Comics / Cult Favorite

Losing the Race

By Philip Schweier
August 19, 2011 - 15:37

There has been much ballyhoo in the comic press in recent weeks due to two specific announcements. Marvel recently announced it would re-launch Ultimate Spider-Man with a bi-racial character assuming the role, and Laurence Fishburn was announced as portraying Daily Planet editor Perry White in the upcoming Superman film, Man of Steel.

These two announcements seemed to fracture the comic book community along racial lines – those that approved and those that didn’t. Those that opposed such changes were immediately regarded as too conservative at best. In more extreme comments, some were labeled racists.

In some instances, race is germaine to a character’s personality; Luke Cage, for instance. But for the most part, race, in a fictional context, should not be an issue. These are make-believe characters that do not exist in the real world.

Let’s address these two concerns individually, beginning with Spider-Man. I don’t recall strong objections when, in the interest of diversity, DC Comics chose to make the Blue Beetle a Hispanic youth, nor when an Asian assumed the identity of the Atom. So why a bi-racial Spider-Man would draw such ire is beyond me. Perhaps it’s because Spider-Man is a much more high-profile character. Nevertheless, those that prefer the WASP-y Peter Parker can still find him in the pages of several other titles.

Perhaps it’s because the new Ultimate Spider-Man is multi-cultural, which I can understand (note that I said understand, not approve) how some people might not be pleased. It seems these days we are having political correctness and cultural tolerance shoved at us to the degree that some people have grown weary of it. While it’s no doubt a good thing to open our minds, nobody wants to feel forced to do anything, regardless of how socially positive it might be.

It reminds me of when Star Trek: Voyager premiered. The franchise has always had a history of pushing open doors for racial and cultural tolerance, beginning with television’s first bi-racial kiss during the run of the original series. However, on Voyager, viewers were presented with a crew comprised of woman captain, a Hispanic Klingon and an African Vulcan (Does Vulcan even have an Africa?), as well as an Asian and a Native American.

It all seems very forced in my opinion, as if the producers were seeking ways to be all-inclusive. Personally, I would’ve preferred to see more extraterrestrial races, such as Andorians, Orions, Ferengi, Cardassians and Bajorans.

So I expressed my opinion in the most direct manner possible. While I had no objection to Voyager being on the air, I chose not to watch the program. Not because I disapproved of any specific ethnic content, but because I expected the obvious effort at diversity would led to uneven storytelling. And what happened? Nothing. Star Trek: Voyager certainly didn’t suffer from having one less viewer, and I don’t feel I’m any worse off for not having watched it.

My point is that it’s okay to have an opinion, but how one expresses his or her opinion should be a careful exercise in judgment. The Internet has permitted a great deal of anonymity, allowing people to indulge in flame wars while hiding behind chat room aliases such as CaptMidnight2000 and MiamiMacDaddy. In this age of Twitter and Facebook, even those who don’t conceal their identity have yet to learn the importance of blurting out whatever is on their mind, only to be surprised when they are taken to task for voicing their opinion.

Otherwise, some opinions are best left expressed through other means, such as not buying certain products or supporting certain causes. There is no need to be ugly or aggressive about; simply don’t.

As for Laurence Fishburn as Perry White, the casting of a black actor in a traditionally white role (or vice versa) again should not be an issue. There are any number of celebrities whose politics are, for one reason or another, opposed by others. Tom Selleck supports the National Rifle Association. Betty White is a spokesperson for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Elizabeth Taylor was active in the interest of gay rights. Whether you agree with their politics or not, the primary job of these people is to act, and ultimately, that is what determines their suitability for a role. If it’s their politics you object to, then don’t support their political causes.

Fishburn is a critically-acclaimed actor, and as a long-time Superman fan, I feel he is highly qualified to play Perry White. Michael Clark Duncan was cast as the Kingpin in the 2003 movie Daredevil. Why? Because he brought the proper amount of menace and sophistication that few other actors could (okay, maybe John Goodman).

Oddly enough, with all this debate over changing the race of an Marvel Ultimate Universe character, or casting an African-American actor in a traditionally caucasian role, I don’t recall hearing much disapproval when Nick Fury was first played by Samuel L. Jackson. Would you prefer maybe David Hasselhoff?

Praise and adulation? Scorn and ridicule? E-mail me at philip@comicbookbin.com.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12