If we get a Black Superman in the Coates/Abrams reboot, what would you prefer?

[bat39]

While literally nothing has been confirmed about the new project produced by JJ Abrams and written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, there seems to be a consensus on the forum that there's a higher than likely possibility that we'll be getting a black Superman if this goes through.

Much of the debate has been around whether this means a race-bent Clark Kent or one of the existing alternate black Superman (i.e. Calvin Ellis, Val Zod).

Thought it might be instructive to see which way we're leaning at this point while considering this (as yet purely hypothetical) situation...

I personally would prefer the Calvin Ellis President Superman.

EDIT: Just to clarify for the poll options...by "completely original character" I mean a new black version of Superman, not a new black Superman-like character who won't have the name.

[manwhohaseverything]

Completely original character.

[Superboy-Prime]

There's literally no benefit to a racebent Clark Kent other than people patting themselves on the back while pre-existing black Supermen get substantially less traction as a result.

[Killerbee911]

There's literally no benefit to a racebent Clark Kent other than people patting themselves on the back while pre-existing black Supermen get substantially less traction as a result.

Is a black superman going to get traction with Clark Kent superman around?

[Superboy-Prime]

Is a black superman going to get traction with Clark Kent superman around?

Yes, Miles Morales has gotten plenty of traction with Peter Parker around. That's already proven to not matter.

[Robanker]

Calvin Ellis. Full stop.

[SiegePerilous02]

If forced to choose, a race bent Clark would be the easiest to embrace. I don't care for the idea of multiple Supermen in general. Yes, it's been touched on here and there in the comics, but I don't care.

Ideally we'd get a traditional Clark and much more attention paid to pre-existing black (and other POC) characters, but the DC cinematic brand is terribly inconsistent so we got what we got.

Yes, Miles Morales has gotten plenty of traction with Peter Parker around. That's already proven to not matter.

Yeah but that's a different company, and Marvel has proven they can handle these things better than DC/WB. Marvel always loves Peter Parker too, he's their flagship character and gets treated as such. Superman hasn't been treated as well by WB/DC for a while, at least not for the level of icon he is (most others get treated still far worse). One gets the sense they'd ditch him altogether if they could, you never get that impression from Marvel for any of their big name characters no matter how badly they screw up in some areas.

[Hulkout42]

Yes, Miles Morales has gotten plenty of traction with Peter Parker around. That's already proven to not matter.

They had to kill Peter Parker in both the Ultimate comics and in the movie for him to take up the mantle.

[bat39]

Is a black superman going to get traction with Clark Kent superman around?

Well, unless they cease publishing/producing everything to do with Clark Kent Superman, he'll always be 'around'.

[Killerbee911]

Yes, Miles Morales has gotten plenty of traction with Peter Parker around. That's already proven to not matter.

For clarity, They killed Peter, So Miles could get all of the shine in UU. In the 616 Peter is A. and Miles is B. The point is there is a benefit of racebent Superman and it is the character wouldn't have to be subordinate to another character or seen as second rate character which is a huge benefit for the character. It might not be the best move you can't say there is no benefit, I see people say Peter Parker is only real spiderman so there is huge benefit to him being Clark Kent and their legit argument for you should probably only have side kick level character around with a main character stuff like Hal Jordan and John Stewart or Wally and Barry hasn't work well being similar levels.

I vote for a new character I think composite of Val and Calvin Ellis would work better

[Fergus]

I voted for Calvin or Val.
Race bending Clark is self sabotage and creating an original character leaves the existing Supermen of colour to rot. They might be Clark kent but they are established characters who fans are already familiar with. This gives them an edge over a new character.

This is exciting news. I'm almost starting to get optimistic that DC/WB REALLY is in this for the long haul. That they are truly invested in showcasing their diverse library of characters

[Vordan]

Calvin is who I want.

Is a black superman going to get traction with Clark Kent superman around?

Depends on what they do. If they racebend Clark Kent then no. That take will exist for however many movies and then be done, like the takes where Catwoman is black, or Maoma Aquaman being Polynesian, or what they’re doing with Tim Drake over on Titans. The character of “Clark Kent” will be white, this will just be a different Elseworld take on the “default”. Superman is too iconic and popular a character to be changed permanently, in contrast to something like the Eternals which are becoming more diverse because nobody cares about the Eternals.

If they go with a non-Clark Kent Superman whether one of the pre-existing ones or an OC, then maybe. It really depends. The problem is then, how do you use that take elsewhere, like the comics? Spider-Man is a street level character in a city already overriden with street level heroes. Peter and Miles can both coexist without it making a big impact. Superman is different. The character is incredibly powerful, Metropolis barely has enough threats to keep Clark busy, two is overkill. So where does this new take fit in? Because Superman is t just the powers and the suit: It’s the Justice League, the Batman dynamic, the Luthor dynamic, etc. And Clark already has his son and cousin primed to be successors, so unlike Miles any new black Kryptonian won’t be first in line to inherit the titles without major asspulls.

I can’t really see this Coates take spreading outside the movie. I’m sure someone will use it, but the general audience already has a very clear idea of who Superman is and what he’s supposed to be (even if the pop culture perception kinda sucks and isn’t that true to the character).

[Hulkout42]

There's literally no benefit to a racebent Clark Kent other than people patting themselves on the back while pre-existing black Supermen get substantially less traction as a result.

This basically, for me at least, a race bent Clark Kent isn't something to be celebrated but rather proof that WB/DC were too lazy or worse see no financial benefit in promoting a pre-existing Black Superman.
Can't speak for anyone else but if it does turn out to be the case of a race bent CK, then i am not watching much less paying for it. I am already displeased they are rebooting Superman and not getting MoS 2, this potential play to target a certain demographic is making me feel even more so.

[OopsIdiditagain]

While literally nothing has been confirmed about the new project produced by JJ Abrams and written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, there seems to be a consensus on the forum that there's a higher than likely possibility that we'll be getting a black Superman if this goes through.

Much of the debate has been around whether this means a race-bent Clark Kent or one of the existing alternate black Superman (i.e. Calvin Ellis, Val Zod).

Thought it might be instructive to see which way we're leaning at this point while considering this (as yet purely hypothetical) situation...

I personally would prefer the Calvin Ellis President Superman.

EDIT: Just to clarify for the poll options...by "completely original character" I mean a new black version of Superman, not a new black Superman-like character who won't have the name.

Calvin Ellis. President Superman is different and we won't get another rehash of Clark Kent but this time as a black man