So the problem is either that the black creators aren’t doing enough to be visible, or that the talent pool is just fairly small. I kinda lean toward the latter. That’s not saying anything negative about black creators, but there certainly seem to be more folks of other ethnicities trying to break in than black folks.

Why is that? No idea. All I know is that in any industry that starts out predominantly white, the integration of that industry tends to start slow, with a few creators. Then, as those few creators gain success, other creators of that race rise up, and the talent pool expands. I think that’s the case in comics. Kyle Baker paved the way for guys like me, and I pave the way for the guys after me.

My problem with the article is that I think it insinuates that companies are racist and should be looking at talent with their race in mind.

“Well, this artist’s portfolio is okay, but not spectacular…BUT he’s black, and we have a quota to meet.”

To me, race should NOT be a hindrance OR an advantage. It’s the content of the work that matters, much as Dr. King said it is the content of our characters that truly matters. Let the work speak for itself and leave race out of this.

If we have learned anything from the Big Two’s relentless shoveling and reshuffling of tired, decades-old concepts, it’s that Green is the only color that matters to them. If someone can make them money, they are hired. Period.

But look at the bright side. There’s more money to be made in the independents anyway. Not to mention freedom of expression.

If a writer/artist is good enough and has the want to, they will get hired. Regardless of skin color.

as an aside, pre-internet i had no idea that say trevor von eeden was black or that christopher priest was black

Could DC (and Marvel) be actively looking for creators with different backgrounds and ideas? Sure. And I’d say they should, but that doesn’t gel with what they want out of their line editorially. Most of their comics and characters these days read the same. I’m not saying whether the quality is high or low (it fluctuates, of course, but that’s based on the skill of the creators, not what DC is guiding them to do). At most, they are branched into families, like Dark, Batman, Teens, and so on, but most of those are still very much the same. And, say what you will, but it’s working for them, and has for years. How long has it been since we’ve seen them try anything outside those standards? Tiny Titans (which Superman Family Adventures followed, but actually came closer to DC proper than TT was)? How long ago was Young Superheroes In Love? The Minx line?

What good does it do to request diversity of creators without then embracing a diversity of output from them? If black woman wants to come to DC and write a standard Batman or Green Lantern story, fine, I don’t think DC wouldn’t hire them. But how many want to do that? Not just are capable, but really want to? I’ve been saying the same thing about many female creators in general.

I long for this diversity. And yes, I realize the irony of wanting to see new voices and ideas introduced into a company of long-established characters, exclusively superheroes. Is it really up to DC and Marvel to grow beyond their comfort zone, or is it up to the fans to push themselves outside of ours and start reading comics we’re not already family with or beholden to?

The answer could be fifty thousand or zero for all I know, so I’m just wonderin’.