Originally Posted by
Vampire Savior
When I chose Naomi I didn't narrow the choice down to black females, because that's not what the topic is about. The black males are in not much better a position than Vixen. They're all essentially either underdeveloped (the great, great majority of them, including John Stewart) or past their prime, dormant and washed up (like Steel and Static).
DC could have done quite a bit with John Stewart 16 years ago, but the company squandered him. Instead it went the completely opposite direction by resurrecting Hal Jordan, attempting to push HIM to trinity status, and positioning John Stewart as a nearly mute, extremely boring and depressing background character who's only development involves moping about how he kills people. DC chose not to strike while the iron was hot from the Justice League cartoon, and now I feel that window of opportunity is shut. Especially now that Hal Jordan has returned. He would literally have to die or be retired again for John to really get a decent shot. And even if Hal did get out the way, somehow I doubt the Lantern that would step up to the plate and fill the void would be John. These days, it would probably be Jessica Cruz or some new character. What's more is the specter of Hal Jordan will forever haunt whoever would take his place, and Hal would undoubtedly return and take it right back. He has too many die hard fans for that NOT to happen. John Stewart simply will never cleanly overcome him, because, like it or not, love him or hate him, Hal Jordan is THE REAL Green Lantern. The others, besides Alan, are offshoot imitators. Their fans would never want to admit this, but that's just the way it is and it's too late to change that. So, as for John Stewart...
I'm not choosing him.
Steel maybe had a shot when Shaq was playing the character in that 90s movie, but the movie bombed, and most people think it's godawful. That basically killed Steel's "career". Now he's most notable for being the supporting character boyfriend of Superboy's girlfriend (Lana Lang) from a cancelled comic series from a couple years ago that was rather short lived and not well loved because people were expecting it to star Lois Lane instead of Lana Lang.
I'm not choosing him.
Static is basically a dead IP. Besides, Milestone owns that, not DC.
I'm not choosing him.
What has Mr. Terrific ever really done? Be a part of teams, mostly, and his short lived solo series is not well loved at all.
I'm not choosing him.
Cyborg?
I've written a lot on the problems with this character. He's gone about as far as he's going to go, and that's with DC pushing him in movies, shows, cartoons, games, and comics more or less all at the same time. If he was REALLY going to go somewhere, he would have by now.
I'm not choosing him.
Black Lightning?
I suppose he stands a better chance than most, and I can see why people would choose him. However, I do not. He's got a looooong way to go. Besides, few comic readers want to read about him. At least Naomi has people who want to read her. When you have been around for like 50 years, and you STILL barely have any material to read, and even less that's actually WORTH reading...I don't think that's a good sign.
I don't think any of the other characters on the list are worth consideration.