Black Superheroes

African-American superheroes in film, TV and comic books.

Black Lightning - Black Lightning exists in the D.C. Universe and has been featured in several D.C. comic books, TV shows and cartoon movies but has yet to be in a movie of his own. He was the power to harness lightning and use it as a weapon. (Photo: DC Comics)

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Black Lightning - Black Lightning exists in the D.C. Universe and has been featured in several D.C. comic books, TV shows and cartoon movies but has yet to be in a movie of his own. He was the power to harness lightning and use it as a weapon. (Photo: DC Comics)

Photo By Photo: DC Comics

Cyborg - Cyborg is a member of both the Justice League and the Teen Titans and has appeared in several D.C. Universe comics, TV shows and animated movies. He was badly injured in an accident as a child and was given robotic limbs to survive.  (Photo: DC Comics)

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Cyborg - Cyborg is a member of both the Justice League and the Teen Titans and has appeared in several D.C. Universe comics, TV shows and animated movies. He was badly injured in an accident as a child and was given robotic limbs to survive.  (Photo: DC Comics)

Green Lantern/John Stewart - John Stewart replaced Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern in the D.C. Universe and inherited all the magical powers of his ring. The Black Green Lantern has been featured in several Justice League comics and cartoons as well as Superman and Static Shock cartoons. (Photo: DC Comics)

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Green Lantern/John Stewart - John Stewart replaced Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern in the D.C. Universe and inherited all the magical powers of his ring. The Black Green Lantern has been featured in several Justice League comics and cartoons as well as Superman and Static Shock cartoons. (Photo: DC Comics)

Steel - Steel was a disciple of Superman and lived in the D.C. Universe. His name was John Henry Irons and he was based on Black mythical figure John Henry. He was played by Shaquille O'Neal in a 1997 movie. (Photo: Warner Bros.)

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Steel - Steel was a disciple of Superman and lived in the D.C. Universe. His name was John Henry Irons and he was based on Black mythical figure John Henry. He was played by Shaquille O'Neal in a 1997 movie. (Photo: Warner Bros.)

Bishop - Bishop is a time traveling mutant with the power to absorb and rechannel energy. He has been featured in several X-Men comics, and TV shows as well as other comics from the Marvel Universe. (Photo: Marvel Comics)

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Bishop - Bishop is a time traveling mutant with the power to absorb and rechannel energy. He has been featured in several X-Men comics, and TV shows as well as other comics from the Marvel Universe. (Photo: Marvel Comics)

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Black Panther - Black Panther is the first Black superhero in mainstream American comics, debuting several years before the Falcon, Luke Cage and Green Lantern. While there has been no Black Panther film as yet, Wesley Snipes was in talks to play the hero for over a decade. Marvel Comics has confirmed that a Black Panther movie is currently in development with Chadwick Boseman playing the lead role and Ryan Coogler in the director's chair. Michael B. Jordan is also confirmed to be a main part of the cast.   (Photo: Marvel Comics)

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Black Panther - Black Panther is an African prince from the fictitious country of Wakanda. He has superhuman and mystical abilities as well as a vibranium suit and claws. He had his own cartoon on BET and has been featured in several Marvel comics, TV shows and animated movies. (Photo: Marvel Comics)

Wesley Snipes - More than becoming an action star,  Wesley Snipes became the first African-American to land a hit action hero film franchise when he landed the lead role in the successful Blade series. As Blade, a superhero based on the Marvel Comics character, Snipes played a human-vampire hybrid out to protect humans from vampires. (Photo: New Line Cinema)

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Blade - Blade is half vampire and a skilled martial artist who hunts other vampires. Blade was played by Wesley Snipes in three movies and has had his own comic and cartoon in the Marvel Universe. (Photo: New Line Cinema)

Falcon - Falcoln grew up in Harlem and became a community activist after losing both parents to violence. He has the powers to control birds, can fly and is trained in martial arts. Falcon has appeared in several Captain America comics and will be played by Anthony Mackie in the upcoming movie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. hoto: Marvel Comics)

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Falcon - Falcoln grew up in Harlem and became a community activist after losing both parents to violence. He has the powers to control birds, can fly and is trained in martial arts. Falcon has appeared in several Captain America comics and will be played by Anthony Mackie in the upcoming movie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. hoto: Marvel Comics)

Meteor Man - Robert Townsend starred in Meteor Man as a mild-mannered man who is given super powers by a meteor. Among his many powers was the ability to read a whole book by touching it. (Photo: MGM)

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Meteor Man - Robert Townsend starred in Meteor Man as a mild-mannered man who is given super powers by a meteor. Among his many powers was the ability to read a whole book by touching it. (Photo: MGM)

Blankman - Blankman was an action/comedy movie starring Damon Wayans as a nerdy repairman who creates his own superpowered outfit to fight crime. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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Blankman - Blankman was an action/comedy movie starring Damon Wayans as a nerdy repairman who creates his own superpowered outfit to fight crime. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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Halle Berry in X-Men - Who knew talking about the weather could be this interesting? As Ororo Monroe, a.k.a Storm, a Harlem-born, Cairo-raised daughter of Kenyan immigrants, Berry's character plays a superhero with a seemingly mundane power: controlling the weather. Anyone who has lived through a nor'easter or superstorm knows how potent that power can be.  (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

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Storm - Storm is half Kenyan and half African-American and grew up all over Africa. She has the power to harness the weather and has appeared in several X-Men comics, cartoons and video games. She was played by Halle Berry in three X-Men movies. (Photo: 20th Century Fox Pictures)

Luke Cage - The Marvel Universe franchise stands as one of the largest arenas for superheroes in this decade. Particularly, Black superheroes are steadily getting a larger lens to showcase their skills.The most recent Black superhero to be given the superstar treatment is Luke Cage, a streetwise youth born and raised in Harlem. The man who would become Luke Cage was sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. Once out of prison, he became a "hero for hire," a sort of super-enhanced private detective. Today, his story was brought to life in a Netflix original series, with Mike Colter playing the main role. The series has received rave reviews.   (Photo: Marvel Comics)

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Luke Cage - Luke Cage was born in Harlem and was falsely incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. In exchange for early release, Cage let the government turn him into a superhero with skin of steel and super strength. (Photo: Marvel Comics)

Afro Samurai - Afro Samurai is a Black Japanese warrior out to avenge the death of his father. He had his own Japanese Manga comic book and a show on Spike TV that used the voice of Samuel Jackson and music from The RZA. (Photo: Spike TV)

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Afro Samurai - Afro Samurai is a Black Japanese warrior out to avenge the death of his father. He had his own Japanese Manga comic book and a show on Spike TV that used the voice of Samuel Jackson and music from The RZA. (Photo: Spike TV)

Nick Fury - Nick Fury heads the organization S.H.I.EL.D., which works closely with the Avengers in the comics, cartoons and movies. With a power that stops him from aging, Fury's true strengths are his weapons and his leadership skills. He has been played by Samuel Jackson in several Marvel movies, including The Avengers. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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Nick Fury - Nick Fury heads the organization S.H.I.EL.D., which works closely with the Avengers in the comics, cartoons and movies. With a power that stops him from aging, Fury's true strengths are his weapons and his leadership skills. He has been played by Samuel Jackson in several Marvel movies, including The Avengers. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

Halle Berry - At the 25th annual Razzie Awards, Halle Berry proved what a good sport she is by proudly accepting her Worst Actress prize for her starring role in Catwoman.(Photo: Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures)

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Catwoman - While Catwoman is mostly seen as a villain, she was a hero in a movie starring Halle Berry. Halle is not the first African-American woman to play Catwoman, as Eartha Kitt played the role on the '60s Batman TV show. (Photo: Warner Bros.)

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Kendra Young - Kendra Young was a vampire slayer from Jamaica who appeared in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic books, books and TV show where she was played by Bianca Lawson. (Photo: WB)

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Kendra Young - Kendra Young was a vampire slayer from Jamaica who appeared in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic books, books and TV show where she was played by Bianca Lawson. (Photo: WB)

The Brown Hornet - The Brown Hornet was the favorite cartoon of the guys on Bill Cosby's Fat Albert show. He would travel around space battling evil doers and teaching lessons in morality. (Photo: CBS)

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The Brown Hornet - The Brown Hornet was the favorite cartoon of the guys on Bill Cosby's Fat Albert show. He would travel around space battling evil doers and teaching lessons in morality. (Photo: CBS)

Nikki Wood - Nikki Wood was a vampire slayer in New York City during the '70s. She was played by the beautiful KD Aubert on the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. (Photo: WB)

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Nikki Wood - Nikki Wood was a vampire slayer in New York City during the '70s. She was played by the beautiful KD Aubert on the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. (Photo: WB)

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Undercover Brother - Undercover Brother is a pro-Black superhero and a member of the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. Eddie Griffin starred as Undercover Brother in a movie based on the original web series. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Static Shock - Static Shock was created by the late, great Dwayne McDuffie. A teenager with the power to harness energy, Static has appeared in several comic books and had his own show. (Photo: WB)

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Static Shock - Static Shock was created by the late, great Dwayne McDuffie. A teenager with the power to harness energy, Static has appeared in several comic books and had his own show. (Photo: WB)