Black superheroes and other notable Black characters in comic books and other media are listed below by the year of their first appearance. This is done to provide a unique perspective on the development of positive Black characters over the years.
Before there were comic books, there were comic strips featured in newspapers. It can be argued that the first Black superhero was Lothar, the associate of Mandrake the Magician and a regular in Mandrake’s comic strip since its inception in 1934. While initially just a really strong servant, Lothar gradually became Mandrake’s equal and a hero worth embracing. An extended article can be found here, including his various appearances in comic books, television and movies over the eighty plus years he’s been around.
In the 1940s, Black characters tended to either reflect unfortunate stereotypes like Captain Marvel’s Steamboat or actual villains, like the Voodoo Man. Token Black members of kid gangs or sidekicks reflected really awful racism as well. There were a few exceptions. The most interesting one was a character of the Dove, the sidekick of the costumed hero the Grey Mask. The Dove was a pretty dynamic character, great at combat, and whose peg leg was used to combat advantage. In fact, the Dove rescued Grey Mask more often than the other way around. Click on this link to an article in which I raise the question as to whether the Dove could be considered the first of a line of Black superheroes in comic books. Also check out these more in depth looks at African and African American characters (heroes, villains, and supporting characters) from 1940s comic books.
By the 1950s, the few featured Black heroes were relegated to the African Jungle like Waku, Prince of the Bantu (published by Atlas–the 1950s version of Marvel), and the otherwise progressive Brothers of the Spear, which featured Prince Natongo as the full equal to his White blood brother. Comic book stories of Jackie Robinson, the real life Black baseball star, and Tiny, a funny little kid character who just happened to be Black and lived in Little Audrey’s neighborhood, were the shining stars of the decade.
The sixties saw several Black supporting characters appearing, but few in starring roles. Lobo, a short-lived Black cowboy title was the first Black character to earn his own comic book. 1966 saw the debut of Marvel’s Black Panther, but it wasn’t until the seventies that Black superheroes began to appear with some regularity, typically as a member of an integrated superhero team. Storm, Vixen and Misty Knight were the first Black heroines in comic books.
The 1980s started a pattern that has persisted to this day: taking established superhero “names” and reassigning them to characters of color. The 1980s saw the introductions of a Black Iron Man, Captain America, and Amazing-Man. More notable was the introduction a Black woman who both a badass and not the usual heroine body type. Amanda Waller has been portrayed as a character with considerable shadings of moral ambiguity. Sometimes she’s been portrayed as an outright villain.
The New Millennium has seen the introductions of a Black Firestorm, Nick Fury, Spider-Man, Kid Flash and Aqualad. This practice of taking established iconic names and giving them over to heroes of color has generated considerable controversy on the internet among comic book fans. Some readers applaud the effort at diversifying the heroes featured in today’s comic books. Others see this as political correctness run amok and argue that if companies want more diverse heroes they should introduce new heroes with those characteristics. The problem is that new characters with new names have a much harder time succeeding in today’s market.
It seems critical that everyone should have comic book heroes with whom they can identify. It is the one of the purposes of this website to help readers find those heroes who may be more plentiful than imagined at first glance.
Black Superheroes of the 1930s
1934
Lothar, from the Mandrake the Magician comic strip
Black Superheroes and Other Characters of the 1940s
1940
Voodoo Man
A villain but noteworthy as the first Black character with powers to be featured in his own series in Fox’s Weird Comics.
1941
1942
Steamboat, Captain Marvel’s Valet
1943
The Dove, Grey Mask’s Sidekick
1944
1945
Voodah
1946
1947
Ace Harlem
Lion Man
1948
1949
Misc. African Heroes of the 1940s
Misc. African American Heroes of the 1940s
(for example, detective Ace Harlem)
Black Superheroes and Other Characters of the 1950s
1950
Jackie Robinson
1951
Natongo of Brothers of the Spear
1952
1953
Tiny, Little Audrey’s Friend
1954
Waku, Prince of the Bantu
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
Black Superheroes and Other Characters of the 1960s
1960
1961
Jackie Johnson of Sgt. Rock’s Easy Company
1962
1963
Gabe Jones of Sgt. Fury’s Howling Commandos
1964
1965
Lobo
Molo of the Sea Devils
1966
Bill Foster, associate of Goliath of the Avengers
Black Panther
1967
Robbie Robertson, Spider-Man’s Friend
1968
August Durant of The Secret Six
1969
The Falcon
Prowler
Black Superheroes and Other Characters of the 1970s
1970
Mal Duncan of the Teen Titans
1971
Black Racer of the New Gods
Chuck Clayton, Archie’s Friend
John Stewart, a Green Lantern
Vykin of The Forever People
1972
Luke Cage, Hero for Hire
1973
Blade
Brother Voodoo
Nubia of Wonder Woman
The Living Mummy
1974
Deathlok
1975
Bronze Tiger of the Suicide Squad
Misty Knight
Storm
1976
Nancy Woods, Chuck Clayton’s Girl Friend
Tyroc of the Legion of Super-Heroes
1977
Black Lightning
Black Vulcan of the animated series, Super Friends
Bumblebee
Gravedigger, World War II Hero
Impala of the Global Guardians
1978
Doctor Mist of the Global Guardians
Sabre
1979
James Rhodes, Iron Man’s Friend and later War Machine
Lucius Fox, Batman’s Associate
Black Superheroes of the 1980s
1980
Cyborg
1981
Vixen
1982
The Cloak
Monica Rambeau as Captain Marvel/Photon/Pulsar
1983
Will Everett as Amazing-Man of the All-Star Squadron
James Rhodes as Iron Man
1984
1985
Doctor Midnite
A later incarnation of a golden-age hero of the same name, Doctor Midnite first appeared in Infinity, Inc. 19 (10/85). She later appeared in the television series Stargirl.
1986
Amanda Waller of Suicide Squad
1987
1988
1989
Freedom Beast
Night Thrasher of the New Warriors
Black Superheroes of the 1990s
1990
Rage of the Avengers
1991
Bishop
1992
Jacques Foccart, Invisable Kid of the Legion of Super-Heroes
Shadowman
Spawn
Voodoo of WildC.A.T.S.
War Machine
1993
Brickhouse of Blood Syndicate
Fade of Blood Syndicate
Icon and Rocket
Masquerade of Blood Syndicate
Static
Steel
First appears Adventures of Superman 500
Tech-9 of Blood Syndicate
1994
M.A.N.T.I.S.
The physically disabled Miles Hawkins (played by Carl Lumbly) becomes the superhero M.A.N.T.I.S. in this live action television series. He first aired on 8/26/1994.
1995
1996
Hero Cruz of Superboy and the Ravers
Solo
A physically exceptional android designed to kill (played by Mario Van Peebles, looking every bit the action hero) turns against his makers in this film released on August 23rd, 1996.
1997
Cecilia Reyes of the X-Men
Michael Holt, Mr. Terrific
Quantum of Quantum & Woody
1998
Jakeem Thunder of the Justice Society
Mr. Terrific (Michael Holt)
The second incarnation of the golden-age hero, Michael Holt is brilliant and a former Olympic gymnast. He first appeared in costume in Spectre 62 (2/98). He later appeared as part of the Arrow television series in which he was also portrayed as gay.
Triathon of the Avengers
1999
Tesla Strong, Tom Strong’s Daughter
Black Superheroes of the New Millennium
2000
Crispus Allen, Gotham City Detective and, for a brief while, the Spectre.
2001
Nick Fury of the Ultimate Universe
2002
Josiah Power of The Power Company
2003
Thunder, Black Lightning’s Daughter
2004
New Firestorm
2005
Bling! of the X-Men
2006
Crispus Allen as the Spectre
2007
2008
Hancock
A deeply flawed superhero with a drinking problem, played by Will Smith, Hancock debuted as a film in 2008.
2009
Black Superheroes of the 2010s
2010
Jackson Hyde, Aqualad
2011
David Zavimbe, Batwing
Mile Morales, Spider-Man
2012
Nick Fury, Jr.
2013
Lucas Fox, Batwing
2014
Wally West, Kid Flash
2015
2016
Ironheart
Moon Girl of Moon Girl and the Dinosaur
2017
2018
2019
Sister Night of the Watchmen cable series
First aired 10/20/19
2020
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