Marvel one-ups DC with a bold decision regarding its commitment to diversity
In an extremely well-timed move, given DC Comics’ horrible press regarding its lack of character diversity, Marvel Comics has announced that its new “Ultimate” Spider-Man will be a biracial hero of black and Hispanic heritage. Marvel’s successful Ultimate Comics, an alternative line of books free from the continuity restraints of the publisher’s traditional universe, featured a white Peter Parker as its Spider-Man until this past June, when he was killed by his arch-nemesis. In the wake of Peter’s death, Miles Morales will be taking up the role of Spider-Man as the first character of color to carry the mantle in the Ultimate Comics line.
Marvel Comics’ Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso said in an official statement:
“When the opportunity arose to create a new Spider-Man, we knew it had to be a character that represents the diversity—in background and experience—of the twenty-first century. Miles is a character who not only follows in the tradition of relatable characters like Peter Parker, but also shows why he’s a new, unique kind of Spider-Man—and worthy of that name.”
Miles Morales will show up for the first time in tomorrow’s release of Ultimate Fallout #4, and will be more fully developed starting with the relaunch of the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man book in September–the same month DC Comics will be relaunching its entire line in a bid for diversity that has already been criticized as a failure by fans. While DC Comics has recently struggled with basics by forcing its most popular disabled hero to walk again and neglecting to beef up the presence and importance of its women characters (while keeping them scantily clad in the meantime), Marvel’s announcement of the new Ultimate Spider-Man is a high-profile, sensational stroke that very clearly indicates its interest in diversifying.
As of now, comment sections on comic book news sites such as IGN Comics and Comic Book Resources are filled with accusations of forced political correctness and racial gimmicking–largely based on the assumption that Ultimate Comics Spider-Man‘s author, Brian Michael Bendis, killed off Peter Parker in order to establish a character of color, rather than happening to make the character black/Hispanic after deciding a new Spider-Man should be introduced. Whatever the case, Spider-Man will remain white in the “regular” Marvel universe while Bendis charts completely new territory in the Ultimate Comics line. Time will tell as to whether this character will win the appeal and selling power of the original.
Photo courtesy of Marvel.
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