Father’s day is always one of mixed emotions. It’s been twenty two years since my dad died. There is so much I never got to say, so many unresolved questions, so many experiences unshared. I remember vividly however the comics he would buy for me, one of our few common grounds. I have shared them with my own kids. My father and I were not close by any means but I see him every day when I look in the mirror, how I walk and I hear his voice when I talk. There is no escaping the shadow of the person who lives in your veins, no matter how hard you try. Embrace it, learn from it and be the best father you possibly can for your own children.
If you love your children, pay the bills/child support, play with them, laugh with them, teach them how to survive in this crazy world, wipe their tears, share their tears, listen to their problems, solve their problems, fight their battles, have them draw from your strength, teach them to be strong…do the very best you can…then…Happy father’s day! It’s an ungrateful job but do it because you must, because it’s your responsibility and you have a bigger impact than even you realize…
Below are some black superhero dads that you should know both good and bad…
- Black Lightning
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden
1st appearance: Black Lightning #1, April 1977
Jefferson Michael Pierce is a teacher and Olympic medal winning decathlete, metahuman able to control and manipulate electricity. He is popularly regarded by his superhuman peers as the first black Superhero. Over the course of his career he’s been a founding member of the outsiders, secretary of education for the United States and also had two daughters who continue his heroic legacy as Thunder and Lightning. During the new 52 reboot he is a college teacher partnered with Blue Devil facing down street level threats with no family in sight. Alongside his daughters he also appeared in a series of short animated cartoons that failed to really get traction or media attention but he found mainstream popularity on the CW’s “Black Lightning” series with his daughters. You can’t say Black Superhero dad without Black Lightning!
~DIG DEEPER INTO BLACK LIGHTNING HERE~
- Malcolm Dragon
Publisher: Image Comics
Created by: Erik Larsen
1st appearance: Savage Dragon #33, 1996
Born to superheroes Savage Dragon and Rapture he entered the world prematurely but thanks to his alien DNA was just as healthy as many full term babies. Abducted and grown in an alternate dimension he returned and took over the mantle of Savage Dragon from his father and impregnated his high school sweetheart Maxine, stepsister Angel and ex-girlfriend Tierra after a routine foursome. Instead of fleeing however he married Maxine and together they took care of all the kids as their own. Malcolm and his family are currently enjoying life as a celebrity superhero couple along where their misadventures have taken them to Canada…oh and they just welcomed a brand new baby girl recently! It’s not easy being a responsible young superhero dad!
~DIG DEEPER INTO MALCOLM DRAGON HERE~
- David Munroe
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Chris Claremont
1st appearance: X-men 102, 1976
David fell in love with Africa while a child traveling with his parents. As a young man he attended the University of Kenya and met Princess N’Dare. They fell in love and wed soon after. They left Africa to live in America where their daughter Ororo Munroe/Storm was born. While in America the civil unrest scared his wife and so they returned to Africa while Ororo was still a baby. Six years after moving back to Africa him and his wife were killed in a bombing.
- Luke Cage
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Archie Goodwin and John Romita Sr
1st appearance: Luke Cage, Hero for hire #1, 1972
Luke Cage, wrongly convicted and unjustly imprisoned, was altered in a failed prison experiment that granted him bulletproof skin and super-human strength. Recently he has been a member of and led Earths Mightiest Heroes; The Avengers as well as the Thunderbolts program for reformed villains. Luke also starred in the Marvel Netflix series before they were
~DIG DEEPER INTO LUKE CAGE HERE~
- Burnum Bishop
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Duane Swierczynski and Larry Stroman
First Appearance: X-men the Life and Times of Lucas Bishop #1, 2009
Burnum was a mutant born to the mutant Gateway and his mutant wife in Australia. He grew up and developed mutant abilities as well and married fellow mutant Kadee. Sometime after Hope Summers killed a million humans Australia was bombed in a nuclear blast so he fled to America with his wife Kadee who was pregnant with their first child Lucas Bishop. Upon arriving in America they were attacked by Sentinels and sent to a mutant concentration Camp. Here his wife gave birth to his son. His relationship with his wife Kadee strained as she integrated with her fellow prisoners while he took care of his son and welcomed daughter Shard. When the summer’s rebellion began he was vaporized while protecting his son.
~DIG DEEPER INTO BURNUM BISHOP HERE~
- Norris
Publisher: Aspen MLT
Created by: Michael Turner and J. T Krul
1st appearance: Soul Fire: Chaos Reigns #1,
Noris was the husband of Delna, Father of Miya and the chief of his village. His son Oshin died while hunting and while it was not customary to teach women to hunt he indulged his daughter, reasoning that predators would not distinguish between men and women when killing them. He lost his wife one night in the first attack by demons. He sought out his wife alongside his daughter and their warriors but was killed once they entered Kaaz’s slave compound
- Black Panther/Tchalla
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
1st appearance: Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966)
T’Challa the Black Panther is the super genius warrior king of the African nation of Wakanda, the most technologically advanced nation on Earth. He is one of the smartest men in comics period. He’s an Avenger, and Storm‘s ex-husband. Black Panther was the first mainstream black Marvel superhero and is currently the “A Box office sensation”. I love his design and without his positive debut back when racism was more blatant writers would never have realized the need for black superheroes in the first place. The Black Panther truly kick-started the revolution! Across time he has fathered many children…
~DIG DEEPER INTO T’CHALLA HERE~
- Amazing Man 1
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordway
1st appearance: All-Star Squadron #23 (July 1983)
Will Everett was a multi-medal winner in the 1936 Berlin
~DIG DEEPER INTO AMAZING MAN HERE~
- King Namor
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Chris Claremont
1st appearance: New Exiles #1, 2008
Born in a world where his father was African American as opposed to Caucasian he has the same past as 616 Namor except he became king of Atlantis at an earlier stage. He rescued Susan Storm from certain death after her spaceship had been bombarded by cosmic rays and battered by asteroids and all her crew mates were killed. This event marked the death of 3 billion people as the asteroids smashed the south Americas into islands, destroyed the Caribbean, destroyed Japan and destroyed England. In the destroyed world he married Susan Storm and was an excellent father to Erin (daughter), Ari (daughter), Johnny (son), Valeria Fen (daughter) and Gambit ( Son).
~DIG DEEPER INTO KING NAMOR HERE~
- Static
Publisher: Milestone Comics
Created by: Denys Cowan, Dwayne McDuffie, Derek Dingle, Christopher Priest and Micheal Davis
1st appearance: Static #1, 1993
Virgil “Static” Hawkins was exposed to a mutagenic gas that swept his city of Dakota, which gave him and other ‘bang babies’ superpowers. With the ability to control electromagnetism, Static joined the Teen Titans and continued to protect his city while serving on the team. During DC Comics new 52 he moved to New York and starred in his own ongoing title which was among the first wave of cancellations. In 2015 he was set to become the star of a live action internet show during the Milestone 2.0 re-launch handled by Reginald Hudlin and Denys Cowan but it never happened. In the future he is a member of the Justice League and the father of Larry Hawkins (Son) and Sadie Hawkins (Daughter) !
~DIG DEEPER INTO VIRGIL OVID HAWKINS HERE~
- Wise son
Publisher: Milestone Media
First Appearance: Blood Syndicate #1, April 1993
Created by: Dwayne McDuffie, Ivan Velez Jr. and Denys Cowan
Wise son was one of the founders of Nur Al-Allah (Lamp of God), the Islamic contingent of the Paris Bloods. Asa gang member in Dakota he was present at the Big Bang event. When the tear gas hit the gangs he was knocked out cold. When he woke up he heard the sirens and fled instinctively. When he discovered he was indestructible he took it as a sign of a ‘holy mission”. With a new lease on life he decided to stay away from the gang life and returned home to his sister. Holocaust hunted him down and threatening his family forced him to join Wise Son’s new gang. He later clashed with Holocaust over leadership of the team; he defeated him and maintained leadership and later saved Icon from an ambush. He also had a son named Edmund.
~DIG DEEPER INTO WISE SON HERE~
- Isaiah Bradley
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Robert Morales (writer), Kyle Baker (artist/inker), Axel Alonso (editor).
1st appearance: Truth: Red, White & Black #1 (January 2003)
When captain America was presumed dead, and the super soldier formula along with him, the Americas tried to re-create said formula so they could have a super soldier again. To this end many African Americans were subjected to experimentation. Of those to survive was Isaiah Bradley an outstanding black soldier and father of one. Isaiah emerged the only viable and successful subject. He managed to stop the Nazi group who tried to create a German super soldier and was captured and tortured by them for months. When he was finally rescued by his American superiors he was court-martialed and jailed. While he was in jail his genetic son was born to a surrogate mother after 39 other attempts had failed. This son would grow up to become Josiah X. His daughter would have a son who would lead the young avengers as Patriot. Bradley is also an underground legend revered by many in the black superhero community, he was a special guest at the wedding of Storm and the Black Panther.
- Jack in the Box 1
Created by: Kurt Busiek
1st appearance: Astro City vol.2 #12, 1997
A gifted black mind growing up in America during the 1960’s, he managed to get a job at Whamco toys. It should be noted a black toy designer in the 60’s was unusual to say the least. Despite being far more skilled and talented than his white peers they paid him half of what their white workers got. By chance one night he was assaulted by a criminal and managed to fight him off. While waiting for the police he realized many of his designs had been incorporated into weapons. When he confronted his bosses at Whamco he was fired for no reason. Customizing some of his designs he worked up a costume and gadgets and became jack in the box, at first to rescue his father and continue his investigation of Whamco and the Mob. He took out the Mob and Whamco, exposing the connection and sending the company into bankruptcy. He later married and had a son, he died when his son was 12 battling the underworld. His son became Jack in the box 2.
- Bishop
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: John Byrne, Jim Lee, and Whilce Portacio
1st appearance: The Uncanny X-Men #282, 1991
Lucas Bishop is a mutant from the 22nd century that traveled into the past, becoming a temporary member of the X-Men. He has the power to channel kinetic energy, releasing it generally through beams of energy. In recent years Bishop betrayed the X-men to kill the mutant messiah Hope Summers and was left stranded in the future. In 2013 he returned to the present in the pages of Uncanny X-force first as a foe and later as an ally. In the alternate future of X-men the End he had a daughter Aaliyah Bishop with Shiar princess Deathbird. After the death of the shiar Royal Family his daughter became empress and him, her chancellor.
- John Stewart
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams
1st appearance: Green Lantern vol. 2 #87 (December 1971)
John Stewart is an architect/Marine who was originally selected by the Guardians to be Hal Jordan’s back up as Green Lantern. John is currently one of the Lanterns guarding sector 2814 and member of the Honor Guard and one half of the latest black power couple alongside Fatality/Yrra Cynril. He’s also noteworthy for being a planet destroyer as a result of destroying both Fatality’s planet and Mogo the living planet. He had a son with Hawkgirl named Warhawk who later joins the future Justice League.
~DIG DEEPER INTO JOHN STEWART HERE~
- CutThroat
Publisher: Image Comics
Created by: Erik Larsen
1st appearance: Savage Dragon #8
Often partnered with Hellrazor he made his first appearance as a member of the
~DIG DEEPER INTO CUTTHROAT HERE~
- Despot
Publisher: Wildstorm Comics
Created by: Steven T. Seagle & Scott Clark
1st appearance: StormWatch Vol 1 #25
Like the tragic tale of Anakin Skywalker in the Prequel Trilogy Isaiah King’s descent into villainy was a tragic tale. He was best described as patriotic man who even marched to Selma with Martin Luther King. From an early age he could tell what others thought instinctively. This skill helped him to become an astronaut, and eventually the clandestine Team One. After he was forcefully taken from his family and had his death faked he was exposed to a radioactive comet which enhanced his abilities to monstrous levels. This boost in power left him more than a little crazy and so the government put him in stasis alongside the Warguard. Years later when he was released he brought the world to the brink of destruction as he unleashed all his might and madness. He was eventually killed by his first born son Jackson King/Battalion but only after seducing his younger son, Strayfe to the dark side. DC Comics now owns the character but like so many before him he’s stuck in comic book limbo.
- Blue Marvel
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Kevin Grevioux
1st appearance: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1 (2009)
The Blue Marvel is an African-American superhero who was asked to retire by President Kennedy for the sake of not making the Civil Rights movement even more violent. Years later after a life of relative peace Blue Marvel is forced out of retirement to face his greatest foe and former best friend, Anti-Man. Despite being one of the most powerful beings on Earth he has been used rarely since his debut in 2009. Recently he has seen re-invigoration as a member of the Mighty Avengers and later the Ultimates where his family has been introduced and his origins have been streamlined to fit into the modern Marvel Universe. His children are Adrienne Brashear (Daughter), Max Brashear (Son), and Kevin Brashear (Son). Though he has power comparable to Thor and Hulk he’s disappointingly not as recognizable.
~DIG DEEPER INTO BLUE MARVEL HERE~
- Lucius Fox
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Len Wein and John Calnan
1st appearance: Batman #307 (January 1979)
Lucius graduated from the Morton School of Business at the top of his class before using his formidable intellect to literally save Atwater Air from bankruptcy which made him one of the most sought after CEO in the world. He was eventually brought in to Wayne Enterprise to save the company from bankruptcy. As the CEO of Wayne
- Shadowman/Josiah Boniface
Publisher: Valiant Comics
Created by: Patrick Zircher and Justin Jordan based on Josiah Torrent
1st appearance: Shadowman #1, 2012
Josiah was friends with a man named Dox in addition to having an extensive criminal record. Josiah as the Shadowman was the arch nemesis of Darque, a very powerful necromancer. During his final battle with Darque before his son Jack was born they both seemingly killed each other, though he played into Darque’s hands by allowing the necromancer to crossover to “Deadside”.
His medallion was passed down to his son and prevented him from becoming the next Shadowman until he discarded it in a fit of rage. Assumed dead he later resurfaces and confronts his son as a villain.
~DIG DEEPER INTO SHADOWMAN HERE~
- Black Manta
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Nick Cardy and Bob Haney
1st appearance: Aquaman #35, 1967
As a child he was captured on a ship where he was subject to torture and routine sexual abuse and molestation. The day his mind snapped however was when he saw a young Aquaman swimming in the ocean. All attempts to gain his attention and thus to save himself were unsuccessful. He fixated on this day as his abuse continued until he vowed revenge on all those who had been party to his suffering. He slaughtered all his attackers one night and set out to make Aquaman pay for not saving him. Unable to best Aquaman he eventually killed his young son Arthur.Jr. When he thought Aquaman was dead he became a local fisherman and had a normal life. When he realized he was alive however the news drove him over the edge once more and he slaughtered all those around him. He then allied with the Xebel forces to find his son Aqualad and kill his enemy. In the finale conflict he cut off Aquaman’s hand before his son used his powers to seal black manta and all of Xebel back into the Bermuda triangle. Easily one of the most recognizable villains on the list thanks to his stint on Young Justice. If Aquaman rivals Superman and Black Manta Rivals Aquaman then Black Manta is a scary villain indeed.
~DIG DEEPER INTO BLACK MANTA HERE~
- Kibuka
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Christopher Priest and Andy Kubert
1st appearance: Black Panther #50 , 2002
A New York City police officer nicknamed “Black Jack” because of how dark his skin was. It is also suggested he once lived in Africa before making life in America. In the US he married Ruth Cole a Jewish woman. Black Jack was well-respected in his community and father the father of Kasper Cole. To his co-workers, community and friends he was a “hero” cop who was a faithful husband and dutiful father who had even the respect of the most cruel and corrupt street hustlers. He was eventually jailed for cocaine possession and everyone especially his son Kasper thought he had been set up by the corrupt police force for doing his job. Unknown to everyone however he was really the leader of the international crime syndicate known as the 66 bridges and also had another son who helped him run the “business”, Triage/Nigel Blacque. From behind bars he pulled the strings that lead his son as the Black Panther down the path of a superhero hoping to either forge him into the perfect weapon or corrupt him.
There you have it!
Who is your favorite Black Superhero dad?!
What are your favorite memories with your dad?
Any advice on how to be a better dad?
Sound off below!?
Happy Fathers day!
Much love!
Enjoy the history lessons you provide in the world of comics.
Thanks Ken! I enjoy giving them! 🙂
Awesomeness!!