The 1990s saw a popularity boom in comic books, ushering in more diverse readers and characters than ever before.
You’re listening to Remarkable Receptions—a podcast about popular and critical responses to African American novels and more.
In 1993, DC Comics decided to kill Superman, with a plan to bring in four new supermen to fill the void. The most popular of these was Steel. African-American weapons engineer John Henry Irons constructed armor and a weaponized sledge hammer to protect the city of Metropolis. While his creation was influenced by the folk legend John Henry, Steel’s legacy grew on its own, as he had a series throughout the 90s and became an important character in the DC Universe. The popularity of the character peeked in 1997, with Steel—the first African-American mainstream superhero to have his own movie.
The 90s boom created more opportunity for diversity with Milestone Media. This DC Comics imprint saw African-American creators provide much needed comic representation to minorities. A key character was Icon. Created by Dwayne McDuffie and M.D. Bright, Icon took the Superman story and altered it, as an alien ship crash-landed in the South in the 1830s and the child inside was adopted by an enslaved woman. After participating in such events as the Underground Railroad and Civil War, Icon eventually used his powers of flight and super strength to fight crime in the present. At a time when not many comics addressed controversial history or themes, Milestone and Icon did.
Independent comics flourished during the boom as well, introducing the title character Spawn, and helping Spawn sell 1.7 million copies in 1992. Spawn was unique, as African-American CIA agent Al Simmons’s morality becomes a liability, and he is murdered by allies. Simmons then makes a deal with a demon to come back as an empowered warrior of Hell. Simmons finds that his powers can turn him human again, but the version he becomes is Caucasian and unrecognizable to his family. Simmons is forced to watch his family move on, but decides to use his demonic power to protect Earth. The popularity of Spawn generated animation, video games, films, and a successful toy company.
The Black comic characters of the 90s utilized the medium’s popularity to receive a remarkable reception.
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This episode was written by Stephyn Phillips. The episode was edited by Elizabeth Cali and Howard Rambsy.
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This podcast, Remarkable Receptions, is part of the Black Literature Network, a joint project from African American literary studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the History of Black Writing at the University of Kansas. The project was made possible by the generous support of the Mellon Foundation. For more information, visit blacklitnetwork.org.