The First Marvel Movie Superhero Was Black

Daily Beast ^ | February 15, 2018 | Ira Madison III

[C19fan]

In 1998, exactly twenty years before Black Panther, the first Marvel Comics superhero made its theatrical debut. It was the vampire known as Blade. And he was black.

To be fair, there had been a handful of films based on Marvel properties before this—but 1944’s Captain America was a black-and-white serial film, 1989’s The Punisher and 1990’s Captain America were both direct-to-DVD, 1994’s Fantastic Four was never released, and though it’s a cult classic, the less said about 1986’s Howard the Duck, the better.

[C19fan]

I do not remember all this race talk when "Blade" came out. One could enjoy this bas *ss kicking vampire butt for its own sake.

[a fool in paradise]

There were theatrical releases of Spider-Man in the 1970s.

[a fool in paradise]

it was from the era when every attempt was made to downplay comic book origins and any superhero had to wear black leather instead of a colorful costume.

[BenLurkin]

[a fool in paradise]

I thought Human Torch was a black man

[robroys woman]

I’m getting totally numb to any subject that focuses on race these days.

no mas.

[a fool in paradise]

I never watched the Blade movies (or the Punisher movie or Captain America or Fantastic Four, which was made cheaply and never intended for actual release, it was to extend the producers’ ownership of the license for the characters) but Screen Junkies just did a combined Honest Trailer for the trilogy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI5RYgvPHLU

[dsrtsage]

I thought cultural appropriation was bad

[jdsteel]

So...except for a dozen others the first one was black.

[Psalm 73]

Well, there was the Damon Wayans character “Handi Man” - he was a super hero....

[Sans-Culotte]

it was from the era when every attempt was made to downplay comic book origins and any superhero had to wear black leather instead of a colorful costume.

Blade was never meant to be a traditional superhero. He was spun off by Marvel from their Tomb of Dracula comic. This was basically a comic based on the premise that Dracula was resurrected while a team led by a descendant of Van Helsing tried to destroy him. Somewhere along the way, they crossed paths with Blade, who had the same mission. Blade was then spun off into his own comic. As I recall, he wore a long coat and not a superhero costume.

[SJSAMPLE]

Blade was just a good, fun movie. None of the attached political bullshit.

And I believe in a daywalking vampire more than I’d believe in a high-functioning African nation.

[SJSAMPLE]

Is that the Roger Corman version?

[al_c]

If Blade was successful enough to spawn two sequels, why are we only now getting a second Marvel film with a black lead after twenty years?

Because this is the natural progression of the Avengers according to the comics, that's why. As the old guard (Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, etc) fade away, the next generation takes over ... Ant Man, Wasp, Black Panther, Spider Man, etc.

Do any of these news media types do any research anymore? Ever?

[Celerity]

“Blade was just a good, fun movie. None of the attached political bullshit.”

“And I believe in a daywalking vampire more than I’d believe in a high-functioning African nation.”

POST OF THE DAY

[al_c]

Well, there was the Damon Wayans character “Handi Man” - he was a super hero....

And then there was this guy (absolutely hilarious!) ...

[cranked]

Neither do or did I.

[ObozoMustGo2012]

LOL!!! Hancock was an awesome movie!

[gunnyg]

Sam Spade was a black man!

Played by Bogart, etc. I think....got an article somewhere...

Raio, maybe TV too........???

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Sorry. BS.

Marvel started in 1939 as Timely Publications.

The Marvel branding began 1961. The first superheroes under that name were The Fantastic Four.