POC Superheroes You Need to Know
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Superheroes often represent an escape from our daily lives, allowing us to imagine the impossible. As we turn on our television, sit in movie theaters, or read comic books, we dive into a world full of people who are just like us but with crazy abilities. As kids, we would often look at our favorite superheroes and pretend to be them because we somehow felt connected. When the topic of superheroes arises, we often overlook many superheroes of color who serve as important representations for diverse audiences. Aside from the most known King T’challa as Black Panther or Miles Morales as Spider-Man, here are some superheroes of color you should know about.
Image Courtesy: Fandom
Vixen from DC Comics
Vixen first made her appearance in 1981 as a way to increase the lack of female leads at the time. She is an African-American woman whose real name is Mari McCabe. She has the power to harness the abilities of any animal with her totem necklace. This allows her to gain super speed, strength, senses, and more. Vixen fights crime and has even worked with known groups such as the Justice League and Suicide Squad.
Image Courtesy: New Warriors
Silhouette from Marvel
Silhouette first appeared in Marvel’s New Warriors in 1990. Her first name is in fact Silhouette and her last name is Chord. Her mother is Vietnamese and her father is African-American. Her ability to create portals was passed down from her mother. Silhouette can melt into darkness and teleport herself anywhere in seconds. She was paralyzed from the waist down after an injury, but that didn’t stop her from fighting against the wrongdoings of the world.
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Bumblebee from DC Comics
Karen Beecher-Duncan, a.k.a Bumblebee, is a member of the Teen Titans which was first created in 1976. Bumblebee is an African-American superhero who has the ability to shrink down to the size of just what you would expect—a bumblebee! This allows her to hit her enemies where they least expect without seeing it coming. Along with becoming teeny tiny, she’s also an amazing inventor who can create all types of crime-fighting gadgets. She is the human representation of a bee; she’s cute to watch as she buzzes around but packs a powerful sting when bothered.
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Blue Beetle from DC Comics
Jaime Reyes, a.k.a Blue Beetle, is another bug-named hero in the DC Comics universe. He is a Mexican-American superhero who gains his powers from an alien scarab that attaches to his spine. His powers include super strength, super speed, energy blasting, and flying like a beetle. The most unique ability he has is a built-in translator that allows him to communicate in any language. Like many other teenage superheroes, Blue Beetle has to navigate life with these powers alongside the hardships that come with being a teen, such as school, friends, and family. There is even a Blue Beetle film that was released this past August starring Becky G, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez, and Xolo Maridueña as the lead.
Image Courtesy: Wikipedia
Sunfire from Marvel
Sunfire is a Japanese superhero whose real name is Shiro Yoshida. He is a mutant that can absorb solar energy–hence the name. His abilities make him immune to radiation. Sunfire has caught alongside crime-fighting groups such as the X-Men and Big Hero 6. While pregnant, his mother was exposed to radiation from the Hiroshima Bombing, which led to him being born with his solar powers. He first appeared in the X-Men comics in 1970.
Of course, there are many more out there we could discuss. The list is almost never-ending; once you find one superhero, more begin to appear, because most of the time, all their stories tie together. POC superheroes add an important aspect to the community because they allow everyone and anyone to see themselves as super.
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