More Racefail: Cover Stories

[alexandraerin]

Racefail in comic fandom, found via ktempest's Twitter. For the linkaphobic, some portion of the fandom has apparently gone groddshit over the startling level of diversity of the current incarnation of the Justice League, especially during a crossover with Milestone characters.

(Interestingly, they're laying this at the feet of Dwayne McDuffie, who has since left the book after a run that was dogged by his utter lack of input over the team's roster.)

I could really go nuts analyzing this, but I think a few pictures might say it all.

Here's the cover of the first issue of the current volume of the Justice League:



Oh my God.

Are you lost amidst the sea of diversity yet?

Of course, since then, the roster's changed a bit. They've added the current Firestorm, Jason Rusch, who is an African-American teenager. Sometimes they deal with another Green Lantern, like John Stewart. So, you know, you can add two more heroes of color to that picture mentally.

You don't have to put them up front or anything, though.

And in case you're wondering, the guy with the red face is a robot. A robot who looks like a white guy when he isn't being a superhero. Of course, front and center is an alien who looks like a white guy. This is one of the few versions of the Justice League to not include a martian who, when he needs to not look like a martian, usually looks like a white guy. Canonically the martian has multiple identities throughout the world, of all races and both of the two major genders. We're told, occasionally, that he's the most popular hero in South America simply because he has "local" identities down there. Writers remember to tell us this sometimes, but when we see him being human, nine times out of ten he's John Jones, American everyman.

White default in action.

Now, one possible reason for the backlash is that fans who came of age from the mid 90s on may resent any dilution of the "big seven" version of the Justice League, the classic configuration of Aquaman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Superman, and Wonder Woman that was revived at that time and impressed on the public consciousness through the Justice League cartoon. But that same revival was itself a groundshaking event, as it supplanted other versions of the Justice League that had their own popular followings. Two of them, Justice League International and Justice League Europe, were actually attempts to shake up the status quo and broaden the team's base to beyond characters who code as white Americans (even if they're Kryptonians, Amazons, or Atlantians).

We can maybe expect Justice League Europe to be a little eurocentric, but that's okay... they had Justice League International around to diversify things a little.

Let's take a look at their lineup:



Talk about a rainbow connection! I am dizzy with lack of breath from the whirlwind of ethnicities on display.

They did eventually gain a member from South America, a Brazilian hero named Fire.

Fire looks like this:



I apologize to any of my fellow white fans who I've made to feel marginalized and excluded by putting these images on display. Don't worry, some day comic companies will realize that people like us buy comics, too.

Comments

[stormcaller3801.livejournal.com]

Lack of experience may not be an excuse for not getting some experience, but with all due respect given the experiences outlined above (specifically being tortured and shot at) I'll stick with it anyways. It seems safer, in the general 'I've been doing this 32 years and I'm not dead yet' sense.

[akailaughingman.livejournal.com]

generally advisable to avoid being tortured, yes. not always possible.

For getting inside the head of someone who's been where you don't want to go... I suggest reading books, and interviews!

One of my roleplaying characters is a former child soldier (gang leader, actually). Blast to play, even if she is a bit of a coldhearted bitch (means well, but...)