WASHINGTON (AP) β For decades, comic books have been in color. But now, they are increasingly reflecting the hues of American society.
The new Captain America is black. There was recently a comic featuring a Superman who is suspiciously similar to President Barack Obama.
Thor is a woman. Spider-man is part Puerto Rican. Ms. Marvel is Muslim.
Mainstream comic-book superheroes have been re-drawn from the stereotypical brown-haired, blue-eyed white male — into a world of multi-colored, multi-religious and multi-gendered crusaders, reflecting a greater diversity in their audience.
Axel Alonso, editor in chief at Marvel Comics, says society has changed — so superheroes have to change as well, since they are a reflection of life in the United States. He says, “Roles in society aren’t what they used to be.”
The change to a black Captain America is already having an impact outside of comics. Even before the publication of the first issue, unauthorized images of the black Captain America were shown at a town hall meeting in St. Louis following the funeral of Michael Brown — who was 18 and unarmed when he was killed by a white police officer. This Captain America had his hands up saying “Don’t Shoot.”
