Anx said:

Exactly like that. Lesbian Batwoman might be part of that same agenda--trying to make the DC universe more diverse.



Too bad Vibe is dead. George Pérez always said he was lamest Latin superhero ever created.





There might be something going on with Black Adam, the Captain Marvel villian who runs his own country in the middle east.

yeah, i've seen a bit of that. though it would be nice if they would create some, i don't know, POSITIVE middle eastern characterizations.

Anx said:

I read that Marvel will be releasing a new book about a team of international heroes featuring Sabra (Israel) and the Arabian Knight led by England's Union Jack.

Just did some research--looks like the series will simply be named after Union Jack, but still have the international cast.

wasn't that the whole purpose of the "new" x-men? to have a cast of international superheroes?

i always liked that about batman and the outsiders...they were multi-racial/multi-national, but there was never a big to-do about it.

so this is like the black firestorm and the asian atom? so dumb.

Exactly, although the new Blue Beetle is pretty cool.

it worked with green lantern because it's more about the costume and the powers than it is about the characters. if they were smart, they'd do something with black lightning

He's shown up quite a bit in Outsiders and Green Arrow

and katana

Currently a member of the Outsiders.


and john stewart

Until recently, he was a member of the JLA. He had a major role in Infinite Crisis and several other high-profile stories. He is currently appearing in The Green Lantern Corps.

and cyborg

Currently leading the Teen Titans, and is rumoured to be joining the Justice League soon.

and and and...they've got lots of great characters of color, they don't need to revamp a z-list character like blue beetle or a couple of retro faves like atom or firestorm. that just comes off looking desperate when they don't need to be.

I think its more of an attempt to make the DCU a little less white. They're certainly doing lots of stuff with existing minority characters, but I think they feel the need to further diversify. I don't care for the new Firestorm, but the new Atom is okay (especially since Ray Palmer's disappearance is going to be a major plot point).

ALSO, i was recently thinking about this...DC could do something really cool in this day and age with the middle east vibe of captain marvel, especially with all that's going on in the world right now. is that happening in the comics?



Yes. As Sextonseven pointed out, Black Adam is leader of his own Middle-Eastern country. While you may remember him as simply a villian, he has been made into quite and interesting character in the past few years (he was even, briefly, a member of the JSA). He is still viewed as a villian by many in the DCU, but he has been shown to be a man of honor who defends his people at all costs. The people of his country view him as a hero who will stand up for them. This puts him at odds with many of the western governments, and thus with their heroes.

He is playing a major role in the weekly 52 series. To me, it's cool, because he represents the complexity of US/Middle-Eastern relations. He isn't a cardboard, stereotypical villian at all.