Captain America: Brave New World (2025) was always going to be divisive. Regardless of the end product, there would be those that look at the Black lead (Anthony Mackie) and either universally praise it or deride it. Nuance is the water in the desert of the internet, so there is no need to engage either party on that front. I’d like to address the folks that seemingly always refrain “why do we need a Black [insert character]? Why can’t we build our own”?
This needs to be clarified up top. Sam Wilson is not a “Black version of Captain America”. Sam Wilson is Captain America and is Black. “Captain America” is a title/mantle. It can be passed to the next man; the same way they want John Walker to take the title. They same way “CEO” is not a part of a person’s identity, just marker of their responsibilities. Further, Sam is not purely the race swapped Steve Rogers. Marvel did not put black face on the scrawny kid from Brooklyn. Sam has his own backstory and faces completely different challenges while assuming the Captain America mantle. Same is true for Miles Morales. Same is true for Nubia.
Lastly, yet more importantly, as the blog editor for Black owned indie comic company, I have to shout from the mountain tops that we do, in fact, have “our own”. Lloyd and Natosha Jones have built a rich engaging universe with Midnight Comics around characters such as Sol and The Grey. Brent Trayce Sands created Impound Comics, inspired by his favorite comics and martial arts films. Over at GodHood Comics you could read The Antagonists, a parenting team of supervillains attempting to keep their past buried. There are any number of original Black characters taking up space in unique universes in every corner of the world. The issue just may be the consumer.
Most likely, this conversation will continue to rage on in perpetuity. One of the most significant ways in which “Blackness is not a monolith” rears its head in this very debate. Do we need a seat at the table, or should we build our own table? The answer is both. Presently, there is nothing constructive in tearing down folks that choose to pursue “the majors”. The entrepreneurial path is not for everyone, and the idea that we could lose amazing story telling because we shame someone into grinding everything out for themselves instead of nurturing their talents under a larger umbrella is madness. Conversely, accosting indie artists by suggesting “why don’t you just work for Marvel / Tyler Perry / BET?” as if their real successes are not real unless validated by legacy avenues is disrespectful.
So, no. We do not NEED a “Black Captain America”. We need folks that are interested in Black characters and the continuation of Black excellence to show up and show out with their dollars. Show up when your favorite established character gets a solo run. Show up when new interesting characters are going to Kick Starter. If you actually show up and support the art you want to see, we won’t need to have this debate into the heat death of the universe. There is space for us all.
I agree with the and/both element supporting both major and indie Black characters you enjoy by Black writers...I vehemently disagree with Sam Wilson being "just Captain America"...He's Black Captain America, because it's a white man's legacy. He wasn't given the mantle for perpetuity...Its not really a mantle as much as John Walker and Sam were interim substitutes until Steve returned. Sam Wilson will always be seen with an asterick as the "Black" Captain America. Due in large part because of the symbolism of what the American flag represents, which is whiteness and patriotism. Which is why some white fans have an issue with Sam Wilson and why Isaiah Bradley had animus for the shield.