In 2025, the world is craving representation, and not for its own sake. For almost a century, the template for a superhero was a white male or a white person in general. That was not a happy accident; that template was the result of race politics. (More on that later.) The point is that after the success of Black Panther and the diversification of the superhero genre, Black comic characters are becoming more common and more popular.
It is easy to cry reverse racism or pretend that this is the result of some conspiracy, but that would be disingenuous. Times change, comic book fan expectations change, and nothing stays the same forever.
Here are 10 reasons why Black comic characters are rising to the top.
1. The Black Superhero Evolution
There was a time when the Black superhero was just a sidekick or background character. Sam Wilson is a community activist in the comics and was just a sidekick for decades. For example, Sam Wilson made his debut in 1969, but he did not become Captain America in the comics until 2015.
Black superheroes are now leads in the comic books and films. This was very uncommon before 2018. Now that such characters are successful and have proven fan bases, you can bet on the fact that we will see more of them.
2. 86% of Superheroes are White
Black comic characters were never supposed to be the mainstream norm. That is a fact. As of 2015, over 86% of comic book characters were white males or white in general. Think about that. Almost 9 out of every 10 superheroes in 2025 are white males or white. For some critics, 86% is too low. 14% of comic characters are a mix of all races, genders, and ethnicities.
Also, I am not saying evil, white racist people hate black superheroes. Some comic book fans, even non-white fans, prefer white characters; they just won’t say it. That is why they say “SJW,” or “Forced Diversity” (what a ridiculous term) instead of admitting they only want to see white superheroes.
The rise of black comic characters was a given in a modern era where people want to see representations of themselves in comics. It’s very easy to say that does not matter when almost 90% of superheroes look like the critic making those points.
3. The Modern Superhero Era Was Bolstered by Race Politics
Modern superheroes and comic book media began in an era of intense and overt race politics. White superheroes were meant to be the main characters. This is not a happy accident. Marvel did not give a Black character his own comic until 1966.
Superman made his debut in 1938 during the Jim Crow era. Black Panther, a character created in 1966 by two Jewish comic book creators, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, made his debut one year after the technically legal end of Jim Crow. (Jim Crow persisted culturally and socially for decades afterward.)
Misty Knight and Storm of the X-Men did not make their debuts until early 1975. Now, in 2025, comic book fans are losing their minds over Riri Williams becoming an Iron Man legacy hero. Black comic characters are getting their due; it just takes time.
4. 2018’s Black Panther
It is easy to forget now, but many saw Black Panther as a red flag gamble for Marvel. A superhero epic set in the African continent about the most technologically advanced country on Earth. Ike Perlmutter, a frugal, old-school Marvel exec, did not believe films featuring Black or female leads would do well. Perlmutter also allegedly said all black people look alike, so such films would be useless, according to inside reports.
The first Black Panther film made over $1.3 billion. It was a global sensation that changed mindsets about non-white superheroes. Black comic characters are getting the attention they deserve now because of the success of this film.
5. The Struggle to Recast T’Challa
2022’s Black Panther made $859 million. Unfortunately, Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman died in 2020. The MCU decided not to recast the character in the meantime out of respect for the star. Boseman had cancer but kept it private until his passing.
I agree with the decision. If it were not for Boseman’s star power, we might still be waiting for the great Black-led comic book film now. Black Panther is a mantle, so they could have made another character Black Panther and not recast T’Challa for a while.
I apologize if it sounds ghoulish, but his performance meant a lot to Black comic book fans who never got to see represeantation like this on a global scale. While it won’t be tomorrow, T’Challa will be recast. Along with T’Challa, that also means more opportunities for Black comic characters to gain wider exposure.
6. The Struggle to Recast Blade
Another geek debate, which should be taken more seriously, is the fact that 1998’s Blade was the prototype for the MCU. The first Blade made $131 million at the box office, or $260 million in today’s money, which was a lot in 1998. Marvel almost went out of business in the early 1990s. The company sold off its IPs in the form of licenses to film studios to stay in business. (This is why Sony has the film rights to Spider-Man today.)
Blade came out before the first Spider-Man and X-Men films. It came out a decade before 2008’s Iron Man. Would the MCU even exist without Blade? Remember – Marvel almost went out of business a few years prior. The company tried to sell all of its characters to Sony in 1998, but Sony only wanted Spider-Man.
Disney cast Mahershala Ali as Blade in 2019 in hopes of making new films. Unfortunately, the film was never made, and it is an embarrassing scandal today – Ali lost opportunities and six years of age waiting for a Blade film that never happened. While this incident is tragic, it also shows the importance of character to fans. While it won’t be Ali unfortunately, Marvel will recast Blade while fans anxiously wait.
7. Miles Morales
Another reason why Black comic characters are rising to the top is the advent of Miles Morales as Spider-Man. Now, to the older comic book fans reading this column, I know Miles Morales is not your Spider-Man. However, many modern comic book fans, especially the younger ones, don’t read comic books.
Many young comic book fans, those under 20, like the films, TV shows, cartoons, and video games that find inspiration from comic books. So, many of the younger fans who love the Into The Spider-Verse animated films have no idea that Peter Parker is the primary Spider-Man. Some of them believe that Miles Morales is the primary Spider-Man.
Also, let’s keep it 100% – most comic book fans hate modern-day Peter Parker. You complain about the character all the time. Peter Parker made his debut in 1962. Miles Morales made his debut in 2011 and became a fan favorite in a short amount of time. I doubt he will become the main Spider-Man, but he does share the title with Peter in the comic books right now.
I’m not talking about the MCU Spider-Man. If Marvel does not improve Peter in the comic books, then who knows how they might elevate Miles in the future.
8. Riri Williams
If you’ve been on social media, then you know that fans are criticizing and lambasting the Ironheart series. The show was made in 2022 but only made its debut last week. What people don’t want to admit is that they just hate the idea of a black female teen taking on the Iron Man legacy. Hate the show if you don’t like it – but the fact is that people were review bombing the show and leaving hateful remarks weeks before its premiere date.
There is no such thing as bad press when it comes to a corporation. Marvel made its creators change the Punisher logo for a few years to discourage right-wing zealots, cops, and military from using the symbols. While Ironheart is getting bad reviews, the character is going nowhere. We will see more of Riri Williams.
9. White Black Panther
People lost their minds in early June 2025 when a White Black Panther character made his debut in the comic books. The character is introduced as a bad guy, and he may not technically be T’Challa’s biological son in the comics. The jury is still out on that. Still, a White Wakandan claiming the throne exists right now in the comic books.
I think it is hilarious and great press for Marvel Comics. It also puts anti-woke critics in a corner. You can’t celebrate a white Black Panther and demand more white people in Wakanda and still demand that comic books stay 86% white. A white Black Panther means that Black comic characters will become more mainstream in the future.
10. The Resurgence of Milestone Media
Milestone Media was a publisher of comic books from 1993 to 1997. They were truly ahead of their time. The creators had a desire to see Black comic characters in lead roles in comic books decades before it became the modern norm. Unfortunately, the company did not last past 1997.
If you like the Static Shock cartoons, then you have Milestone to thank for that. Static made his debut in Milestone Comics. Although it took decades and legal challenges, Milestone Media came back to comics in 2020.
Icon made his Milestone debut in 1993 with a 43-issue run. The character came back in 2023. Icon is a Superman analog. He is an alien who crash-lands on Earth in the mid-1800s and is adopted by a slave. Augustus Freeman assumes the form of a Black male and pretends to be his own descendant every generation. Amus, also known as Austus Freeman IV, is a modern-day Black conservative who fights crime as Icon.
Icon & Rocket: Season One is the 2023 relaunch of the classic 1993 Icon series. Buy the 208-page paperback now for $16 at Amazon.
Black Comic Characters
I am not saying that Black comic book characters should be popular just for being black. Weirdly, I have to say that, since almost 9 out of every 10 characters are white, the world is more connected now than ever before.
People want to see themselves in their entertainment. There is nothing wrong with that. It seems to be slowly becoming the norm. We are going to be seeing more of Black comic characters in the future, and I can’t wait for it.
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