This is another pairing that I am surprised it has taken me so long to get to. They both are royalty and ambassadors from heretofore hidden civilizations of technically advanced warriors as well as superheroes - not to mention the fact that they both recently had incredibly successful debut movies! I think there are lots of stories that could be told linking the Amazons and Wakandans.
This is awesome Ross!! As an African-American who grew up comics in the 1980s, this has been a special 2 years to see Luke Cage, Black Lightning, and Black Panther brought to the small and big screens with dignity, adventure and gravitas. Frankly as a child I couldnt have imagined it!!
ReplyDeleteAs a white man, I did not realize how few black characters there were until a friend of mine who happens to be black made a list one day. He limited it to DC and Marvel, given that they are the two most popular of the comic publications. I was amazed and dismayed at what I saw. I mean, let's be real. If the stories told in comics were factual, then we would have costumed heroes and villains from every demographic, not mainly white male with a couple of other demographics scattered around.
ReplyDeleteHe and I had wanted to start our own publication. Of course that never came to fruition, and at our age, it likely will not. If it had, our readers would have seen a diversity of characters from all races, nationalities, ethnicities, genders, etc. Between the two of us, I dare say that we have created at least 500 characters, some more developed than others, but nonetheless, numerous characters, from every demographic known to us on Earth, and even some fictitious demographics.
Too bad that we never got that off the ground, Ross. I might have seen some of our characters meeting up with DC and Marvel characters on your blog. As always, Ross, I thank you for what you do here. Today's cover is one of those that I would love to see come to fruition. The powers that be at Marvel and DC really should consider the stories that you make up.
...amen!!
ReplyDeletethis one really works for the reasons you yourself spell out...
One wonders if WW's hubby was kidnapped by Ares, using mind-controlled Wakandan Amazons (briefly transformed into actual panthers by his ally Circe).*
ReplyDelete*Use of female bodyguards by male African royalty has historical precedent with the king of pre-colonial Dahomey.
P.S.---on a more serious note? For those who might be interested, there will be an exhibit on the changing history of African-Americans, as depicted in comic books, at the Brass City Comic Con, on the campus of Naugatuck Valley Community College, in Waterbury, CT, this coming Sunday (Apr. 22, 2018).
ReplyDeleteMickey _
ReplyDeleteHave you seen anything by Milestone Comics, a line that was originally just distributed through DC but later was acquired by them and merged into their main universe, which was based on a similar concept? I gather that one character involved, Static, even had a successful television cartoon series...
Mind you, I also remember this point actually being raised in a DC comic back in the late 1980s: In an issue of Suicide Squad, Captain Boomerang (never the most enlightened of people...) made a comment that Blacks might do a lot of street crime but they didn't seem very good at becoming super-villains.
These attitudes were raised even earlier in the jla storyline when Green Arrow nominated Black Lightning for membership of the JLA. I remember being unimpressed with the script, but as a non-American astounded at the different attitudes of the jla members.
DeleteThe Wonder Woman and Black Panther films aren't just "incredibly successful"; they're the most successful solo films in their respective franchises to date, which is especially impressive considering that they each feature an underrepresented group for a lead character.
ReplyDeleteAnd I could definitely see Gal Gadot and Chadwick Boseman willing to do a film around this cover (though getting the respective IP owners to play along is a whole other civilization).
@Mickey: I'm with you as far as starting up a new comic company with a high diversity of characters. That was one thing I hoped to do with the one I was trying to start in the 80s (though the main idea was keeping pace with real time, designing each character to be capable of becoming a legacy title). If you and your friend ever decide to go for it (and it's really never too late), just contact me (if you click on the link on my name you'll go to a page that lists my email address).
Spectacular cover and comments!!! What an age we live in to be a comic book fan!!
ReplyDelete@Simreeve, yep and I remember my (midwestern white boy) surprise and "well, duh" moment when Black Manta first took off his helmet!
ReplyDeleteI never understood why so many black American superheroes and villains had to have the word Black in their names. And there were also plenty of characters with colours on their name reflecting their costumes too (Black Canary, Black Adam, Black Cary, Black Widow, Green Arrow, Green Lantern,...) so I'm not surprised you were surprised.
DeleteSorry Cary, that should have said Black Cat. Autocorrect sees you everywhere on this blog.
DeleteI have long felt that this blog has the best commenters on the net.
ReplyDeleteYes lots of stories but how will Captain America react when Wonder Woman and Black Panther are found in love nest when manipulated by Venus due to jealousy of Wonder Woman?
ReplyDeleteNot to worry, Anon. You were probably making subconscious associations.
ReplyDeleteBlack Mariah: obsolete nickname for horse-drawn police transport vans (see also "Paddy wagon") of the 19th century.
Plus Mariah Carey: sexy pop diva of the 21st century.
@GH: are you, by chance referring to how T'Challa's right hand seems closer to the left side of Diana's breastplate than the missile's warhead? ;-)
ReplyDelete