Why we don’t need a Black Superman

This piece may upset some people. Before you get upset or start to bash, read it first to understand why I say the world doesn’t need a Black Superman.

And by Black Superman, I don’t mean a Black Version of Superman. I mean making Clark Kent/Superman Black/African-American. There has been a movement/many people over the last decade or so that claim Clark Kent needs to be Black. That it is about time.

I say screw that. I have argued this point with ‘fake’ comic book fans, the people who only see the movies or TV Shows and claim comic book fandom. Also, with wanna be comic fans who don’t know anything beyond Batman, Superman and Spider-man.

Why do I say the world doesn’t need Clark Kent to be Black, because we already have something better then turning a white character into an African-American one.

We already have an Urban, Gritty, Street Wise, Man of the People African-American super-hero Icon.

One bad mother . . . and no I don’t mean Shaft.

I’m talking about a character better than Superman. Arguably the first true successful African-American super-hero, and the most successful African-American super-hero.

Why do we need to make Clark Kent Black when we already have . . .

While not as well-known in the main stream world (hopefully Netflix will change this) Luke Cage is a comic book Icon. A different kind of super-hero.

When he debuted in the 70’s Luke Cage was (and still is) different for a number of reasons.

1. He was Black/African-American
2. His Super-hero names wasn’t Black Something like other characters, just Power Man
3. He wasn’t/isn’t a goody two shoes boy scout character (Like Superman)
4. He wasn’t a Millionaire with a Silver Spoon (like Batman, or his Partner Iron Fist).
5. He wasn’t a super-smart scientist

Luke Cage was and is a jive-talking, street wise everyman out to make a living and help people when he can. Yes, Cage originally worked as HERO-FOR-HIRE but he always helped the small guy. Only occasionally getting involved in World-Wide storylines.

Even as an Avenger, Cage was always an everyman, never forgot his roots and more so than many other characters felt Raw and Real.

In my mind Luke Cage is awesome. He isn’t just the greatest Black/African-American Super-hero of all time, he is one of the greatest Super-heroes and comic book characters of all time, period. Hell one of the great characters of any medium of all time. Period.

Why does the world need Clark Kent/Superman to be Black? It doesn’t.

We have LUKE ‘FREAKING’ CAGE. ‘Nuff said.

LUKE CAGE > Any Superman.

ACE MASTERS