Marvel Makes Diversity Mainstream

OMO!  Look Below:

What do these two men have in common?

If you guessed that they are expanding the Marvel franchise as Spider-Man and Perry White, respectively, then you guessed correctly. 

On Tuesday, August 2, Marvel broke the news that the new Spider-Man of Marvel's Ultimate line is half African-American, half-Hispanic Miles Morales.  Following Peter Parker's demise, Morales was introduced today in Ultimate Fallout #4.  There was a lot of talk about this, here and here; but, ultimately the community comments have been similar to the responses when the Black Nick Fury was introduced.

Nick Fury now . . .

 Then, on Wednesday, August 3, news broke that Laurence Fishburne would be playing Perry White in the new Spider-Man movie.  Yes, Thurgood Marshall, CSI detective, Othello, and (most importantly) Morpheus, is joining the Marvelverse.

Yeah. I know.

O.M.G. Marvel. OMG.  You are just going CRaZy with this diversity thing!

But, seriously speaking, these are two major moves . . . and Marvel wanted us to all take notice - and we have.

Nick Fury then.

When Donald Glover began his campaign to be the next Spider-Man, the racist comments abounded.  When Nick Fury became Black, the racists were there too.  Some criticisms of these changes were a bit more logical; protests against changing a character just to pander to minorities, the importance of continuity, the legacy of the character as an icon, etc.  As Perry White advances in the new Spider-Man film franchise, and Morales become the new Spider-Man, (NOT Peter Parker) with these changes, Marvel has attempted to address all the previous complaints.


I don't want minority comic characters to be created just to pander to minorities, but it is important for headline characters to be more diverse.  If this diversity comes via minorities assuming the mantels of previous icons, then I'm all for it.  At the times when most of these characters were created, separate water fountains and schools were the norm.  The idea of a positive Black icon in popular culture was illogical.  I'm still amazed at the creation of Lobo; and, Black Panther, Black Lightening, and Luke Cage were rare and inaccurate (usually stereotypical). 

The creation of new minority characters is always an option of course.  Milestone proved that this was possible (Milestone proved a lot of things); but, ensuring that new characters receive the same attention from the public as those already established is difficult.  Even DC recognizes this, maintaining Batman Inc. in the DCnU.

As a minority, I don't like to be pandered to.  As a comic fan, I enjoy the anticipation and discovery of a new character.  However, to ensure that minority characters receive the same  interest as other characters, they do have to be somewhat recognizable.  In comics, that recognition (initially) comes via the mask. 

Ultimately, if the art is pleasing, the story well written, and (in the case of White and Heimdall) the acting good, then I'll enjoy.  So, I welcome Miles Morales and any further diverse changes that his debut may indicate; but, I don't just want a Black Peter Parker, I want a new character and story.  Give me that, and you get my money, loyalty, and respect.