Miles Morales Breaks Marvel's Color Bar

[Balfro]

Miles Morales as Spider-Man & Batwing break Marvel / DC Comics Color Bar

Good little video highlighting what makes Ultimate Spider-Man and Batwing so great compared to other books with black leading characters.

[Daybreak_st]

I'm curious if Miles was always planned as Half-black, half-latio or if that was a later addition. Just based on his look alone I would assume he wasn't mixed. It's only his mom and his last name that indicate his mixed ancestry. I wonder if Pichelli had full control over his look or if she was given any specific direction on how to make him look "mixed". I'm loving the comic so far as stated but I do question, since it's a point of interest that he has mixed ancestry why not illustrate it a little better, either based on his skin tone or a little tweaking in his features maybe.

[Darman456]

I think his skin is a little lighter than one of my friend's at school. My other friend who is half-African American and half-white, has about the same color texture of Miles Morales. I think Pichelli handled the color of his skin fine. Anyway, I was watching a Miles Vignette for SHSO and I realized something. He's the only Spider-Man to show his face. Does anyone else think that MARVEL did this on purpose to try to show off the diversity of Spider-Man? I mean, I'm actually a little mad that they treat it like such a big deal. It shouldn't be. AT ALL. If every Spider-Man showed his face, I'd be fine with it but it seems MARVEL is trying to really show off his different ethnicity to the world.

[MrV]

I'm curious if Miles was always planned as Half-black, half-latio or if that was a later addition. Just based on his look alone I would assume he wasn't mixed. It's only his mom and his last name that indicate his mixed ancestry. I wonder if Pichelli had full control over his look or if she was given any specific direction on how to make him look "mixed". I'm loving the comic so far as stated but I do question, since it's a point of interest that he has mixed ancestry why not illustrate it a little better, either based on his skin tone or a little tweaking in his features maybe.

Realistically, some mixed heritage kids, specially with African American genes, don't show much of their other ancestry in their features. That's how it happened with my cousin. She is half black/latina but most of her features are of a black person since those genes tend to be the most dominant in her genome.

[Daybreak_st]

Realistically, some mixed heritage kids, specially with African American genes, don't show much of their other ancestry in their features. That's how it happened with my cousin. She is half black/latina but most of her features are of a black person since those genes tend to be the most dominant in her genome.

Well I'm black and have a few mixed cousins and they have a unique look. A few months ago I illustrated a custom comic for a kid that was mixed and again it's readily apparent. Usually it's the skin tone that's a little lighter or the features, at least one thing that makes them look uniquely mixed. Even within my family my brother and sister and lighter than me and none of us are mixed. I'm not dissing them for his design, but it almost seems like an afterthought. Like they decided to make him black and designed him as such, then later decided him mom would be Hispanic so miles would in fact be mixed. I'm just wondering and it's not that dig a deal but it does make me wonder. Comics are so generic anyway in terms of art, it's easy for characters to lose what distinguishes them. I would think with that in mind if I am specifically creating a character of mixed ancestry then I'm going to make sure that comes across visually as much as possible.

Here's a few examples:







It's either hair, skin tone, or a specific feature like eye color that can be used to distinguish someone as having mixed ancestry. From an artist stand point it seems like something that would've been smart to employee. That way it would be obvious to the casual observer. You wouldn't have to be told that he's mixed, it would be readily apparent. As it is someone who didn't hear all the hype around the character and just sees and image would think "oh the new spider-man is black" which is fine. But if you're going out of your way to emphasize how diverse he is then why not show it instead of tell it.

[Daybreak_st]

I think his skin is a little lighter than one of my friend's at school. My other friend who is half-African American and half-white, has about the same color texture of Miles Morales. I think Pichelli handled the color of his skin fine. Anyway, I was watching a Miles Vignette for SHSO and I realized something. He's the only Spider-Man to show his face. Does anyone else think that MARVEL did this on purpose to try to show off the diversity of Spider-Man? I mean, I'm actually a little mad that they treat it like such a big deal. It shouldn't be. AT ALL. If every Spider-Man showed his face, I'd be fine with it but it seems MARVEL is trying to really show off his different ethnicity to the world.

I do think they wanted to show people "hey look this spidey isn't the same guy under the mask". But that was just on a few covers right?

[MrV]

Well I'm black and have a few mixed cousins and they have a unique look. A few months ago I illustrated a custom comic for a kid that was mixed and again it's readily apparent. Usually it's the skin tone that's a little lighter or the features, at least one thing that makes them look uniquely mixed. Even within my family my brother and sister and lighter than me and none of us are mixed. I'm not dissing them for his design, but it almost seems like an afterthought. Like they decided to make him black and designed him as such, then later decided him mom would be Hispanic so miles would in fact be mixed. I'm just wondering and it's not that dig a deal but it does make me wonder. Comics are so generic anyway in terms of art, it's easy for characters to lose what distinguishes them. I would think with that in mind if I am specifically creating a character of mixed ancestry then I'm going to make sure that comes across visually as much as possible.

Here's a few examples:

Must I reiterate I said SOME mixed heritage kids? And how my cousin was the exception to what you mentioned? Overall, with Miles it doesn't matter as long as they don't use him as a gimmick token character and he becomes a competent Spidey, which he isn't yet.

He is undeniably adorable though, specially in #6-7 when he is afraid of heights and he cheers at beating Omega Red.

[Daybreak_st]

Must I reiterate I said SOME mixed heritage kids? And how my cousin was the exception to what you mentioned? Overall, with Miles it doesn't matter as long as they don't use him as a gimmick token character and he becomes a competent Spidey, which he isn't yet.

He is undeniably adorable though, specially in #6-7 when he is afraid of heights and he cheers at beating Omega Red.

Oh i completely understand that, about your cousin, I'm not trying to be argumentative or anything. Just wondering why visually it's not more obvious, that's all. Thanks for your thoughts too. And yeah I agree I'm liking miles, especially that fight with Omega Red. He's a fun character.

[skyvolt2000]

Miles Morales as Spider-Man & Batwing break Marvel / DC Comics Color Bar

Good little video highlighting what makes Ultimate Spider-Man and Batwing so great compared to other books with black leading characters.

They would have just done better saying-Miles and Batwing are doing well because they have talented folks that care for the characters doing them versus the mess (and general hate by DC fans) Static was and the joke Mr. Terrific (considering what show Wallace worked on).

If you want to compare them-at least make it clear why Static was a trainwreck versus the other two. They said no one knows who Static is? I guess they never watched tv from 2000-04.

[Darman456]

I do think they wanted to show people "hey look this spidey isn't the same guy under the mask". But that was just on a few covers right?

And on Super Hero Squad Online, when hanging upside down, he reveals himself. No other Spidey does that, not even 2099. Which seems to me like MARVEL is trying to say "Hey! We have a BLACK Spidey!"

[Chaos_Alfa]

And on Super Hero Squad Online, when hanging upside down, he reveals himself. No other Spidey does that, not even 2099. Which seems to me like MARVEL is trying to say "Hey! We have a BLACK Spidey!"

They could also be saying "Hey! We have a new Spider-Man who isn't Peter Parker!"

[transvestitegod]

There is nothing impressive about "colored" characters.

Call me when Marvel has "colored" WRITERS working on top-tier books, then I'll say some kind of "color bar" has been broken.

[MrV]

There is nothing impressive about "colored" characters.

Call me when Marvel has "colored" WRITERS working on top-tier books, then I'll say some kind of "color bar" has been broken.

Or a "colored" FEMALE writer.

[Time_to_Zap]

Or a "colored" FEMALE writer.

Perhaps a "colored" writer who WASN'T heterosexual?

[MrV]

Perhaps a "colored" writer who WASN'T heterosexual?

That too. In fact, some indigenous people highly respect homosexuals because they believe them to be the most complete people since they are said to possess the perspective of both genders. A homosexual writer would be most likely to get characterization of both men and women right than a heterosexual one.