politics in comics

[Agent Z]

I decided to dig through my collection of books.

For your consideration Cage issue 5 1992. From the LETTER page-

A person wrote to the creative team RIPPING them a new one about the book.

"I am very unhappy if not totally embarrassed by the new incarnation of Luke Cage."
"You seemed to turn him into a typical N.W.A. just like Rage, Cyborg and Falcon use to be."
"Cage is an embarrassment to all that is African American."
"He is taking money for doing what should be done out of the goodness of his heart."
He gets compared to a drug dealer. Single minded preoccupation with money and material things.
Cage looks like a gang member and talks too ghetto.
Storm and Monica (at the time Cap Marvel) get bashed as beyond reproach.
"Why do we have to carry the burden and the inequalities of the race?"
"Why do as black men feel it necessary to denigrate and perpetuate those things that shackle us the most?"
A LEGIT criticisms of his powers varying from one book to another is mentioned.

The editor fires back.
Luke cage is NOT meant to be the prime example of all blacks.
The Hero for Hire angle was addressed and compared to cops, fire fighters and bodyguards.
Luke cage's skin is viewed as organic steel.

So my question to yall would be is this an example of legit criticism or bashing?

Oh the writer of the letter???? Kevin Grevioux. Yes THAT Kevin. Blue Marvel's Daddy.

It was a legitimate critique, no different than the actors of the time who often lamented the fact that Black images portrayed on screen for middle America and the world to see were routinely inconsistent with the dignified, hard working men and women of color who comprised the majority of the race. (That lament was shared by other races as well.) Kevin was advocating a paradigm shift in the archetype. That was incredibly difficult back when Marvel only had 2 - 3 prominent African American male heroes, and all of them were more "street" than "Wall Street."

Marvel has a history of great writers, but not one of them created a powerful, intelligent, non-street African American male hero. Really? Not even as a random, stray epiphany??? People complain that doing so now seems like an agenda of some kind. They don't see the irony. If all you push is mayonnaise dressing, well, the people will eventually start to wonder if you have some kind of institutional disfavor of olive oil, or red wine vinaigrette. "What agenda were they serving, really?" some will ask.

That's all that Grevioux' letter was asking, albeit, with a bit more flourish and passion.

I can't agree with the criticism against Cage taking money for helping people given the lack of career opportunities a black ex-con would have. Besides, there were plenty of times when Cage did a job for free and no one ever gets on Spider-Man and Superman's cases half as much when they exploit their abilities for monetary gain.

[shooshoomanjoe]

The stories are being TOLD. If all you read is Batman or Superman-you're RARELY see them. Because in the past the books that really did it-were not promoted and some stores NEVER carried them. Some have not made it to trades yet.

Take Static's writers (of his first series) covered bullying, bulimia, teen sex, LGBTQ, teen crime, homelessness, role models, gun violence, drug dealing and hate of one's religion.
Icon-Rocket was the FIRST single teen mother heroine.
Hardware dealt with a man who has sexual issue in the bedroom that lead to him becoming a vigilante.
Deathwish introduce a transgender person-the first at DC.
Heroes featured a same sex couple.
Savage Dragon's current storyline is about Malcolm being in Canada because of TRUMP.
Batman The Hill-BLACK FOLKS PUNKED Batman and called out his white privilege.
Static dealing with gun violence in his old book put Champion's issue on it to SHAME. Static didn't get a speech from Ms Marvel like Miles. He went Frank Castle on folks.

I guess you never watched TNBC or Family Matters of 90% of shows for kids. They have ALL done it. Some more obvious than others.

Saved by the Bell was more subtle versus seasons 2-7 of Saved by the Bell New Class, seasons 2-6 of Hang Time and City Guys. Because in 1993 all shows for kids HAD to have some educational material in them. At least for broadcast stations.

Degrasssic classic was ultra subtle than the 2000s series.

If you have to go back to 30 years ago to find these types of stories then it means they aren't being told in today's world.

[Steel Inquisitor]

If you have to go back to 30 years ago to find these types of stories then it means they aren't being told in today's world.

Those are just obvious examples. Skyvolt's right, media has been using morality tales for longer than we've been alive.

[CentralPower]

Bronze Age. I'm not defending anything other than how Grell put realistic elements in his comics, it was groundbreaking at the time.

Grell has nothing to do with the polemical Green Lantern/Green Arrow run from the 70s.

[skyvolt2000]

If you have to go back to 30 years ago to find these types of stories then it means they aren't being told in today's world.

Since we want to get smart mouth-lets play.

Savage Dragon's current storyline is about Malcolm being in Canada because of TRUMP.

That is a CURRENT story line. yes Savage Dragon is still being made and will hit milestone issue 250 this year.

Kevin Keller. Archie Afterlife-he has a black husband. Archie Afterlife saw Chuck Clayton get DUMPED by Nancy for another woman.
Degrassi the New Generation is not 30 years old.
Static Shock (the show Static is based on) had the episode Jimmy discuss gun violence.
The Best At it by Maulik Pancholy (Sanjay and Craig) dealt with an Indian boy dealing with his sexuality.

Take Netflix's She-ra, Boom Comics's Fence, Backstagers & Lumberjanes-as MUCH LGBTQ content as those 4 have-it's NEVER discussed and NOT one negative thing is shown about it. Everyone accepts it. Fence has a boy walking around as a girl and a straight black guy LUSTED after by the bed hopping hot white guy.

The stories are being told. It's the how they are being told that is the difference.

The preaching has always been there. The subject of the sermon has always changed.

[Huntsman Spider]

I can't agree with the criticism against Cage taking money for helping people given the lack of career opportunities a black ex-con would have. Besides, there were plenty of times when Cage did a job for free and no one ever gets on Spider-Man and Superman's cases half as much when they exploit their abilities for monetary gain.

That's actually a good point. At least Cage asks for the money upfront, compared to Spider-Man spending years effectively getting paid for taking selfies by pretending he and Peter Parker are two different individuals.

[Steel Inquisitor]

Grell has nothing to do with the polemical Green Lantern/Green Arrow run from the 70s.

He drew it, Denny O'Neill was the writer.

https://www.amazon.com/Green-Lantern.../dp/1401295533

Edit: I've yet to hear exactly why this run was bad, I'm starting to wonder whether you read it at all. Generalising don't make a strong argument.

[CentralPower]

The problem was the writing. People praise that run as an exercise in virtue-signalling.

Again, a Guardian and a Green Lantern riding around in a pick-up truck is stupid. That stupidity makes it impossible to write well about the issue du jour.

[ed2962]

There's actually two Denny O' Neal runs. There's the one from the early 70's with Neal Adams...that's the "socially relevant" one that gets talked about. It was cancelled then they brought it back a few years later with Mike Grell on the art. They still did grounded stories but mostly they went in a more "superhero-y" direction.

[ed2962]

The problem was the writing. People praise that run as an exercise in virtue-signalling.

Again, a Guardian and a Green Lantern riding around in a pick-up truck is stupid. That stupidity makes it impossible to write well about the issue du jour.

Not sure why this is inherently stupid. Having an alien or powerful outcast character discover what normal people deal with is a very common trope. It's been used in a hundred movies, TV shows, and comics.

[Huntsman Spider]

Not sure why this is inherently stupid. Having an alien or powerful outcast character discover what normal people deal with is a very common trope. It's been used in a hundred movies, TV shows, and comics.

Pretty much, yeah. It's often used to humanize otherwise literally inhuman characters, by exposing them to the unvarnished human experience, and in more heroic cases, those otherwise inhuman characters devote themselves to protecting normal people from those that would harm them.