I saw a quote in an interview with Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman's creators, where they said as much, but I can't seem to find it now, dammit. Of course, he's not a practicing jew in the comics (specifically, he worships Rao), but they said they always imagined him being jewish when they were writing the comics. posted by Gamblor at 10:43 AM on July 20, 2006
From Harvey Birdman: "They said it was some sort of budget thing, but I think it's because I complained that they were always pairing me up with a white Super Friend, like I was gonna start super-looting the minute they weren't watching. And you think I named myself Black Vulcan? Hell, no! I used to go by Super Volt. Black Vulcan was Aquaman's idea. And I said, 'Well, maybe we should just call you White Fish!'" posted by Gamblor at 11:17 AM on July 20, 2006
But back onto the topic of black superheros, what's worse? The (mostly dead) convention that they have "Black" appended to the front of their name (Black Panther, Black Lightning/Vulcan, Black Goliath), or Marvel's weird insistance that all black characters have to be either blood relatives (my favorite: the reveal that Gateway, an Australian Aborigine, is the grandfather of Bishop, an African-American) or married to each other? posted by COBRA! at 11:18 AM on July 20, 2006
Uhm, duh: they're all brothers. posted by yerfatma at 11:21 AM on July 20, 2006
Good thing he was jewish before his transformation. He'd have to be circumcized with an angle grinder. posted by Mayor Curley at 11:51 AM on July 20, 2006 [1 favorite]
Would you like something to read?
Do you have anything light?
How about this leaflet, "Famous Jewish Sports Legends?" posted by three blind mice at 12:07 PM on July 20, 2006
Man, I love The Thing. I've got all 36 issues of his first solo series (July 1983 – June 1986). I've got a T-shirt. If there was 'The Thing' toothpaste, I'd buy some. ("Hey! Your teeth sure look Orange and Rocky today!")
I gotta give it to Deathlok (Michael Collins) as the coolest black superhero. I don't see him on the site. posted by Smedleyman at 1:52 PM on July 20, 2006
Sure, the Irish have been historically marginalized and he was a good leader, but I think it's a stretch to call Michael Collins a "black superhero." posted by Mayor Curley at 2:59 PM on July 20, 2006
That digitalpriest.com link's a grand one, grabbingsand. Thanks for that. Reading about his time on Spiderman now. Oh the humility! posted by Sparx at 3:27 PM on July 20, 2006
Some people think Superman's jewish.
Reminds me of that joke in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay when Sam suggests that Superman's Jewish because "Coming over from the old country, changing his name like that. Clark Kent, only a Jew would pick a name like that for himself" posted by concrete at 12:28 AM on July 21, 2006
Wassamatta Mayor Curley, you’ve never heard of ‘black irish’?
Been thinking about the whole choosing Clark Kent as a name -
I’ve been writing a story about Superman as pure alien. He has a hard time replicating human patterns of thought, but saves lives because the field of intelligent life increases his own well being. Remember those sketches from - I believe it was SNL where the alien was running for office and says stuff like “If I were an alien - would I turn on this light ballb?” (spelling matches inflection)
So there’s a hyperreal middle america feel to Clark Kent. Like his flesh isn’t real, like he’s wearing a mask.
Clark: “Gee, Lois, I’m going apple picking with my mother today” *steve forbes wide eye stare* “I don’t think I can make that lunch”
Lois: “You’re going to fly out to Kansas? Today? In the middle of the afternoon just to - pick apples?”
Clark (long stare): “...Yes.”
Funny, I’d think black superheros would be far more plugged in and motivated to be superheros. I watched “Kinsey” last night and it was funny how (Tim Curry) was speaking about sexual proclivities, disparaging “negros” and was so clueless he didn’t know how “John” was used as slang - or “Peter” or “Dick” - the last was brought up by a black student.
You’d think there would be a “you don’t live around here, do you?” componant to a black superhero. posted by Smedleyman at 12:45 PM on July 21, 2006
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posted by OmieWise at 10:07 AM on July 20, 2006