Black Voices, an AOL site, follows up AOL’s top superhero movies with their own list, one of the top 25 black superheroes of all-time. Somewhat timely, with “Hancock” making a ton of money this weekend. Will Smith’s character from the film nabs a No. 7 spot. This list isn’t the same one I would make — “Meteor Man” is at No. 5, and “Blankman” tops Geoff Johns’ excellent Mr. Terrific. Still, some classic characters like Luke Cage and Black Panther make the cut, and Todd McFarlane’s Spawn comes in at No. 12. Black Goliath outranking The Falcon seems misguided, as the Falcon was a much more important character for much longer. Static, of “Static Shock” and the Milestone Comics, is No.1
Notable omissions: Captain Marvel, from the 1980s Avengers, though she never appeared outside the comics. I could argue for Hardware, Icon and Rocket, all from the Milestone line. Black Lightning would have been a nice comics-only choice, and I’d even prefer the SuperFriends Black Vulcan to some of the characters chosen. Bishop of the X-Men is another well-known omission. Neither Halle Berry’s or Eartha Kitt’s portrayal of “Catwoman” were named, though Berry’s Storm is listed. Nowhere to be seen on the list, despite an appearance in the summer’s most popular movie thus far, is James Rhodes, AKA War Machine.
Edit: I misread the list earlier, apparently, as Damon Wayans’ “Handi-Man” is listed as “NOT No. 1.”
– Matt Price