First Black Batman Will Appear On The Pages Of DC Comics

Throughout the years, comic books have reflected and paralleled, through fantasy, the growing changes in society. And while companies like Marvel have led the pack when it comes to diverse array of characters, DC Comics is now also adding a bit of diversity to its lineup of iconic Batman comics, announcing that it will now feature the first ever black character to don the trademark cap and cowl of Batman in the new comic, Batwing #1.

According to IGN, who broke the news earlier this month, Batwing will be written by Judd Winick and illustrated by Ben Oliver and will be set in Africa as the title’s lead character, an African, will take on the role of the Batman of Africa.

According to Batman group editor, Mike Marts, Batwing #1 will act as the lead title in DC’s new lineup of diverse Batman comics.

“Batwing #1 is a series that spins right out of Grant Morrison’s Batman Incorporated story line. This is the first time that we have an in-continuity black character wearing the Batman costume,” said Batman group editor Mike Marts. “Grant has provided us with so many new characters and concepts. He’s really just been a fountain of ideas and energy for the Batman group of titles. We have so many different cool things to choose from what Grant creates, and we go with what we think is going to provide readers with the most story and the most excitement. And with this, Batwing won out.”

With an African Batman hitting the comic world soon, perhaps we’re not that far away from seeing a black Batman in TV or film. Batwing #1 hits newsstands this September. –nicholas robinson

While I am pleased to see this, the character of Batman has been around since 1939.  Since his first introduction in Detective Comics #27 in May of that year, there have been many incarnations of the popular character, and yet it has taken DC Comics 72 years to create an ethnic Batman.  It will be interesting to see the reception the comic receives.

On that same note, I do have to say that DC comics did create two of my favorite Black comic book characters ever with Static Shock and Cyborg.  Hopefully they will continue to create ORIGINAL ethnic characters, even though they seem far and in-between...

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