The new Captain America has us in awe of just how great a super hero movie can be when you have a Black lead character. So we started thinking about some other Black movie superheroes who shined in their roles. Some were Marvel films, but others were comical and just made for great film.
According to many sources, the first Black Superhero was named Lion Man. He premiered in comic books back in 1947. While he didn’t appear in any films, the continued legacy of Black superheroes in films continues the legacy of Black superheroes as initially created by Lion Man creator, Orrin C. Evans.
Representation is important, especially in the media. From anime to TV shows to movies, and even video games; representation can make the experience for the audience that much more exciting. Representation in your favorite media can even affect how you perceive yourself and your culture.
Captain America (Sam Wilson version)
Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) took on the role of Captain America in the new Captain America: Brave New World movie. In previous Marvel films, Sam was known as Falcon, a good friend to the original Captain America, Steve Rogers. With a little quirk in the timeline, Sam takes on the role of Captain American, honoring the responsibility that comes with the position. With a little help from Wakanda, Sam is able to completely transform his superhero suit so that it’s next level.
Blade
Wesley Snipes took on the role of Blade in another popular Black superhero movie. The film was released on August 21, 1998. At the time it was a success, grossing 70 million at the U.S box office and 131.2 million worldwide. Blade, who is half-immortal, is out to avenge his mother’s death and rid the world of vampires, the story is truly compelling.
A Blade reboot has been in talks for years now, which is set to star Mahershala Ali. Creative differences has kept the film from catching momentum, but sooner or later we expect it to move forward.
Blankman
Blankman was a Sony Pictures release in 1994. Its plot follows a repairman who becomes a superhero after traumatic events. After Darryl Walker’s (Damon Wayans) grandmother is murdered in a mob hit he has a revelation that results in an urge for him to fight crime in an attempt to avenge his lost one. The film wasn’t quite a box office success, but it’s a cult classic!
Hancock
Hancock is a 2008 film which starred Will Smith. The movie portrays a superhero who leaves massive damage as he attempts to save lives. Smith has been Box Office magic for a long time, so its not surprise that the would make 629.4 million worldwide, making it a box office hit. It became the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2008. There is rumored to be a Hancock 2 in development, but remains to be seen if the film gets off the ground.
Steel
A military scientist protects the street with his high tech gear until his work is hijacked. This story follows Shaquille O’Neal as John Henry Irons. The film was loosely based on an adaptation of the DC Character of the same name. Unfortunately, the movie did very poorly being released in 1997 only making 1.8 million worldwide at the box office. This was a total bust considering that the budget for the movie was 16 million.
While the movie didn’t quite meet expectations, it is still an important part of the history of Black movie superheroes.
Black Panther
As expected, this one is a staple of Black movie superheroes since 2018, after the debut of T’challa, the MCU Black Panther. Played by Chadwick Boseman the movie grossed $1,346,913,161 worldwide, making it the highest-grossing movie ever starring actors of color.
The trilogy is set in the hidden kingdom of Wakanda. After the death of T’challa’s father, he claims the throne and the role of Black Panther. After being exposed to a herb he enhanced his strength and abilities to superhuman levels. Black Panther has gone on to be an important figure in the Avengers movie franchise.
