COMICS: Does THE MIGHTY AVENGERS Squad Deserve the Title “Black Avengers”?

COMICS: Does THE MIGHTY AVENGERS Squad Deserve the Title “Black Avengers”?

BlackHeroMarcus from World of Black Heroes website gives his impressions on the current roster of The Mighty Avengers and how this may have been the long forgotten dream of the late Dwayne McDuffie. Check out his commentary after the jump!

Editorial Opinion
By Crescendo - Jul 13, 2013 06:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Marvel Comics
Source: WorldofBlackHeroes.com

Recently black comic book readers were titillated by the announcement of the new “Mighty Avengers” series due out in September. The line-up boast such Black Heroes as Luke Cage, Monica Rambeau; now known as “Spectrum”, Blue Marvel, Falcon, and Black/Hispanic Victor Alvarez; the new Powerman. Finishing out the team are the Superior Spider Man, She-Hulk, White Tiger (Ava Ayala), and a new Ronin (Alexei Shostakov). Although a “Black” Avengers team was talked about, the powers that be didn’t want to put together an all-black cast, which executive editor, Tom Brevoort said would be ghettoizing (his words) and artificial. He went on to say that putting an all-black team together would feel “fake” because it keeps them away from other characters. Finally, he says that the late Dwayne McDuffie was a major influence in the creation of the team. McDuffie wanted a team that was 50% non-white and non-male. All in all, a team with a good racial and gender mix. But does this warrant the team being called the Black Avengers?



In the whole of Avengers history, including the New Avengers, Secret Avengers, Uncanny Avengers, Young Avengers, and the Avengers Resistance, there have only been 19 Black men and women on the roster. Of the 19, only 4 are women, and only one of those is currently active, and another one slated to see action this year. Of the 15 men, 5 are active, with another 5 due to see service this year. With all these characters to choose from, I asked myself, if a real Black Avengers team could have been chosen.

It should be noted that this isn’t the first time the title “Black Avengers” has been thrown around. Writer Christopher Priest is quoted as saying his limited series, “The Crew” flirted with the name “Black Avengers” at one point, and writer Reginald Hudlin, during his run on Black Panther, teamed a group of black heroes together, which included Luke Cage and Photon, that had the makings of an all-black team, and even in later issues, included Luke Cage speaking to his wife about a Black Avengers team. These earlier jabs at the idea seem to have kept the fires stoked for a team with a predominate make-up of Black Heroes.

To their credit, two characters that started strong, Blue Marvel and Powerman have been brought back, and after a long hiatus, we see the reemergence of Monica Rambeau, now called Spectrum. All can be considered pleasant surprises to be sure. The one addition that seems forced would be the Falcon, who seems to show up everywhere. But even with their inclusion, this may qualify them as black, but as Avengers?

uring the Dark Reign period, as Norman Osborn contemplated his “Dark Avengers” squad, he, with the help of Ares, figured out the “formula” for putting together the perfect Avengers team. That formula consisted of positions labeled the Knight and the Soldier. Or rather the symbolism; represented by Captain America and Iron Man; that they stood for. This was the motivating factor behind his “Iron Patriot” persona and him trying to make his son into the next Captain America, called “American Son”. Using Norman’s formula, could we have come up with a different team?



It should be noted that of all the teams to call themselves “Avengers”, the Resistance squad boasted the largest number of active blacks on its squad (4). The new team of Avengers will boast 5. The relevance of this comes in the fact that between 1960 and 2000, there were only 6 black members total. From that we can glean that maybe times are changing. Maybe. And if times are changing, maybe an all-black squad isn’t so fake or ghetto after all.

Here is the complete list of Black Heroes that have called themselves “Avengers”. As you browse this list, see if you can put together your own team. Who knows, you may come up with a better one.

List of Black Avengers

  • Black Panther- joined in the 60’s- currently member of New Avengers/Illuminati

  • The Falcon- joined in the 70’s- Mighty Avengers 2013

  • Captain Marvel/Photon- joined in the 80’s- Mighty Avengers 2013

  • War Machine/Iron Patriot/Iron Man- joined West Coast Avengers in the 80’s- currently member of Secret Avengers

  • Rage- joined in 90’s, membership revoked, joined Avengers Resistance 2008

  • Triathlon/3-D Man- joined in 2000- currently with Agents of Atlas

  • Luke Cage- joined in 2005- New Avengers- joined Mighty Avengers 2013

  • The Patriot- founding member Young Avengers- 2005

  • Night Thrasher II/Bandit- Avengers Resistance- 2008

  • Debrii- Avengers Resistance- 2008

  • The Gauntlet- Avengers Resistance- 2009

  • Storm- joined in 2011 during the Shattered Heroes story line

  • Captain Universe- Uncanny Avengers 2012

  • Sunspot- Uncanny Avengers- 2012

  • Eden Fesi- Uncanny Avengers- 2012

  • Nick Fury Jr- Secret Avengers- 2012

  • Prodigy- Young Avengers 2013

  • Blue Marvel- Mighty Avengers 2013

  • Power Man- Mighty Avengers 2013


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WYLEEJAY
WYLEEJAY - 7/13/2013, 7:05 PM
Sunspots not black. Hes Brazilion.
Crescendo
Crescendo - 7/13/2013, 7:26 PM
Maybe he is Afro-Brazillan. **shrugs shoulders**
CharlieKelly
CharlieKelly - 7/14/2013, 8:19 AM
This is shit.

Intentionally making an all black team is just as racist as intentionally making an all white team.

Imagine the blowback if Marvel made "The White Avengers" or at least a comic inspired by the idea.


Black people would riot and blame George Zimmerman.
Crescendo
Crescendo - 7/14/2013, 10:15 AM
Also remember that McDuffie was key to getting more solid characters of color into the spotlight with the genesis of the Milestone Comics. I agree with 0megaDaGod that black characters have come a long way as far as depth and density.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 7/14/2013, 11:11 AM
Yea, no. Not yet.

How about first we get a black superhero on the big screen in his own film done well. Whether that's Black Panther or Luke Cage or John Stewart. We really haven't had much films starring African American superheroes. Steel sucked, Spawn sucked, the only good ones were the Blade films. Well Blade 1 & 2. Falcon & War Machine doesn't count because really they are seen as Cap's and Iron Man's sidekicks.

I just feel this is way too forced you know? An all black team. I'm cool with it but I just feel that this isn't right. I would prefer an all female team but this idea isn't great. Maybe as a comic series but not as a film.

Here's a good question, why would anyone have a black Avengers team? Why would someone make a group and say "blacks only" or this team needs black people.

This idea is just wrong & I disagree with it. We should have our teams combined racially not separated.
johnblake
johnblake - 7/14/2013, 11:19 AM
The guy who said that an all black avengers team would be ghetto and artificial clearly is ignorant of what it's like to be black. The life of black characters would leave a lot of room for awesome stories and can bring light to various issues in America if written intelligently. I hate when the big wigs act like black people don't like comic culture as much as other races. They should do a black avengers. Or make more multiracial characters. I mean who can Asians look up to in comics outside of anime. Who do. Latinos look up to on the avengers. Black people at least have the black panther. Do a black or multiracial avengers. Marvel act like they can't create new characters any way. Mainstream marvel is incredibly boring no black avengers but we have the sucky superior spider man, they fighting the pheonix force for the millionth time. Do we need to bring up fear itself. Black or multiracial avengers, more multiracial characters, heck can we even get some new white characters. I love my marvel heroes but sometimes it gets real boring to see the same characters go through the same cycle over and over.
CharlieKelly
CharlieKelly - 7/14/2013, 11:22 AM
@Omega

No, making an all black team would NOT show how far black people have come. It would just continue to create a division between the races.

Again, if there was an all white team just for the purpose of having an all white team, shit would hit the fan.
CharlieKelly
CharlieKelly - 7/14/2013, 11:24 AM
And I didn't mention anything about Trayvon, but if I want to I will.

The little [frick] assaulted a guy and got shot for it.

If he was any color besides black, people would've thrown George Zimmerman a parade.
xcrementus
xcrementus - 7/14/2013, 7:16 PM
People of colour in Avenger teams are few and far between.

If this book can SHOWCASE how awesome these characters are, make them just as important as any other Avenger, that goes a long way to eventually melding them into mainstream teams.

People kept saying how they want these characters to have a more prominent place. Well now they are, so we have to BUY these books so Marvel can see these characters are financially viable.

Buy more books featuring non-white characters = seeing more non-white characters on a regular basis.

Its gotta start somewhere, and they could do a lot worse with this big step. Im really looking forward to this book, a lot of potential for great team dynamic.
CharlieKelly
CharlieKelly - 7/14/2013, 9:21 PM
"Although a “Black” Avengers team was talked about, the powers that be didn't want to put together an all-black cast, which executive editor, Tom Brevoort said would be ghettoizing (his words) and artificial."

If a team at Marvel sat down and even discussed making a "White" Avengers team, shit would hit the fan.


P.S. [frick] Trayvon Martin. He died while in the act of assaulting another human being. White, brown, black, or yellow, justice is justice and it was served.
xcrementus
xcrementus - 7/14/2013, 9:30 PM
@CharlieKelly...just about every Avengers team is a "white" avengers team by default. that's the point of this book, its to increase exposure to neglected minority characters, and raise their status to make them just as important as the other Avengers.

Ultimately the goal is one day to have an Avengers team that's half minority, without it feeling like a D level team. This is a major step towards that.
NBAfanaddict
NBAfanaddict - 7/15/2013, 6:24 AM
So. Torn. Engage ignorant, uninformed troll CharlieKelly on topic which riles me up....or ignore......must resist......Must resist.

"finds happy place"

Listening with Headphones

Ah. Much better
Shadowmaster35
Shadowmaster35 - 7/15/2013, 4:19 PM
Yea speaking as one, I don't think making the team Black Avengers would sit to well just like a team called White Avengers. Leave the Mighty, and ditch OctoSpider and i'm good with this line up.
xcrementus
xcrementus - 7/16/2013, 8:41 AM
Objectively, there is not a single thing wrong about a team of black/hispanic heroes being together in the same room.

Marvel is trying to promote diversity here. If this book takes off, then we end up with a whole new crop of popular black characters that can pop up everywhere else in the MU down the track.

Do i like the fact that black & latino heroes need to be put into the same book? NO. However, when the only black Avengers you can think of are Cage, Panther, Falcon and Rambeau, then maybe you better put some hard work into developing a new tier to choose from.

This book is a concerted effort towards that, to develop new potential Avengers of colour. In the end, you vote for diversity with your dollars.
CmndrShepard
CmndrShepard - 7/19/2013, 9:38 AM
Oh my God... because there are obviously as many black characters as white ones right guys, black characters obviously get as much representation and attention from comics and the media right? That's why I support this team its pro diversity. It's giving the spot light to POC characters who've never had it before.
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