With the superhero genre becoming more common in pop culture, it’s become easy to see heroes like Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and Iron Man in things like TV shows and movies. Some heroes fight street level crime, and others defend citizens from planetary attacks, like aliens. While these stories can be entertaining and exciting, they ultimately lack one thing, they don’t look like us. With very real and scary issues like police brutality and racism going on, people of color are in need of something or someone to look up to. Someone positive, inspiring, and relatable. With the country going through a crisis, I thought it would be a good idea to remind you all that there’s someone out there just like you. Someone who looks like you that can shed light in these dark times. If you are ever in need of a healthy distraction then look no further than these heroes…
Starting off our list and representing Hispanics/Latinos, we have Jaime Reyes aka Blue Beetle. Jaime’s power comes from an ancient artifact called a Scarab. One night, while walking home from school, Jaime found the artifact in an abandoned lot. Curious as to what it could be, he took it home only for it to come to life and attach itself to his spine. Blue Beetle’s powers include things like an armored suit, enhanced strength, flight, and the ability to show energy blasts. Blue Beetle has been affiliated with notable teams like The Justice League and The Teen Titans.
Next we have Ms. Marvel. Kamala Khan is of Pakistani descent and lives in New Jersey. Kamala got her powers from a mysterious substance in the earth’s atmosphere called a Terrigen Mist. She was gifted with powers such as shape shifting, the ability to stretch her limbs, and manipulate her body in many other ways. She has joined the likes of her idols such as Captain Marvel and The Avengers.
Let’s take a look at Ryan Choi aka Atom. Atom is of Chinese descent and fights crime in the fictional city of Ivy Town, Massachusetts. Being a physics professor, Choi discovered a way to shrink himself to subatomic levels while maintaining his mass. Atom has been a member of teams such as The Justice League and The Teen Titans. Atom is able to shrink or grow his body to different sizes, he has a genius level intellect, and also has a shrink ray.
Lastly, we are looking at Luke Cage. Carl Lucas is a Black American and keeps the streets of Harlem, his home town, safe from drugs and gang violence. He was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. While in jail, he volunteered for an experimental procedure that left him with abilities such as unbreakable skin and super strength. Luke has been a part of many teams like The Avengers, Fantastic Four, The Defenders, and Heroes for Hire.
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