Super black : American pop culture and black superheroes

201 Pages·2011·102.052 MB·English

by  Nama, Adilifu

SUPER BLACK
Nama Book1.indb i 7/18/11 12:53 PM
Univer sit y of Texas Press Austin
Nama Book1.indb ii 7/18/11 12:53 PM
A d i l i f u N a m a
K
C
A
L
B
R
E
P
U
S
AAMMEERRIICCAANN PPOOPP CCUULLTTUURREE AANNDD BBLLAACCKK SSUUPPEERRHHEERROOEESS
Nama Book1.indb iii 7/18/11 12:53 PM
Copyright © 2011 by University of Texas Press
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
First edition, 2011
Requests for permission to reproduce material from this work should be sent to:
Permissions
University of Texas Press
P.O. Box 7819
Austin, TX 78713–7819
www.utexas.edu/utpress/about/bpermission.html
∞ Th e paper used in this book meets the minimum requirements of ANSI/NISO
Z39.48–1992 (R1997) (Permanence of Paper).
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Nama, Adilifu, 1969–
Super black : American pop culture and black superheroes / Adilifu Nama. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-292-72654-3 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-292-72674-1 (pbk. : alk.
paper) — ISBN 978-0-292-73545-3 (e-book)
1. Comic books, strips, etc.—Social aspects—United States. 2. Superheroes.
3. African Americans in literature. 4. African Americans in art. 5. Popular culture—
United States. I. Title.
PN6725.N32 2011
700'.452—dc23 2011019004
Nama Book1.indb iv 7/18/11 12:54 PM
To my mother Marquett a Suvenia Bivens, the only superhero
I have ever had the privilege of knowing
Nama Book1.indb v 7/18/11 12:54 PM
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ix
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
CHAPTER 1. Color Th em Black. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
CHAPTER 2. Birth of the Cool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
CHAPTER 3. Friends and Lovers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
CHAPTER 4. Att ack of the Clones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
CHAPTER 5. For Reel? Black Superheroes Come to Life. . . . . . . 126
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Nama Book1.indb vii 7/18/11 12:54 PM
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I must thank those who have provided timely advice, steadfast support, and
engaged interest during the lengthy and time-consuming process of bring-
ing a book to a conclusion. Th anks go out to Sohail Daulatzai and his brother
Yusef for the much-needed, deep discussions about basketball that allowed me
to clear my mind for each successive stage of this book. I give much thanks
to Casey Kitt rell for his humor and professionalism in answering a variety of
inquiries and technical riddles. A hearty thank you goes to Victoria Davis for
her editorial direction and Laura Griffi n for her insightful and clarifying copy-
editing. I have to make a special point of recognition for Jim Burr, my spon-
soring editor at the University of Texas Press. His commitment, openness, and
appreciation of the superhero comic book and fi lm genres were invaluable as
the book went from idea, working draft , and fi nal manuscript to done deal. He
is a master editorial juggler.
Well-deserved thanks go out to George Huang and his staff over at Comics
Factory in Pasadena, California. Sean Jackson pointed me in the right direc-
tion, and Kris Zaycher was particularly helpful, with his insights and informa-
tion that kept me up to date with the mercurial world of comic book characters.
In addition, Aaron Johnson and Gene Coty, Jr., facilitated completion of this
project with their technical know-how. Lastly, I would be all talk and my ideas a
fi gment of a vivid imagination without my beloved Tamu, Nia, and Nizam. Your
cheer, smiles, patience, and reluctant willingness to let me “woodshed on the
piece” made all the diff erence.
Nama Book1.indb ix 7/18/11 12:54 PM