Obscuralia ten

This is a quickie, and much shorter than the previous overlong entries that seem to have shattered Blogger's archives section. I'm not feeling the DCU Africa article right now, and I think it's going to be perpetually delayed until I figure out what's missing.

Blackwing is Charles "Charlie" Bullock, and he is/was/maybe the black Batman. Charlie was a lawyer who originally appeared on Earth 2 and was trained by Ted Grant. Charlie was a supporting character in the Huntress backup feature, and I'd love to see him turn up in Grant Morrison's Multiversity. Blackwing debuted in Wonder Woman #297 (November 1982).

The Justice Alliance of America, residents of Earth D for diversity, were introduced in Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths special (February 1999). I've participated in quite a few "Black JLA" team building exercises over the years, but in the end I think the JAA might be a much better way to approach the problem.

The Wildcats were Metropolis' pro-active answer to Curtis Sliwa's Guardian Angels. Except that the Wildcats have had training in military tactics, aerial combat, and martial arts. They also use Kryptonian flight packs to get around. The group was led by Sonny Chibwa, and as far as I can tell, they all disappeared into Limbo after this storyline. The Wildcats debuted in Action Comics vol. 1 #548 (October 1983).

Xenobrood by Doug Moench and Tomm Coker has been one of the toughest reads I've ever had to endure, and one of the few builds that just never came together. I've read through the entire series three times, and it is so godawful in parts, and racially insensitive in other parts, that I just don't like the fucking book. The Xenobroodlings debuted in Xenobrood #0 (October 1994). Remember me mentioning the Strange Brood in Obscuralia four, and DC's continuing attempts to scratch that X-Men sized itch? Well they did it wrong here.

Bloodwynd is one of my favorite neglected fictional minority heroes. And even after DC Comics' recent scramble to appear racially balanced, he's still being ignored. He's one of two black male magic users published by DC Comics, the other being Doctor Mist. The main problem with Bloodwynd is that he's possessed of the gray morality typical to Marvel Comics characters, and this clashes with the black and white 1950's era morality of the DC Comics universe. He debuted in Justice League of America #76 (July 1993).

Doctor Mist is a favorite punching bag of DC editorial. He is the other black male magic user at DC. As for black females and the magicking, well there's Empress and that's pretty much it. We can't really count Conjura (see obscuralia eight) as a black magic user because she's had no in continuity appearances. First they depowered him, because the idea of an immortal all powerful black superhero seems to have terrified someone. Then they mad him fall in love with Zatanna and admit that his fantastic origin was all a lie to impress the ladies. And then they killed him off, the immortal guy. Did him in twice and salted the earth. DC sucks when they openly wear their racism. You know what, I prefer to believe the origin where this guy picked up a fucking country and threw it at someone. Doctor Mist debuted in Super Friends #12 (June 1978).

Onyx wearing one of the best "comic book" costumes ever created. Certainly not the shallow bald headed freak version we are currently subjected to. Onyx debuted in Detective Comics #546 (January 1985). Strangely enough the original Onyx has appeared in modern DCU continuity. She had a forgotten cameo in Wonder Woman vol. 2 #175 (December 2001). So with two conflicting versions of Onyx running around the place, there's obvious story potential waiting in the wings.

Captain Thunder III is Willie Fawcett a neverwas character. I'm assuming that this Willie Fawcett would have inherited the same origin and powers as Captain Thunders I and II both of whom were empowered by a magical Native American belt. In 1983 Roy Thomas and Don Newton proposed a re-launch of the Shazam! series featuring Captain Thunder a black Captain Marvel. The new Shazam! book was never greenlit by DC. Brian Cronin's Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #99 covered the entire story.

The Law by Steven Grant and Max Fiumara is one of DC's neverwas characters. An interesting idea for a "super policeman" that never went anywhere. The character was revealed in CBR: Permanent Damage Issue #33 (May 2002).

Pandora Pann, by Len Wein and Ross Andru is another neverwas character. Pandora Pann was first revealed in The Comic Reader #197 (December 1981). Promotional art from the preview debuted in The Comic Reader #201 (April 1982). Pandora unwittingly opens Pandora's box and spends the rest of her time trying to retrieve the evil she has unleashed. Pandora Pann was set to debut in Swamp Thing vol. 1 #5 (September 1982).




No Wikipedians were harmed during the construction of this article.

Props to Tokyo Hackerspace's Akiba and his video tour of Akihabara.