to give Frank Miller some credit for his landmark Martha Washington comics. Trapped in a dystopian future, Washington appeared in a four issue miniseries in 1990, titled Give Me Liberty, and a few one-shots. The books focused on Washington's fight to break free from her public housing project, and her ascension to hero-status, fighting in a second civil war in a fractured United States.
Miller used the character’s African-American heritage and the futuristic setting to prove that no matter how far we've come as a society, there will always be those who suffer at the hands of tyrannical governments and corporations.
Washington's a character of mythic proportions, with her story echoing the slave revolts of the 1800s.
8. Black Lightning (DC Entertainment)
First Appearance: Black Lightning #1 (1977)
Creators: Tony Isabella, Trevor Von Eeden
Black Lightning might not have the most original name, or the most interesting backstory, but he was one of DC’s first prominent black characters that wasn’t a Green Lantern.
Born Jefferson Pierce, Black Lightning became a fixture in the larger DC Universe, joining the Outsiders and the Justice League. His solo books never lit up the sales charts or revolutionized the superhero genre, but as part of a larger team, Pierce grew into his own, and remains a tribute to DC’s progressive views.
7. Lobo (Dell Comics)
First Appearance: Lobo #1 (1965)
Creators: Don Arneson, Tony Tallarico
For decades, any character of color was often portrayed as a racial stereotype in comics. They were noble savages or pickaninnies, much like the infamous Ebony White from Will Eisner’s Spirit comics. We won't dignify those caricatures with a spot on this list, but we will talk about the creation that got the medium marching in a more progressive direction: Lobo.
Lobo starred in a two-issue western put out by Dell in 1965, and he’s often cited as the first African-American character to have his own self-titled book. He was a wealthy hero of the Old West, and was famous for leaving a gold coin with the letter “L” on his defeated foes. Lobo wasn’t a commercial success, but it got the wheels turning in the industry, inciting mainstream publishers to bring some diversity into their books.
6. Blade (Marvel Entertainment)
First Appearance: The Tomb of Dracula #10 (1973)
Creators: Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan
Much of Marvel’s success as a blockbuster media company today has to be credited to Blade. It’s easy to forget that in the mid-to-late ‘90s, the House of Ideas was completely bankrupt, and none of its characters were finding any success outside of the comic books, which were selling horribly at the time anyway. Then, New Line took a chance on a Blade movie in 1998, and the superhero genre has never looked back.
Created in 1973, Blade was only a moderate success in Marvel’s old-school horror line, his only real selling-point that he was among the most prominent black stars that the company ever produced. It wasn’t until the character’s movie trilogy hit theaters that he became much more than that. Thanks to those films, Blade's a star. His films helped usher in a new wave of vampire action movies and comics that pre-dated the trite Twilight era we're currently trapped in.
Armed with an array of weapons and intense super powers, Blade blasted onto the big screen in gory fashion, courtesy of the great performance by Wesley Snipes and the vision of directors like Guillermo del Toro. That mixture of horror and action brought Marvel back into the mainstream, and proved that audiences will always gravitate to an interesting character, no matter the race.
5. John Stewart (DC Entertainment)
First Appearance: Green Lantern #87 (1971)
Creators: Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams
The ‘70s was a time of great social upheaval at DC, and one of the most important books during this period was the short-lived Green Lantern/Green Arrow. For one of the first times in a mainstream comic, writers Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams brought political and social commentary to the world of superheroes by exploring topics like religion, drug use, and race. John Stewart was born of this upheaval.
Stewart was introduced as Hal Jordan’s backup as the Green Lantern of Sector 2814, but he didn’t share the same buttoned-up personality as Jordan. Stewart was a brash ex-Marine with nasty feelings about authority.
Though Stewart was created as more of a statement about race than anything else, he's since grown to become an engaging, integral part of the DC Universe.
4. Spawn (Image Comics)
First Appearance: Malibu Sun #13 (1992)
Creators: Todd McFarlane
When Image Comics was formed in the early ‘90s, it was hailed as a safe haven for writers and artists to create daring comics without the restrictions of pre-established universes like DC and Marvel. One of the first, and easily the most successful, properties to debut during the company’s early days was Todd McFarlane’s Spawn. Complete with jaw-dropping art and mature themes, Spawn hit shelves in 1992 with the force of a Tyson haymaker, changing the industry forever.
Before becoming Spawn, Al Simmons was a black Marine, meaning that, not only was Image banking on a completely original character becoming a household name, the publisher was confident that Simmons’ skin color wouldn’t be an issue. And they were right.
Spawn #1 hit shelves to the tune of 1.7 million copies sold. The character remained a top-seller for years, until a drop in quality during the last decade turned readers off. Still, this remains a great lesson, not only for comics, but movies and TV as well—if you give people a compelling story, they will cling to it, no matter the race of the character
3. Luke Cage (Marvel Entertainment)
First Appearance: Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (1972)
Creators: Archie Goodwin, John Romita Sr.
Created in 1972, the original Luke Cage was very much in the mold of the blaxploitation films that were popular at the time. His garish yellow costume and Harlem upbringing made him stand out from the WASPy members of the Marvel Universe, like The Fantastic Four and Iron Man. Cage was streetwise and had an attitude that spat in the face of your typical superhero.
Unlike most wealthy heroes who fight crime on the side, Cage needed to pay the bills. Thus, his “Hero for Hire” phase. Cage started a private superhero agency in the ‘70s and it flipped the entire genre on its head. This was a man from the same means of the readers he was entertaining. His business savvy and bulletproof skin made the bright spandex and monogrammed logos of his contemporaries look goofy.
Recently, Cage has become a staple in the New Avengers lineup and married Marvel’s resident superheroine, Jessica Jones. This relationship is noteworthy because she’s white, making it one of the few interracial couplings in comics right now. He may have super strength and the ability to pound villains into gelatin, but it’s Luke Cage the man that has endured for over four decades.
2. Storm (Marvel Entertainment)
First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)
Creators: Len Wein, Dave Cockrum
As the X-Men’s resident weather goddess, Storm is one of the most important members of Marvel's merry band of mutants. Notably, Storm's inner-strength and personality are grounded in her Kenyan roots, which Marvel has whole-heartedly embraced since her debut. Her heritage is a huge part of what makes her tick, and to Marvel’s credit, the company has always treated her ethnicity with respect and dignity.
Storm’s powers have grown more and more powerful over the years, to the point where her ability to control the weather now rivals that of Thor and the other gods of the Marvel Universe. Though she has the power to destroy towns and cities with tornadoes and hurricanes, she's always been a composed hero, always looking for a peaceful solution first. Still, if she needs to kick ass, she will.
At no point was that more true than in the ‘80s, when she got herself a punk rock overhaul, complete with a leather costume and stylish mohawk. Since then, she's taken on a larger role as a leader of the X-Men, and was even briefly married to the Black Panther, before he annulled the whole thing behind her back. Not a good idea. This is a woman who can shove a tornado down your throat.
1. Black Panther (Marvel Entertainment)
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #52 (1966)
Creators: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
Sometimes, you get it right the first time. Black Panther was one of the first black mainstream comic book heroes to ever hit shelves and he’s still the best. In 1966, during the American Civil Rights Movement, Black Panther took readers by storm. It was a year after the assassination of Malcolm X, and two years before the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.—the introduction of a black superhero, while insignificant in the scope of national politics, was a big step forward for the community.
Hailing from the fictional country of Wakanda, the Black Panther brought a new kind of pride and strength to the comic book world. His grace and nobility were in stark contrast to the tights and colorful personalities of his contemporaries. More than just a token character, Black Panther was a dignified warrior with a lush mythology and a rabid fanbase.
Over the years, the Black Panther has played a large role in the company’s various crossover events and blockbuster miniseries, while also helming critically-acclaimed solo stories. With Marvel pumping out more movies every year, it’s only a matter of time before Black Panther makes his silver screen debut.