After a new set of leaked Sony emails revealed a restrictive set of rules for Spider-Man’s on-screen persona, the character’s creator, Stan Lee, has spoken out in support of the controversial stipulations.
The rule that says Peter Parker, Spidey’s alter ego, should always be white doesn’t bother Lee, according to an interview he gave to entertainment site Newsarama.
“I wouldn’t mind, if Peter Parker had originally been black, a Latino, an Indian or anything else, that he stay that way,” he said. “But we originally made him white. I don’t see any reason to change that.”
Lee is also in agreement with the requirement that Parker’s sexuality should remain as originally written, but is open to the idea of other homosexual comic book characters.
“I think the world has a place for gay superheroes, certainly,” he said. “But again, I don’t see any reason to change the sexual proclivities of a character once they’ve already been established. I have no problem with creating new, homosexual superheroes.”
Lee was also keen to point out that his remarks had nothing to do with bigotry, but rather with staying true to his work.
“It has nothing to do with being anti-gay, or anti-black, or anti-Latino, or anything like that,” he said. “Latino characters should stay Latino. The Black Panther should certainly not be Swiss. I just see no reason to change that which has already been established when it’s so easy to add new characters. I say create new characters the way you want to. Hell, I’ll do it myself.”
His comments follow news that Miles Morales, a mixed-race iteration of Spider-Man, will be replacing Peter Parker in the comics.
The latest Spider-Man reboot is still in the process of casting its lead, with The Impossible star Tom Holland rumoured to be the frontrunner.
