We are in an age where representation is finally being fought for. We are starting to see a slow turn from white, male-centric stories to seeing stories lead by women and people of color. So I thought that it would be a good time to take a look back at the firsts for superhero representation in the world of comic books.
1. Sheena Queen of the Jungle
Published by Fiction House Primarily and created by Will Eisner and Jerry Iger, Sheena Queen of the Jungle made her first appearance in Wags issue #1 in 1937. She had the ability to communicate with wild animals and was proficient with knives, spears, and bows. Sheena was essentially the female version of Tarzan. She then got an 18-issue spin-off, Sheena, Queen of the Jungle in the spring of 1942 to the winter of 1952. It was the first comic book to title-star a female character.
2. Black Panther
Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 in July 1966. He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. T’Challa is the king and protector of Wakanda. He possesses enhanced abilities provided by drinking the essence of a heart-shaped herb. He also relies on his proficiency in science, physical training, hand-to-hand combat, and his access to Wakanda’s advanced technology. He is the first mainstream comic hero of African descent, predating other Black superheroes like Falcon, Luke Cage Blade, and John Stewart by several years.
3. Northstar
Northstar was the first major character to come out as gay in comics. Created by Marvel comics in 1979, Northstar began as a member of the original Alpha Flight superhero team. Northstar’s sexual identity was hinted at briefly in the 7th and 8th issues of Alpha Flight in 1983, but he was finally revealed as gay in Alpha Flight issue #106 in 1992.
However, we also have to acknowledge the same-sex relationship between Marvel’s Mystique and Destiny which was implied and then somewhat confirmed in 1990 through the use of the word “leman,” which means lover or sweetheart. Their relationship was officially confirmed in 2001.
4. Firebrand
Premiering in Police Comics #1 in August of 1941, the character Firebrand was introduced by Quality Comics. He wore a transparent or pink shirt over his bare chest. In All-Star Squadron #5 published in 1981, Roy Thoman wrote dialogue that suggested Firebrand had been involved in a same-sex relationship with his sidekick Slugger Dunn. Sure, most of the setup used homosexual stereotypes, but given the time it was written, it was a big first.
Now of course there are many more firsts in comics for characters from marginalized communities
But, some of them are a bit more difficult to track. There will absolutely be a part two to this article with more superhero firsts, but for now we remember Sheena, T’Challa, Northstar, and Firebrand as heroes who first gained ground for the underrepresented.
Comments are closed.