TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. When it comes to black superheroes, electricity goes a long way. } ()); Its that sort of solid characterisation and fleshing out of a personality, Wayne told me, thats the key making sure that a character doesnt become reduced to a two-dimensional stereotype. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. var d = document, and our Growing up as a kid who loved comic books, I spent many an afternoon running around the park pretending to be a superhero fighting all manners of evil. Like those shows, the . While Volts powers are a playful jab at superhero comics as a whole, they do raise a number of questions about what it means exactly when creators choose to turn black characters into walking, talking batteries. She can become and manipulate anything on the energy spectrum, hence one of her monikers. Introduced in Milestone Comics in 1993, Virgil Static Hawkins became one of that lines most popular characters. Static JavaScript is disabled. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a4354bd2708741ab4c2ad079a3bf4a63" );document.getElementById("c7cb6b8c70").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. var f = d.getElementsByTagName( s )[ 0 ], In a Future Filled With Electric Cars, AM Radio May Be Left Behind. Absolute Electromagnetic Absorption. Nubia / Nu'Bia. i realized this influence also extends to black characters in anime, specifically Naruto: shippuden. Precognition: Seeing the future is a lot more complicated than most movies or stories make it out to be. "These heroes presented their race as something to be proud of while simultaneously representing immense power within their superhero persona, a power that the African Americans did not have within society then." However, being a walking electric company mascot is pretty far down the list of superpowers Id choose if I had a choice. Fun as it was, the process of picking out which superhero I wanted to be always stressed me out for one particular reason that still bothers me to this day. Biokinesis: This is the power to change or reprogram cells and DNA with your mind. Some struggle to understand the motivations of others and have less . This part. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Black Lightning It goes without saying that Storm is perhaps the most iconic example of a the Black Electricity Trope, but shes also a character whos transcended much of its limitations as a result of being written and depicted thoughtfully across a variety of different mediums. Why does the date of Easter change every year. 2. Cookie Notice (I already. Your email address will not be published. If this is your first visit, be sure to You must log in or register to reply here. This eventually developed into a consistent pattern in which African-American superheroes, or black superheroes in general, had Shock and Awe powers. I think maybe some of it is that these kinds of heroes are usually physically vulnerable. The power to manipulate electricity. Catwoman. DC. Sub-power of Charged Particles Manipulation and Electromagnetism Manipulation. 1. And also controlling electricity is badass. This concept was later revisited in episode 36 of the 2016 animated series Justice League Action, "Superman Red vs. Superman Blue.". When you do you might note that MOST of them are VILLAINS. Black Panther, comic strip superhero created for Marvel Comics by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. One big omission from this list is Amazing Spider-man 2s Electro. Created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden in April 1977, Jefferson Pierce is one of DC Comics earliest Black superheroes. For instance, Static Shock created the hero Soul Power as an older mentor and counterpart to Static. When it came time to get away from the dumb costumes and put him on the big screen they cast a black man. There was some question as to whether Static shock had the rights to use Black Lightning, so when Black Lightning appears in the cartoon he's called Soul Power. Electro can channel and emit powerful electric blasts, and he can also absorb external electricity to power himself up further. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. Yeah, I've somewhat noticed this recently. ( function( w, d, s, l, i ) { For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Sorry to disappoint you, but Black Lightning is not Static Shock. Overall, there's a very large number of Black superheroes with electrical powers. The Coli - The Best Hip Hop, Rap, Sports Forum and Message Board. } )( window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-NPT9MH2' ); I noticed this after reading Irredeemable. Terrific, Bronze Tiger, Firestorm, Vixen, Amanda Waller, Batwing, Lucas Fox INDY: Spawn, Martha Washington, Michonne, Destiny Ajaye thats just my ten minute list. It's also a good generic power, like super-strength and flight. 10. Jupiter's Legacy is the latest superhero show to come to a streaming service following The Boys and Invincible on Amazon and Disney+'s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. In fact, many of these superheroes have powers and abilities that they (and the writers) have seemingly forgotten about. w[ l ].push( { Black Lightning wouldnt defeat a villain the same way that Static would, Wayne said. But perhaps his biggest superpower is walking around shirtless. i searched for this subject and found this article a while ago, and im happy to see its still being updated. The name and powers of the Ghost Rider have belonged to many Marvel heroes. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. /* ]]> */. 1. The only difference would be who gets paid., We may earn a commission from links on this page. For Iron Man, he's got Pepper Potts, whatever artificial intelligence . A. The aspect of royalties continued to pop up over the years, which led to A) Black Lightning not appearing outside of comics for decades and B) various pastiches appearing in DC-related media instead. There are a few comic book heroes who share in Static's gift, though not every character has mastered their own electrical powers as well. Scan this QR code to download the app now. I think maybe some of it is that these kinds of heroes are usually physically vulnerable. One power that the Speed Force grants the Flash is electrokinesis which allows his body to generate electricity. Both of them are black superheros with lightning powers. heavyweight, tournament, kickboxing | 23K views, 486 likes, 97 loves, 70 comments, 80 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Lawrence Kenshin Striking Breakdowns: Baddest Man On The Planet - Ernesto. We're auxiliary pieces, benched on the sidelines or sent in for one scene as a plot device for the white man . Personally, the thing thats always stuck with me about most black heroes with nature-based power sets is the very thin line writers and artists have to walk to make sure the character isnt being depicted as a savage. The idea that black people are inherently closer to nature is one of the larger undertones to the problematic magical negro trope that many black characters are often hamstrung by. Its usually just easier for the writer to relate to as often the protagonist is a highly idealised version of themself. In Marvel comics, Miles Morales, the new Spider-Man has the abilities of a spider, but can also control electricity. Capable of lifting 10 tons or more. There are more heroes who aren't black who have electrical powers than black heroes. Batman does have a superpower - he just isn't as known for it as others with the same superpower. Its led to Static making appearances in other subsequent DC-related media, as well as plenty of nostalgia for the cartoon. If he's injured, Black Lightning can heal himself at a faster rate than the average human. Enter your email below. s = d.createElement('script'); This eventually developed into a consistent pattern in which African-American superheroes, or black superheroes in general, had Shock and Awe powers. Yes, I wish to receive exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions from our partners. His sizable strength makes his herculean feats and fights seem reasonable. Storm (Marvel) - black, wather control powers (uses electricity frequently). A lot. Some heroes (such as Volt, from Mark Waid and Peter Krauses Irredeemable) point out this tendency, while adding yet another such hero to the list. Writer Matt Wayne has helped give Milestone Media and DC Comics character Static his signature voice on a number of projects like the Static Shock animated series and various comics like Static and The Brave and the Bold: Milestone. Starting with Black Lightning in 1977 (or possibly Storm, who pre-dates him by two years), weve gotten a ton of such superheroes. In the present . While Volt's powers are a playful jab at superhero comics as a whole, they do raise a number of questions about what it means exactly when creators choose to turn black characters into walking . Why does every black superhero have electricity? } ); Black Lightning (DC) - black, electricity based powers. Although, Black Vulcans approach would probably be indistinguishable from Black Lightnings. 1. You must log in or register to reply here. Shes incredibly strong, but you always get the sense that at the centre of whatever devastating weather phenomena shes manifested, theres a human whos just as powerful even when she doesnt have her powers. The advantages of electricity/electromagnetism: Overall, theres a very large number of Black superheroes with electrical powers. Your email address will not be published. When audiences can see a Black superhero exhibiting the same traits, and power, as Captain America, it aids public opinion. Thus, the various clones of Black Lightning might've heavily contributed to the number of Black electrical superheroes. Black superheroes go back a long way. This is a common mistake, but aside from both being black DC superheroes with more thunder than a Pikachu . However, due to numerous controversies and licensing disputes, in the many, many adaptations of the DCU he has often been used via Captain Ersatz. Thick masks and helmets limit peripheral vision. Thor has all of Asgard. Cookie Notice In 1977, DC Comics revealed their first headlining African-American superhero with Black Lightning. :youngsabo: j.src = Privacy Policy. Why do so many Black superheroes have electrical powers? Black Lightning wouldnt defeat a villain the same way that Static would, Wayne said. But why is it so overused? And given the large number of non-comics appearances Storms made since the 1992 X-Men cartoon debuted, shes now well known among the general (non-superhero-comic-reading) public. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. June 15, 2022 . And how about comparing to white characters with lightning? Spider-Man has Mary Jane Watson, Aunt May, and sometimes Harry. This especially seems the case in the various animated and live-action appearances of Storm. DC's second black superhero, Jefferson Pierce is a school teacher with the ability to generate and control electricity. 12. As a mutant, her powers include various weather-control abilities. Quite a few of them have electrical powers. Storm isnt just a black hero who throws lightning bolts, shes one of the most complicated and nuanced comic book characters created in the past 40 years. Why do so many black superheroes have electricity powers? A lot. Most commonly, users would be able to discharge large amounts of electricity in order to shock their opponents, potentially paralyzing them, burning them, or even stopping their hearts in severe cases. Ambient Energy Absorption. After a series of failed deals, Mephisto, the devil of the Marvel Universe, bonded Johnny's soul with the demon Zarathos. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Taken purely at face value, its not difficult to understand what makes electrokinesis popular with creators. While on the stand, a superhero named Black Vulcan expresses his frustrations over racial profiling in the superhero community. One Black superhero has electricity manipulation as a power and they just give them all that power because they don't have any imagination. Black Panther: World of Wakanda wins the 2018 GLAAD Media Award for outstanding comic, Marvel to launch new YA graphic novel line via Scholastic, Anthonys independent comics picks for January 2019, Cartoon review: Dead End: Paranormal Park, 2022 bookstore graphic novel sales: Viz, Scholastic made up nearly 43% of all sales, My favorite YouTube channels (2023 edition), Cartoons that shouldve entered public domain in 2023 (but didnt), Cartoons that shouldve entered public domain in 2022 (but didnt), Favorite cartoon sharks in honor of Shark Week, Sparky (Static Shock, Soul Powers sidekick), Bumblebee (Teen Titans; her suit lets her fire electrical stings), Spider-Man (Miles Morales) (has a bio-electric venom strike power), Aqualad (Jackson Hyde) (has an electric eel-like bio-electric power), Electro (Amazing Spider-Man 2) (a supervillain, but Im listing him anyway), Lightning Lad (from the 2019 Legion of Super-Heroes reboot), Lightning Lass (from the 2019 Legion of Super-Heroes reboot; the twin sister of Lightning Lad). Having the strength of this magnitude allows him to leap large distances, sometimes several stories up into the air. Still, the popularity of Black electrical superheroes like Black Lightning, Storm, and Static doesnt seem to be waning anytime soon. While its heartening to hear directly from a writer about how much thought they personally put into crafting a characters identity, the point still stands that black heroes with electrical powers are an established trope. Wakanda was depicted as a peculiar mix of futuristic . It is one of the more practical superpowers and can be seen in different characters. First of all, you should be aware of the phenomenon of economic gentrification when white people move into Black neighborhoods because we have a homegirl who can harness lightning. 8 Electro Is The Electric-Powered Foe Of Spider-Man Who Threatens The Web-Slinger. Beware accidentally harming allies if the user's control over electricity is not precise enough. In the fifth issue of Mark Waid and Peter Krauses Irredeemable, Volt, a member of the books answer to the Justice League, apprehends a kidnapper while sheepishly admitting to the people around him that yes, hes a black hero with electricity powers and yes, he knows that its a Thing, and hes kind of embarrassed about it. s.type = 'text/javascript'; check out the FAQ by clicking the 13 Lightning Lad The reason why it seems like there are so many is because of observational bias. img#wpstats{display:none} By moving at super speeds, the Flash can generate electric energy which he can use as a lightning blast against enemies. Possibly it's because of one of the major black heroes, Black Lightning. Lightning (DC) - black, electricity . In other cases, though, Wayne reasoned that electrokinetic powers were the perfect way of having a black hero around who could participate in a fight, but not necessarily be the one to win the. So outside of Static Shock and Black Lightening, that's just two. window.dm.AjaxEvent = function(et, d, ssid, ad){ While people have used secret identities throughout history for various reasons, the use of a secret identity by a superhero dates back to the early 20 th century. Superheroes are also expected to act on a strict moral code. Blog status update (January 2019): Shuttering the blogs Facebook page (again). Black Lightning is one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. His powers originally came from a belt, but this was later reckoned to make him a metahuman. Creators : Robert Kanigher and Don Heck. But why? In "Godstorm: Hercules Payne", a spin-off of. in factor based risk modelBlog by ; why do black superheroes have electric powers . Miles Morales - Bio-Electrokinesis: Miles possesses control over natural electricity that his body produces, capable of utilizing it for offensive attacks, that's an additive from his spider powers, not his sole power. A Sub-Trope of Fountain of Expies. Static will always maintain an important place in the pantheon of black superheroes. Of them, none are as known or important as Johnny Blaze. However, due to numerous controversies and licensing disputes, in the many, many adaptations of the DCU he has often been used via Captain Ersatz. I wonder if another possible factor is the popularity of Storm. There is no more ultimate universe though. Its also worth pointing out Black Vulcan was created after Black Lightnings creator Tony Isabella left DC over creative differences.). See, there are a lot of black comic book characters with electricity-based superpowers. 100 Years Of Stan Lee: How The Comic Book King Challenged Prejudice, In DCs New Black Lightning Comic, Jefferson Pierce Is A Hero Reimagined For A New Era. Each woman claims her own Superman, and they have a triple wedding: Superman-Blue and Lana, Superman-Red and Lois, and Lucy Lane marrying Jimmy Olsen (since Lucy need no longer wait for Lois to marry before she does). List of superheroes who use fire. Electro, Static Shock, Vulcan, B. Thunder, just to name a few, was it a trend started by some pop culture event. A superhero (sometimes rendered super-hero or super hero) is a type of fictional stock character possessing extraordinary talents, supernatural phenomena, or superhuman powers and dedicated to protecting the public. Marvel has featured heroes such as the X-Men's Storm who can control lightning. (Its worth pointing out that Black Vulcan was created by Hanna-Barbera for the Superfriends cartoon, which producers felt needed a black character even though Black Lightning already existed. Often seems to be the theme for superheroes these days, with Hollywood rolling out blockbuster superhero movies in rapid succession. And so on. Required fields are marked *. Examples on this page don't necessarily need to be superheroes though. Marvel doubles down on this in the what-if comic "What if Miles Morales Became Thor? Miles Morales is incredibly strong. Fun fact: Black Lightning isn't the only superpowered member of his family; his two daughters, Anissa and Jennifer, who will be featured on the TV series, both inherited electricity-based powers . Privacy Policy. Finally, theres the third popular Black superhero with electrical powers, Static. Shes incredibly strong, but you always get the sense that at the center of whatever devastating weather phenomena shes manifested, theres a human whos just as powerful even when she doesnt have her powers. Ultimately subverted: he's actually Baal Hammon, a god of, "The black kid yelped and suddenly erupted in a crackling field of arcing electricity", Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville, Jefferson Pierce with a different moniker, though she uses them a lot less than her other powers, The most prominent dark-skinned character in, Thunder Fall, a member of the Congolese superhero team The Kingdom in the DC Batman spinoff. The reasons I can gather for this are: Black Lightnings a popular and influential early Black superhero, spawning many pastiches; electricity is a popular, versatile and impressive superpower; and possibly also the popularity of Storm and Static. As folks here have pointed out, a lot of these black heroes are true heavy hitters in terms of ability and depiction. Ive been looking more into this subject and came across this. As for whether increased awareness of this tendency will change anything in superhero stories, its hard to say. Marsha Bradley from from the same comic is also a woman of color with electricity based powers who goes by the alias Lightning Lady. Captain America has Bucky and Sam. Theres plenty of electrical-themed superheroes, from Lightning Lad and Lass of the Legion of Super-Heroes to Marvels Thor. 52 (July 1966). Weve seen Storm as both a lethal weather goddess and a vulnerable human. Absolute Ionic Absorption. A superhero is a character with extraordinary powers that performs heroic actions. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Most commonly, users would be able to discharge large amounts of electricity in order to shock their opponents, potentially paralyzing them, burning them, or even stopping their hearts in severe cases. Its a very flexible power, especially combined with the equally flexible nature of comic book physics. Meanwhile, Justice League Unlimited created Juice, though Juice was part of a group of heroes that were a pastiche of the non-White ones on Super Friends. Thus, Juice is a pastiche of a pastiche? Its even a trope on TV Tropes (Electric Black Guy, though by no means limited to male characters). It looks flashy and impressive on the comics page, as well as in movies and TV shows. The electromagnetically-powered hero stood out with fans for his upbeat personality and scientific knowledge, allowing him to use his powers to the fullest. Statics powers, Wayne told me, were meant to be an extension of his geeky personality and the kinds of science fair projects he enjoyed working on. Personally, the thing thats always stuck with me about most black heroes with nature-based power sets is the very thin line writers and artists have to walk to make sure the character isnt being depicted as a savage. Asian superheroes are usually solar/sun powered and/or martial artists. Let's not forget missing limbs and/or cybernetic parts. Red decides to live on New Krypton with Lois . Sometimes magic, but it has to be magic based on nature. Hes since been seen in a few other media spin-offs, culminating in getting his own live-action series that ran on the CW for four seasons, from 2018 to 2021. For one thing, it can make for some of the most visually arresting art you can imagine, and with the right sort of creativity, electrokinesis can be used in a variety of novel, clever ways beyond simply discharging energy. if(typeof window.DotMetricsObj != 'undefined') {DotMetricsObj.onAjaxDataUpdate();} But theres also something about them all that feels derivative at best and stereotypical at worst, considering that the vast majority of the most popular black superhero characters were created by white men. DC also had Black Vulcan in the old superfriends show. Black Noir (Batman) hides behind his creepy mask, and hardly speaks. Now you can get the top stories from Kotaku delivered to your inbox. Its also worth pointing out Black Vulcan was created after Black Lightnings creator Tony Isabella left DC over creative differences.). It may not display this or other websites correctly. Electricity/electromagnetism isnt a bad superpower by any means. why do black superheroes have electric powers. Has anyone else noticed that a number of the black characters in comic media have electric powers? When I spoke with Wayne recently, he assured me that, when creating a new character and deciding which powers they should have, every comics writer sits down and considers how similar their creation will end up to others that came before them. Storm had weather powers but often was just giving lightning bolts everywhere, and Black Lightning had a power that wasn't really something being done at DC at the time. JavaScript is disabled. First Appearance : Wonder Woman #204 (1973) Powers/Skills: Flight, super strength, speed, "cold sight," magic armor, able to open . 2. After gaining his electricity powers as a result of the chemical gas explosion known as "The Big Bang," young Virgil Goode decided to use his powers to stop the other "Bang Babies" (humans.
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