BCAF Hosts Black Supeheroes Panel at Comic-Con

At Comic-Con 2024, the Black and Brown Comix Arts Festival (BCAF) hosted a compelling panel titled "Black Superheroes, Black Power Fantasies, Double Consciousness, Oh My …," featuring scholars Stanford Carpenter, John Jennings, Ajuan Mance, Yvonne Chireau, and Brittany Oliver Silas Navaro.

This dynamic discussion delved into the intricate history and evolution of Black superheroes and Black power fantasies, challenging the narratives and intentions behind these cultural icons.

The panelists explored origins of Black superheroes, contrasting them with their White counterparts, and questioned who controls these stories and for whom they are told. W.E.B. Du Bois's concept of double consciousness—"seeing oneself through the eyes of an other"—served as a critical framework for the discussion. This idea was particularly resonant when considering the creation of Superman, a character designed by two Jewish teenagers from Cleveland for a predominantly White audience. The panel also highlighted how, during the 1940s and 50s, Black artists toiled on White superhero comics by day while creating their own Black heroes for the Black press, embracing narratives that foreshadowed Afrofuturism and EthnoGothic themes long before those terms entered mainstream consciousness.

While mainstream audiences may be familiar with characters like Black Panther, Luke Cage, and Misty Knight, the panelists introduced lesser-known figures such as Sgt. Joe and Bungleton Green, who played crucial roles in shaping the landscape of Black superhero narratives. The discussion emphasized that the complexities of Black superheroes and their power fantasies are far from simple or obvious, revealing a rich tapestry of stories that challenge and expand our understanding of heroism and identity in the comic arts.