The elephant in the room: when powers meet stereotypes

[crimsontt]

Current times are challenging writers beyond the obvious, but for decades comic books creators had no problem in exploring lazy stereotypes from the merely stupid to the most dangerous ones. Let’s make a list of characters whose powers have a not-so-imaginative connection to their origins?

Jubilee: a chinese mutant that throws fireworks
Dust: a muslin afghan that turns into sand
Sunfire: a japanese from the hiroshima area with radioactive fire powers
Slipstream: an australian blonde dude that surfes warp waves.

[jwatson]

Current times are challenging writers beyond the obvious, but for decades comic books creators had no problem in exploring stereotypes from the merely stupid to the most dangerous ones. Let’s make a list of characters whose powers have a not-so-imaginative connection to their origins?

Jubilee: a chinese mutant that throws fireworks
Dust: a muslin afghan that turns into sand
Sunfire: a japanese from the hiroshima area with radioactive fire powers

The crazy part of this is i can't think of any of these being sterotypes. i mean i have heard of the insult of dust people but never thought of dust a female mutant that actually controls the land in which she comes from itself as a character created on stereotype.

Jubliee as california valley as you could get with the gum chewing it never once crossed my mind thinking about chinese and fireworks. i mean i know of fireworks for chinese new years but americans are obsessed with fireworks for fourth of july and by my neighbors at random points throught the summer.

and i never thought fire powers as a sterotype of hiroshima maybe if he had radioactive powers but none of these thoughts ever crossed my mind.

[crimsontt]

The crazy part of this is i can't think of any of these being sterotypes. i mean i have heard of the insult of dust people but never thought of dust a female mutant that actually controls the land in which she comes from itself as a character created on stereotype.

Jubliee as california valley as you could get with the gum chewing it never once crossed my mind thinking about chinese and fireworks. i mean i know of fireworks for chinese new years but americans are obsessed with fireworks for fourth of july and by my neighbors at random points throught the summer.

and i never thought fire powers as a sterotype of hiroshima maybe if he had radioactive powers but none of these thoughts ever crossed my mind.

Stereotypes don’t necessarily insult someone. Sometimes it’s just a lazy cliche to be accounted, sometimes it’s even an artistic criticism. Tarantino plays well with stereotypes. The point of this thread was not to point fingers but to contemplate the obvious for the sake of my boredom. Laughs*

[charliehustle415]

Jubilee is a straight up California Valley girl, how is that a stereotype or cliché? It's the first time I ever saw a Asian character that wasn't some math whiz or some jingoistic trope.

Dust was one of the first Muslim superhero characters that actually wore a burka even Kamala can't claim that.

Hell even Thunderbird was first depicted as a fiercely strong, independent, and heroic hero. He only joined the X-men because Xavier called him a coward and to show his bravery he gave his life.

[Kitty&Piotr<3]

Bishop's power is just being a black guy with a gun 99.9% of the time.

[davetvs]

The way Jubilee's powers are framed/narrated is more stereotypical than her actual powerset. There is no actual need to call them fireworks since that isn't what they are, which is on Marvel.

Off topic I hate that Logan's real name is Howlett. It's so on the nose and lame.

[Rift]

Hellion, Jean, Psylocke and Betsy all fall into the stereotype that telekinetics are sexy and cool. Which is a shame, because people overlook that Hellion is also smart, funny, and had a big heart.

[charliehustle415]

The way Jubilee's powers are framed/narrated is more stereotypical than her actual powerset. There is no actual need to call them fireworks since that isn't what they are, which is on Marvel.

Off topic I hate that Logan's real name is Howlett. It's so on the nose and lame.

OMG, I just got it!

Now I can't unsee it!

[davetvs]

It's awful! In my mind it's James "Logan" Hewitt.

[Uncanny X-Man]

Wanda: a gypsy woman with the power to jinx people and later a straight-up witch.

[norj]

Dani Moonstar a Native-American who talks to animals.

[MythicalChicken]

Dani Moonstar a Native-American who talks to animals.

This is really, really stretching y’all and why I have had to work ten times harder with people because they stopped taking “woke” nonsense seriously

[Dizzystarr]

Wolverine and Sabretooth are Canadians whose superpowers are basically free Health Care

[charliehustle415]

Wolverine and Sabretooth are Canadians whose superpowers are basically free Health Care

LMAO, you sir are the winner

[Triniking1234]

I guess OP's mutant power is nitpicking.