NON-WHITE
VARIANTS
OF CLASSIC
SUPERHEROES
Comic book creators have worked for decades to increase diversity in their universes. Sometimes that means replacing traditionally white heroes with characters that more accurately reflect the broad audience of comic readers. Check out some of our favorite heroes below.
IS A SUPERPOWER
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SPIDER-MAN
Secret Identity
Miles Morales
Powers
Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, reflexes and endurance, ability to cling to most surfaces, web-shooters, Spider-Sense, Venom blast, Camouflage
First Appearance
Ultimate Fallout #4 (2011)
Publisher
Marvel
Allies
The Avengers, The Ultimates
Enemies
Kangaroo, Scorpion, Electro, Mysterio, Doctor Doom
Facts
-Miles' father is African-American and his mother is Puerto Rican.
GREEN LANTERN
Secret Identity
John Stewart
Powers
Energy construct creation, energy projection, enhanced senses, flight, force field, hypnosis, immortality, interstellar travel, invisibility, phasing, photokinesis, superhuman strength, teleportation, energy projection
First Appearance
Green Lantern vol. 2, #87 (1971)
Publisher
DC Comics
Allies
Justice League, Guardians of the Universe
Enemies
Sinestro
Facts
-John is a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps with full combat training.
-He does not wear the traditional Green Lantern domino mask to protect his identity.
MS. MARVEL
Secret Identity
Kamala Khan
Powers
Polymorphing (shape changing, growing the size of her fists, elongation, size alteration, appearance alteration, self healing)
First Appearance
Captain Marvel vol. 7 #14 (2013)
Publisher
Marvel
Allies
Captain Marvel
Enemies
None
Facts
-Kamala is Pakistani American, and the first Muslim comic character to headline their
own book.
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Secret Identity
Sam Wilson
Powers
Telepathic link with birds, martial arts, acrobatics, carries Captain America’s shield, Falcon’s wings
First Appearance
As Falcon: Captain America #117 (1969)
As Captain America:
Captain America vol. 7 #25 (2014)
Publisher
Marvel
Allies
Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., Steve Rogers (former Captain America)
Enemies
Red Skull, Zemo
Facts
-There is another African
American Captain America named
Isaiah Bradley, who appeared in
Truth: Red, White & Black in 2004.
Secret Identity
Lucas "Luke" Fox
Powers
Skilled in hand-to-hand combat,
tactics, Batwing suit allows flight
and stealth
First Appearance
Batwing #19 (2013)
Publisher
DC Comics
Allies
Batman, Legionary
Enemies
Lady Vic, Menace, Anubis Cult
Facts
-Luke is the son of longtime Batman
associate and businessman Lucius Fox.
-Luke is an accomplished mixed martial
artist and a graduate of MIT.
BATMAN
CAPTAIN MARVEL
Secret Identity
Monica Rambeau
Powers
Energy generation, absorption & manipulation, travel up to the speed of light, travel through the vacuum of space
First Appearance
The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 (1982)
Publisher
Marvel
Allies
The Avengers, Black Panther,
Luke Cage, Blade, Brother Voodoo,
Spider-man
Enemies
Bluestreak, Proxima Midnight
Facts
-As Captain Marvel, she became a leader
of the Avengers. She later used the names Photon, Pulsar, and in 2013, Spectrum.
Secret Identity
Calvin Ellis
Powers
Solar energy absorption, heat vision, super hearing, enhanced vision, flight, invulnerability, strength, stamina, speed, agility, reflexes,
super-breath
First Appearance
Final Crisis #7 (2009)
Publisher
DC Comics
Allies
Brainiac, Justice League, Supermen of the Multiverse
Enemies
Mandrakk, Lex Luthor
Facts
-Calvin operates as Superman as well as President of the United States.
SUPERMAN
BLUE BEETLE
Secret Identity
Jaime Reyes
Powers
Alien suit of powered armor, granting flight, enhanced strength and durability, creation of weapons, translation of alien languages
First Appearance
Infinite Crisis #3 (2006)
Publisher
DC Comics
Allies
Justice League (Batman, Green Arrow, Black Canary), Teen Titans
Enemies
La Dama, The Reach, Black Beetle, Bone Crusher, Coyote, Doctor Polaris, Jarvis Kord, Silverback
Facts
-Jaime is Mexican-American; one of his grandmothers lives in Mexico City.
Secret Identity
Ryan Choi
Powers
Ability to shrink his body to varying degrees (including the subatomic level) while manipulating his weight and mass to his advantage, expert in nanotechnology
First Appearance
DCU: Brave New World (2006)
Publisher
DC Comics
Allies
Teen Titans, Justice League
Enemies
Deathstroke, Dwarfstar, Chronos
Facts
-Ryan’s death was the subject of racial controversy, since he had been one of the few high-profile Asian characters in the
DC universe.
ATOM
Secret Identity
Dinah Drake
Powers
Martial arts, ultrasonic scream called a
"Canary-cry"
First Appearance
Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl and Batgirl (1998)
Publisher
DC Comics
Allies
Crime Society, Justice League
Enemies
White Cat, Lady Shiva, White CaWhite Cat, Lady Shiva, White Canary
Facts
-In the 52 multiverse, Black Canary is African American, she also makes a brief appearance in Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl.
BLACK CANARY