Black Panther anyone? Anyone?

Speaking as a man of color, to be more specific a black man or an African American or what we go by these days, it has always been a curious wonder to me that there has not been any leading black super heroes.  I’m very aware of all the arguments that are made in defense of my question; why aren’t their any black super heroes? But, frankly speaking I’ll have to disagree with any answer that couples Blade, Hancock, Spawn and the War Machine as the figures I’m referring too.  I guess the better question to ask is why isn't there more mainstream black movies or actors? That’s another subject altogether.  Most black super heroes aren't very known or are token character i.e. Hancock and Don Cheadle as War Machine.  Another question I ask myself is do I really believe white audiences will buy into a black superhero movie?  White people are the majority, and make up the prime audience for most American films.  People generally like heroes that look like them, and that they can identify with.  I constantly wonder would black superhero backgrounds be identifiable to mainstream white audiences.  But, then I’m reminded that outside of the United States where the majority of the world is people of color I think to myself that an action hero that’s non-European would probably do well internationally at the box office.

I know just like any business owner and Hollywood is no different…the FIRST criteria for making a movie is, "Will it make money?" Superman, Batman, Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron man and Thor... They are widely known have a larger audience and that means more of a draw at the box office.  But that’s not to say you can’t get the same return with black characters.  There ARE great black super heroes out there, but if you look at the history of comic books, most great black superheroes are still relatively new.  Even when comic book writers finally got around to making non-white super heroes they did a rather poor job of it, as most of the heroes were horrible stereotypes.  Take a look at Power Man in his early years.  MAN that was bad...  They even had him wearing a Tiara?  What's up with that? But, I digress.

I’m sure other ethnicities could and have made the same argument.  I hope that as sure as we have a black president we could at least get a black superhero.  I’m told Marvel is at least considering a Black Panther movie.  Although the locations may prove to be difficult…are you kidding me? 

So, about 3 black superheroes compared to a sea of white superheroes is adequate representation? I don't think so.  There needs to be better representation for all minority characters in movies.  Bring some more black heroes to the screen.  Bring some more Latino characters to the screen more Asians, etc. The minority population (as a whole) is quickly overcoming the white population, and superhero movies (movies in general) need to start reflecting that.  Heroes that transcend previously set racial barriers and monikers to represent a better, less racial America

As for movies, Blade has been done. Sam Jackson could solo in his own Nick Fury movie, after all he signed for up to 9 films and he has only been seen in three so far and after Captain America and Avengers he still would only have had five.  Black Panther needs a movie.

Lets examine this a little further.  Breaking the Avengers down a bit.  All the superheroes are white.  You have Thor, the blond, blue-eyed Norse god; the Incredible Hulk, the smart white scientist turned raging monster; Iron Man, the handsome, slick alien-busting version of Bill Gates; and Captain America, the hillbilly super soldier.

Samuel L. Jackson's character, Nick Fury, doesn't count. He's just playing the role of the figurehead — he doesn't have any superpowers — and in the comic books, Fury is white. Jackson is more like President Obama calling in SEAL Team Six to take out Osama bin Laden.  He gives the orders, but he doesn't do the job.

Instead, the biggest blockbuster of the summer sends out a subliminal message that Hispanics and blacks can't be counted on to save the world.  Heck, the producers couldn't even squeeze in a little screen time for Don Cheadle to play Iron Man's sidekick, War Machine.  So what is this really saying?

The movie should have included the Black Panther, who became the first black hero in modern-day comic books when he made his debut fighting alongside the Fantastic Four in 1966.  According to his origin tale, the Black Panther's real identity is T'Challa, the chief of the Panther tribe from the fictional African nation of Wakanda.  He had to earn his title by fighting other champions from the tribe, and his job was to protect his country from exploitation.  He has genius-level intellect, and his senses and physical attributes have been enhanced to near-superhuman levels.  The Black Panther joined the Avengers in 1968.  Eight years later, he starred in his own comic book, in which he took out the Ku Klux Klan in Georgia.  And he could charm the ladies too. His girlfriend was Storm, the mutant leader of the X-Men.

Long story even longer…why can't Hollywood bring him to the big screen? Hmmm, I let you all figure that one out, but from a producers and moviegoer standpoint please no Shaq in Steel.  Everyone deserves better then that.