Why haven't any of the Black Male X-men caught on other than Bishop?

[jwatson]

What? First, I didn't buy the issue you're referencing and only know what I've read from being on CBR X-Books. Second, I said healing mutant are narratively problematic, so giving one a recurring role is difficult. "Healer" is a wallpaper Morlock who gets screentime only in moments like these. You want that for Triage? Probably not; which is why I ended my original post bringing up the potential of another viable black mutant hero, Bedlam.

See I actually think the position would be perfect for him. He never wanted to be a combat mutant and he set up a sort of hospital to heal people during the mpox stuff. If Percy was going to use a bare minimum mutant why not just use Cecilia who Hickman already established as the doctor in X-Men
I'm going to have to go check out some of Percy older work now.

[CRaymond]

couldn't the same be said of Reed Richards or Tony Stark?

Both are arguably selfish. Unless you’re willing to write your characters having singular goals willing to screw the world in favor of their-plan-being-more-important, then you’re in a narrative quandary.

[Psycwave]

whenever someone mentions bedlam, i remember him looking like Shawn Wayans. and then i think of shawn wayans and his horrible impressions of gay people. which brother did Terry Crews play? i'm guessing that it was the older one; despite the power set.

He played Jesse.

[Proto]

Any of the "8 smartest people in the marvel universe" could literally build mobile hospitals that cured any manner of illness or injury and they haven't. Wakanda's had a cure for cancer for years and hasn't shared it. These healers are just single people who can't use their powers on a global scale. Why peg them for being immoral for not moving into a hospital and spending their life curing the place?

[jwatson]

So i now feel x-force is a perfect example of why characters of color can't take off. In a cast filled with white characters two mutants of color that could fill healer's role, and one unarguably better, they were passed over for an obscure human looking white morlock. Thread closed. lol

[Havok83]

Also rosenbuurg went out of his way to kill another black mutant because triage could self resuurect so they made sure to strip his powers first

Does he have that power? I thought that ability was unique to Elixir and his omega status

[jwatson]

Does he have that power? I thought that ability was unique to Elixir and his omega status

He does, i think it was in bendis run where he died and his powers kicked in and revived him. He could also bring people back to life if it was recent but if it was too long he could bring them back but it was pointless because they would still look zombie like. Elixir power is just more advanced.

https://comicvine.gamespot.com/triage/4005-86433/

Lists him as having immortality and after he came back he had life force powers.

[Electricmastro]

With the exception of X-23, I honestly don't think that any mutant has caught on widespread popularity since Gambit, Bishop, and Domino, who were introduced in the early 1990s. Prodigy was a black male character introduced in 2003 and was part of the New X-Men, but I think the New X-Men members in general have been pretty much demoted to the background.

[CRaymond]

Any of the "8 smartest people in the marvel universe" could literally build mobile hospitals that cured any manner of illness or injury and they haven't. Wakanda's had a cure for cancer for years and hasn't shared it. These healers are just single people who can't use their powers on a global scale. Why peg them for being immoral for not moving into a hospital and spending their life curing the place?

Because the central tenet of the X-Men and Xavier is the responsible and ethical utilization of mutant gifts.

With the exception of X-23, I honestly don't think that any mutant has caught on widespread popularity since Gambit, Bishop, and Domino, who were introduced in the early 1990s.

Add Cable and Deadpool.

Of them all, Bishop was the last introduced with any staying power.

The other four could've been POC. Hell, X-23 could've been POC when you consider the Kinney DNA contribution.

[Electricmastro]

What I think are the mutant characters that have caught on the most:

1939 - Namor the Sub-Mariner

1963 - Professor X, Cyclops, Beast, Iceman, Angel, Jean Grey, Magneto

1964 - Toad, Blob

1967 - Banshee

1968 - Polaris, Franklin Richards

1969 - Havok

1970 - Sunfire

1974 - Wolverine

1975 - Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Magik, Multiple Man

1976 - Psylocke

1977 - Sabretooth

1978 - Mystique

1979 - Northstar

1980 - Kitty Pryde, Emma Frost, Dazzler, Karma, Sebastion Shaw

1981 - Rogue, Rachel Grey, Siryn

1982 - Cannonball, Sunspot, Wolfsbane, Moonstar

1983 - Magma

1984 - Warpath, Forge, Cypher

1985 - Boom-Boom, Strong Guy

1986 - Cable, Apocalypse, Husk

1987 - Rictor

1989 - Jubilee

1990 - Gambit

1991 - Bishop

1992 - Domino

2003 - X-23

[Su_Whisterfield]

What I think are the mutant characters that have caught on the most:

1939 - Namor the Sub-Mariner

1963 - Professor X, Cyclops, Beast, Iceman, Angel, Jean Grey, Magneto

1967 - Banshee

1968 - Polaris

1969 - Havok

1974 - Wolverine

1975 - Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Magik

1976 - Psylocke

1977 - Sabretooth

1978 - Mystique

1980 - Kitty Pryde, Emma Frost, Dazzler

1981 - Rogue, Rachel Grey

1982 - Cannonball, Sunspot, Wolfsbane, Moonstar

1984 - Warpath, Forge

1985 - Boom-Boom

1986 - Cable

1989 - Jubilee

1990 - Gambit

1991 - Bishop

1992 - Domino

2003 - X-23

Feck, I’m old... sorry carry on.

[CRaymond]

1991 - Bishop

1992 - Domino

Domino was 90. Bishop was 91.

I don't like being pedantic but the era is significant for this discussion. 1990 was a sea change for the X-Books from being ragtag darlings to being an industry-defining paradigm. Not sure anything since that "time" will ever achieve iconic status. Even Bishop's invention is the result of editorial influence.

[Electricmastro]

Domino was 90. Bishop was 91.

I don't like being pedantic but the era is significant for this discussion. 1990 was a sea change for the X-Books from being ragtag darlings to being an industry-defining paradigm. Not sure anything since that "time" will ever achieve iconic status. Even Bishop's invention is the result of editorial influence.

The "Domino" from New Mutants #98 was an impersonator, which is why I list 1992 (X-Force #8) instead.

[CRaymond]

The "Domino" from New Mutants #98 was an impersonator, which is why I list 1992 (X-Force #8) instead.

Oh LOL yes. VANESSA.

[danielsan52]

An all black team of X-men would be cool.

Bishop
Bedlam
Gentle
Lightbright
Windshear
Pathway

707F9ABB-190A-49E0-B062-BF1CE4220F09.jpg

Great team here