
20 Black Superheroes We'd Love To See In Film
Marvel and DC Comics are proposing to take the best of the best off the page and place them on the IMAX screen for all to enjoy. The characters on this list are those we feel have equally excelled at whatever it is that they do best and are just as box office worthy as a Superman or Iron Man.
Our hope is that you enjoy this list and possibly campaign to get some of these projects green lit.

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1. Wonder Woman of Earth 23 —
Named Nubia, she was Wonder Woman's pre-Crisis twin sister, who also laid claim to the title of Wonder Woman. The hero of Earth-23 would relate to millions of cinephiles who want to see themselves big, black and bold on the big screen. Hollywood could cast Beyonce Knowles as the lead actress. She was trying to audition during her half-time performance, no?!
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2. The Spectre —
Movies about a spirit seeking vengeance have been done before. But none centering around an African-American ghost. After Detective Crispus Allen is murdered and an element known as the Presence forces the vigilante ghost into his body, The Spectre walks the Earth again. The film would follow his agnostic battle against accepting the spooky spirit while he tries to achieve justice for his murder at the hands of Jim Corrigan.
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3. The Crimson Avenger —
There's not too many African-American heroines that have found major time on the big screen. Jill Carlyle would make a great addition to that list. As the inheritor of the cursed Colt pistols from the first Crimson Avenger, Carlyle uses them to exact vengeance upon an unknown criminal. Her story of vengeance and redemption results in an adventure that follows Carlyle, as the Crimson Avenger, tracking down and killing those who have taken an innocent life. An extra freaky additive to make this into a big budget film would be the nerdgasm/fanboy points Hollywood would receive for getting that ever-bleeding bullet hole that appears on her chest past censors.
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4. Afro Samurai —
There has already been two screen appearances which featured the wayward warrior: 2007's 5-episode anime TV series and 2009's made-for-TV movie sequel entitled Afro Samurai: Resurrection. The character itself has "Emmy" written all over it, but creating a live-action movie would be epic. It doesn't even have to go that far to make an impact because the animated has equally proven to be worth cinephiles attention. But if there is any validity to take away from the 2006 Comic-Con where it was said that a live-action version of Afro Samurai was in the making then it is a project that we'd happily keep our eye out for.
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5. Tyrone Cash —
Did you know that there was a force stronger than the Hulk before Bruce Banner? In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Dr. Leonard Williams, a Cambridge University professor and family man, was not going to let his disability be the crutch in his life. It was said that a young Bruce Banner even became Prof. WIlliams' "mentee" and taught him "everything he knows." Which is why a movie chronicling Williams, his unexplained disappearance, and his evolution into Tyrone Cash would make for a dope blockbuster picture. As Tyrone Cash, Williams' gets to tell the bad Black Hulk's tale and comic fans would enjoy a chance to see the first Hulk take on War Machine.
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6. Nick Fury —
Traditionally, S.H.I.E.L.D. head honcho Nick Fury has been portrayed as an Italian-American. David Hasselhoff even played him in a campy B-movie film. It wasn't until the Ultimate Marvel universe was created that General Fury received an upgrade. His look and personality was tailored after actor Samuel L. Jackson and has been personally played by the high grossing thespian in most of Marvel's big blockbuster films. Making a stand-alone film a necessity for the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent with the eye-patch.
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7. Misty Knight —
A definition of a strong Black woman, Misty Knight first made her appearance in 1975's Marvel Premiere. Originally depicted as a bionically enhanced detective with martial arts skills were strongly influenced by the Blaxploitation and Kung Fu crazes of the 1970s. For a while Knight was a strong supporter of the X-Men, but placing her in a film such as the possible upcoming Heroes For Hire will be a great step forward in championing female heroines on film.
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8. David Zavimbe —
Christopher Nolan left a lot of possibilities open when he ended the Batman series. One hopeful conclusion could be that Bruce Wayne, no stranger to faking his own death, has set up shop in the Motherland of Africa to bring his brand of vigilante justice to the larger world. Announcing Batman Incorporated would not only allow the world to see an purebred African being a hero, but it would change the perception that only "certain" people are made for greatness.
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9. Aqualad —
After two successful appearances on the small screen (Teen Titans, Young Justice), Black Manta's son is worthy of a stand alone picture aimed at the teen/tween market. He is not like Aquaman, Kaldur is a true swordfish and an action picture introducing him could open up the DC Comics' film universe to bring the rest of his stellar team members onto the big screen.
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10. War Machine —
When Terrence Howard played Tony Stark's BFF in Iron Man, he hinted to a future possibility donning the War Machine armor. We all know what happened to him and Don Cheadle has successfully taken the reigns as James Rhodes. With Marvel beginning its Phase 2 initiative, it would be great for Jon Favreau to hop back into the director's chair and give War Machine a few side missions of his own. One possible idea can be taken from the storyline used in Iron Man 2 ("Demon in a Bottle") which finds Rhodes taking up the role of Iron Man as Tony recovers from his bout of alcoholism.
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11. Blade —
Three movies under his belt and Blade is still going strong as one of the most popular Black characters in comics and one of the baddest vampires ever created. His last film did pretty well at the box office and with a release date coming soon from the project's star, Wesley Snipes, and it seems as if there is a home for him at Marvel Studios. The comic juggernaut is proposing bringing Doctor Strange to the big screen, and it would be fitting to see Blade and The Nightstalkers alongside him fighting evil once again.
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12. Bishop —
Audiences may get a chance to see this futuristic X-Men character in the upcoming Days of Future Past sequel to First Class. But until then, Bishop still serves as proof that Black people are still around in the centuries to come. A member of Xavier's Security Enforcers, a film starring the brash anti-hero could be a boon for those fans hoping for more X-cellent material to see at the movies. Bishop is one of the most powerful mutants to ever grace the pages of the Marvel Universe, and would be a great project to put in the works.
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13. Spawn —
Everyone felt that the first film starring Spawn could have been done better. The campy, cheesy graphics and paint-by-numbers storyline paled in comparison to the meaty subjects tackled in both the comic and the HBO TV series. With advances in CGI and casting, Michael Jai White should reprise his role as the tormented soul and bring Spawn back to cineplexes around the globe.
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14. Storm —
Whether or not you enjoyed Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe, there's no doubt that Storm needs her own movie. The wealth of canon she contains is a treasure to anyone willing to tackle the screenplay. Her marriage to the Black Panther, separation from Charles Xavier and the X-Men, or her involvement with the Morlocks are all super tales that should be shared on the IMAX screen.
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15. Miles Morales —
With the election of President Barack Obama some interesting changes happened in comic books. One of them was the death of longtime Marvel hero, Peter Parker, ending the reign of Spider-Man. The next was the creation of Miles Morales, a teenager of African American and Latino descent, who would take his place. While many are hyped about the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man sequel, creating a role about and for the Black and Brown community could do well to encourage millions to accept the hard reality that Peter Parker isn't the "ultimate" arachnid in town.
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16. Black Panther —
T'Challa is the King of Wakanda and is everyone's first draft pick when it comes to a battle in the Marvel universe. Strong, agile, intelligent and a proven warrior, the Black Panther would make for a great picture in Marvel's Phase 3 initiative. There's already been talk of this project getting off the ground and serving as the comic book juggernaut's batch of stand-alone films, but our hope is that the Wakandan royale could suit up alongside Earth's Mightiest Heroes for Avengers 3.
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17. Wayne Williams —
What happens when one of the comic industry's great creators gets his hand on another valued property? In Just Imagine's Stan Lee's Batman, the legendary illustrator creates his own take on the Dark Knight featuring Wayne Williams as the strips tragic lead. While the tale mirrors that of the original, taking Stan Lee's version and placing it on the big screen could help fans prepare for the fourth phase of comic book movies which means "crossover" films. X-Men vs. Justice League perhaps?!
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18. Connor Hawke —
The son of Green Arrow Oliver Queen and his former girlfriend Sandra "Moonday" Hawke, Connor would also make for a great project for the tween/teen market. Add Jaden Smith's name to the role and watch archery prices skyrocket with the addition.
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19. Static Shock —
Doused with an experimental chemical in a gang war he was caught up in, high school student Virgil Ovid Hawkins gains a variety of electromagnetic powers and becomes a costumed crusader against crime. Created by the late Dwayne McDuffie, Robert L. Washington III and John Paul Leon, a picture about the DC Comics / Teen Titans hero would be epic to see as all fans of electromagnetism have to look forward to is Magneto (X-Men: Days of Future Past) and Electro (Jamie Foxx, The Amazing Spider-Man 2).
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20. Luke Cage —
Isaiah Mustafa and Tyrese Gibson have both campaigned to play the role of streetwise youth turned superhero. The Heroes For Hire epic Marvel film could be a sort of super-enhance private detective story. Adding the Iron Fist into the mix would mean two characters who are highly deserving of a feature film would finally be introduced to the mainstream.The Vibe Mix Newsletter
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