Classified X - Mysterious, Untitled New Series

[Tycon]

If you follow what is was saying, I said African American male mutants!?! This poc label has become a very clever way to dismiss away the inclusion of black males. Something this X-office editors and writers are illustrating to perfection.

You’re replying to the wrong person. I agree in some respects about the laziness that comes with the ‘POC’ label, but I’m fascinated at how you always center this around black men and black men only.

[Vegan Daddy]

Isn’t Apocalypse black?

[Silver Fang]

Isn’t Apocalypse black?

Blue. So don't count. Lol A form of erasure & discount used for some black characters.

He's ancient Egyptian with a brown complexion. Now if he's Nubian / Black is questionable.

[Vegan Daddy]

So does Maggott not count?

[Beetle]

So does Maggott not count?

Maggott can switch back and forth between his blue skinned form. It's like how Warren can turn into Archangel, Monet can turn into Penance or Sunspot can power up.

There's potential there for him to be visible as a black man, unfortunately in his few appearances since coming back to life he's only been shown blue skinned.

[Paleo_Rage]

You’re replying to the wrong person. I agree in some respects about the laziness that comes with the ‘POC’ label, but I’m fascinated at how you always center this around black men and black men only.

They center it because that is a very real issue. Marvel comics is an american based company. So you would expect to see Black man as they are a part of American culture. Many of the posters who are concerned with representation bring up it broadly in terms of race, gender, sexuality, etc. However if you look at the lack of Black men of color in the x books in particular the lack of Black men you can see a pattern.

Technically the first Black male x man is Sunspot. He is not African american but he is Black regardless of what some believe. That was what 1982.Sunspot is Black but his blackness seems to be questionable by some fans despite his origin story centering his Blackness and many characters referencing it aka during the Asgardian wars-Both he and storm were called dusky skinned. Then the next Black male x man was Bishop.He was introduced in 1991. His blackness was also questioned when they connected him to Gateway. Then the next Black man was Synch who was introduced in 1994. Then Maggot(1997), then Shola(2002) or Prodigy (2003) then Gentle (2006), Triage(2013).

You mean to tell me its ok that x men comics that started in 1963 has only had introduced 8 Black men.. In 56 years they have only created and introduced approx 8 Black male mutants as x men or xmen adjacent .. 6 out of the 8 character have extremely minor or very brief runs in the comics...

[Tycon]

Yes, god, I get it. I’m black. My problem is that this discussion always centers on men instead of a broader attempt to include more black men, women, and non-binary mutants. Almost reminds me of a hotep movement. It is embedded anti-blackness (whether it’s explicit or implicit bias will probably be up to you) that has kept the number of black men that low for this long. It’s a problem that should never stop being talked about. But then again, I’ve involved myself in conversation like this where they were only concerned with “straight black male” representation. Hopefully you can see why that’s super shitty.

[Wiccan]

Yeah, I think black women don't really have it great either? Storm is always being used, yeah, but sometimes it's almost like writers pick her as a token. It's been ages since she actually had a good story about her being told. Then there's Monet, who also faces the same kind of whitewashing by both fans and artists as Sunspot, and... Reyes? who's not used that much. I can't think of a fourth one.

I understand though where that kind of feeling comes from. I often get frustrated when it comes to gay characters. When there are other kinds of LGBT representation, it also makes me happy, but I've come to realize that male gay character is what I personally care about the most if I'm being honest.

[ohsnapulon5000]

Havok’s a sub bitch.

This entire team's a bunch of sub bitches out for revenge! Sign me the **** up. These are the Visigoth bottoms of your nightmares.

[ohsnapulon5000]

I wouldn't mind if Gibney reverted to his pre-Wildheart characterization. The Weapon X-era dogboy stuff was pretty unappealing.

WildHeart is a revelation. Give him heels and let him be the Emma of this team. Empath is already the 90's Psylocke.

[Anduinel]

WildHeart is a revelation. Give him heels and let him be the Emma of this team. Empath is already the 90's Psylocke.

Wildheart was his heroic persona, though. That's why I doubt we're going to see that in a book where the villains are the selling point.

[HipHopAvenger]

Is this 616 Wild Child or AoA Wild Child?

[dkrook]

They center it because that is a very real issue. Marvel comics is an american based company. So you would expect to see Black man as they are a part of American culture. Many of the posters who are concerned with representation bring up it broadly in terms of race, gender, sexuality, etc. However if you look at the lack of Black men of color in the x books in particular the lack of Black men you can see a pattern.

Technically the first Black male x man is Sunspot. He is not African american but he is Black regardless of what some believe. That was what 1982.Sunspot is Black but his blackness seems to be questionable by some fans despite his origin story centering his Blackness and many characters referencing it aka during the Asgardian wars-Both he and storm were called dusky skinned. Then the next Black male x man was Bishop.He was introduced in 1991. His blackness was also questioned when they connected him to Gateway. Then the next Black man was Synch who was introduced in 1994. Then Maggot(1997), then Shola(2002) or Prodigy (2003) then Gentle (2006), Triage(2013).

You mean to tell me its ok that x men comics that started in 1963 has only had introduced 8 Black men.. In 56 years they have only created and introduced approx 8 Black male mutants as x men or xmen adjacent .. 6 out of the 8 character have extremely minor or very brief runs in the comics...

Thank you for the eloquence of your commentary. It's cool to know there are others that just get it. This grouping represents more of the same old stuff at the X-office. It's not likely to last to long anyways.

[Harpsikord]

Yeah, I think black women don't really have it great either? Storm is always being used, yeah, but sometimes it's almost like writers pick her as a token. It's been ages since she actually had a good story about her being told. Then there's Monet, who also faces the same kind of whitewashing by both fans and artists as Sunspot, and... Reyes? who's not used that much. I can't think of a fourth one.

This is a very good point. As far as black, female X-Men goes we have Storm, introduced in 1974 and then we don't get another til Frenzy - as a villain - in 1986, Shard in 1993 Monet in 1994, Angel Salvadore in 2001, and Bling! in 2005.

There's a fairly significant lack of black representation among the X-Men and superheroes in comics, but that's also a symptom of there being a lack of PoC representation in general. How many Latinx characters are regularly appearing in the DoX books? One, Rictor. How many Native Americans? One, Mirage. Black characters don't have it much better, but a lack of them is symptomatic rather than an isolated problem.

And actually now that I think of it I'm surprised at the sheer amount of Asian characters who are involved in the X-Books right now. Karma, Psylocke, Armor, Mondo, Jubilee...

[BroHomo]

.
You mean to tell me its ok that x men comics that started in 1963 has only had introduced 8 Black men.. In 56 years they have only created and introduced approx 8 Black male mutants as x men or xmen adjacent .. 6 out of the 8 character have extremely minor or very brief runs in the comics...

Bruh it's craaaazy to think the first AA X-Man debuted 50 fvcking years after X-Men#1 by craaaazy I mean disappointing, frustrating, sad...

Ive involved myself in conversation like this where they were only concerned with “straight black male” representation. Hopefully you can see why that’s super shitty.

I don't think anyone has made that distinction tho?

This is a very good point. As far as black, female X-Men goes we have Storm, introduced in 1974 and then we don't get another til Frenzy - as a villain - in 1986, Shard in 1993 Monet in 1994, Angel Salvadore in 2001, and Bling! in 2005.

Dude good post buuut
Damn black ladies need some X-Love.

There's a fairly significant lack of black representation among the X-Men and superheroes in comics, but that's also a symptom of there being a lack of PoC representation in general. How many Latinx characters are regularly appearing in the DoX books? One, Rictor. How many Native Americans? One, Mirage. Black characters don't have it much better, but a lack of them

What about Forge.... Proudstar....
But considering how many black people love the X-Men, and how much the metaphor 'borrowed' from White America's reaction to Black civil rights you'd..(I guess not expect) but HOPE X-Men can do a liiiil better than having 1½Black dudes and ZERO AA dudes on any of the fvcking team