The release of Netflix/Marvel’s Luke Cage is finally here. If you are a fan of Marvel comics and the Netflix shows, Daredevil and Jessica Jones, then you are probably just as excited as me for this new addition. Luke Cage is one of the most famous Black superheroes in Marvel’s history. He was created in the 1970’s during the time of Blaxploitation as one of the first Black superheroes. I am very excited to watch his show, so no spoilers!! Please.
With this release, I began to think about other Black superheroes that should grace the small and/or silver screen. In this list, I am not going to include the popular characters like Storm, Vixen, Black Panther, Falcon and the soon to be popular (and my favorite character) Misty Knight. One day, I hope to see everyone either in a movie or television show.
1. Bumblebee
Karen Beecher a.k.a Bumblebee is best known as a member of the Teen Titans and as DC’s first Black female superhero. She was created in 1976 by Bob Rozakis. As her name suggests, Bumblebee can turn into an insect sized hero with the ability to fly, fire sonic force blasts and send out electrical stings. She started as the girlfriend and then later wife of Mal Duncan a.k.a the Herald.
Bumblebee has always been an interesting character for me. Her solar powered suit is super cool and I would love to see just that in live action. Bumblebee has a sassy personality and she is intelligent. She began as a scientist in S.T.A.R. Labs before becoming a full time hero. She has been in some of the DC animated shows and films but never in live action. There was a Teen Titans live-action show in the works a little while back that TNT was going to produce. However, it fell through and it looks like we are not going to be able to see a Teen Titans show any time soon. But with the success of the DC/CW superhero shows like The Flash, there may be a possibility that Teen Titans can get picked up there. And there is no doubt in my mind that Bumblebee will be on the show.
2. Miles Morales
Miles Morales a.k.a Spider-Man made his first appearance in 2011. He was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli. Miles Morales is the first Black Spider-Man and his look was inspired by President Barack Obama and actor/rapper/comedian Donald Glover. Miles was bitten a spider that one of Peter Parker’s nemesis made. Miles essentially has the same powers as the original Spider-Man. Like Parker, Miles is based in New York, but in Brooklyn (Parker is in Queens). Miles has an aptitude for science.
What I like about Miles is that he is a different type of hero. Because he is a minority, his father is Black and his mother is Puerto Rican, he obviously goes through different struggles than his predecessor. His father is a career criminal who has spent Miles’ either in prison or committing crimes. It is such an interesting dynamic because of the father/son relationship. I would love to see Miles show up in the MCU/Sony Spider-Man movies, but because of how young the new Spider-Man is I know it will be a while. I think after a couple of Spider-Man movies, the hero will be old enough to have inspired someone else. I can’t wait to see Miles on the screen.
3. Steel
John Henry Irons a.k.a Steel was created in 1993 by Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove. He was introduced in The Adventures of Superman #500- the famous Death of Superman story line. Dr. John Henry Irons was a weapons engineer working on a machine that became too powerful and killed innocent people when it fell into the wrong hands. After faking his death, Irons moved to Metropolis where he fell off a skyscraper and was saved by Superman. Soon after, Superman was killed by Doomsday and Irons attempted to help save Superman with a sledge hammer (this comes into play later). However, this attempt was futile and Irons vowed to stop Doomsday at that point on. Irons became a version of Superman with the El symbol on his suit and donned the name Steel. At some points in his biography, Steel was literally a living steel man and was bulletproof.
What I like most about Steel is his look, in particular how a huge man can look badass with a sledgehammer. There was a Steel movie starring Shaquille O’Neal in the late 90’s, but no one wants to remember that incarnation. I would love to see a movie version of Steel in the current DC movie universe because of how dark and broody they can make his character. Another reason I love the possibility of this character being live-action is that Idris Elba could possibly play him in a movie. He may be a little busy with Thor and Stephen King’s Dark Tower, but I would love to see him in a DCU movie.
4. Brother Voodoo
Jericho Drumm a.k.a Brother Voodoo first appeared in 1973 in Marvel’s Strange Tales #169. He was created by writer Len Wein and artist Gene Colan. Drumm is a Haitian psychologist returning back home to Haiti to visit his twin brother, Daniel, who is dying because of an evil voodoo sorcerer. His brother is a houngan, which is a male Haitian Voodoo priest. As his dying wish, Daniel wanted Jericho to visit his mentor, Papa Jambo and learn the ways of voodoo. After Papa Jambo taught Jericho voodoo, he summoned Daniel’s spirit to join Jericho’s body. This lead to Jericho/Daniel becoming Brother Voodoo, a worthy successor to Papa Jambo who dies. Brother Voodoo goes on to fight against mystic and voodoo evil forces and later becomes the Sorcerer Supreme (what the Doctor Strange is). He is currently called Doctor Voodoo.
Brother Voodoo is such a mystical and interesting character that it would be sort of trippy to see live action. If Doctor Strange turns out well, I think in later movies Brother Voodoo could show up and work with him. I love the Haitian voodoo lore that comes with him and I think it would be a wonderful change for Marvel. Gives them something different to show audiences. The voodoo in Princess and the Frog was one of my favorite parts and I think they could have the same impact with a Brother Voodoo movie. Or he could also benefit from a Netflix/Marvel show. It would give the creators more time to introduce the voodoo and lore. Yeah, definitely a 13-episode show. Also his look is very cool.
These are just a few of my favorite characters that I have actually read about. There are many more that I didn't have enough knowledge about to put on the list. I think the comic book movie and television industries are understanding that Black people and people of color want to see more heroes like them on the screen. There are even changes happening with characters like Mary Jane from Spider-Man possibly being a Black girl or even Iris West from The Flash. I hope we continue on this track of putting more Black superheroes at the forefront. Heroes like Falcon, Black Panther, Storm and Luke Cage are just the beginning.
