The case for a non-white Spider-Man

[Blue_Tires]

Spider-Man will soon be joining the likes of Iron Man and Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but will the man underneath the mask be black or white?

Here's how thousands of social media users have reacted to news of a deal between Sony Pictures and Walt Disney that means Spiderman may now be in an Avengers movie: they've begun a debate about Spidey's race. So far there have been two big-screen iterations of Spiderman swinging through New York, and in both of them Spidey's alter-ego has been the lily-white Peter Parker. But now, some comic books fans online now say it is time for a different webslinger to take over - specifically they want a teenager named Miles Morales.

The Morales character has a Hispanic and black background, and has been featured in the comic book version since 2011. Morales took over when Peter Parker died in the Ultimate line of comics, and his looks were based on US President Barack Obama and actor Donald Glover.

So will the new film incarnation of Spider-Man follow suit? Over the past 24 hours, around 5,000 people used Miles Morales' name on Twitter and a hashtag of his name seems to have been briefly trending. On Tuesday, #donaldforspiderman - a reference to the possiblity of Glover playing Morales in a movie version - also got a boost with more than 3,000 tweets. However, many more people online were discussing Peter Parker and the most recent Spidey actor, Andrew Garfield.

"I would be so excited to see #MilesMorales Spider-Man on the big screen!" said one fan. "MCU [Marvel Comic Universe] definitely has enough white guys."

Heroes from minority backgrounds have been rare in the comics world. Most of the ones featured actually have the word "black" as part of their alter egos (Black Lighting and Black Panther, among others). And so when Morales came along, he was seen as a breakthrough by many - an A-list non-white character with critically acclaimed stories and a sizeable fan base.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-31362800

[PoliticAverse]

1. Spider Man spends most of his time in a full body suit, all you see is his eye color... n/t

[PFunk]

2. actually you dont see his eye color-mask includes mirrored/opaque lenses

just saying.

[giftedgirl77]

3. I would like to see a blue spiderman..

If there is no hope for any type of imagination anymore at least switch up the man's outfit.

[bravenak]

5. They had a black suit in one movie.

It was cool. He needs more outfits if he's a black spiderman.

[giftedgirl77]

6. Word & it definitely needs more bling....

[bravenak]

7. Ha! That too.

[Number23]

4. Goddamnit, how many times are we going to sit through the Spiderman/Superman/Batman merry go round?

When the ever loving HELL does STORM get her own stuff??

We have heard the stories of Spiderman/Superman/Batman a hundred different times. There is absolutely NOTHING new to be done with those stories. The latest Spiderman iterations, the one with the skinny British guy and that redhead girl with the wonky eyes, I didn't even bother to see and I love superhero movies. The first Wolverine movie was just excellent fun, the second one not so much.

Storm's story is fascinating and by every account, she was THE most powerful Xman. Even Prof. Xavier acknowledged that on several occasions. And yet, we just keep getting the Spiderman/Superman/Batman repetition. Hollywood has become so boring and unimaginative.

[M0rpheus]

8. Storm is so underrated in the movies.

I do expect to see her in the Black Panther movie, though.


I'd love to see a solo movie with her in the spotlight but I doubt that'll ever happen.

[Number23]

9. I agree and I think one of the reasons is because Halle was so totally miscast as Storm

in the Xmen movies. That role had Angela Bassett written all over it but I guess the studio execs wanted someone a bit safer and "prettier" (read, more commercial) so they put Halle in. If they'd put Angela in the way that they should have, she would have walked away with all of the films and Storm would probably be a house hold name.

I've seen a couple of Black Panther cartoons and the animation is extraordinary. There was also a series called Afro Samurai which had the most unreal amazing animation but good Lord, it was violent. I seriously doubt they'd ever make a movie out of that one. Samuel L. Jackson even did the voice of the annoying sidekick!