5 Best TV And Film Adaptations Of Superheroes Of Colour

We’re less than a week away until the newest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) instalment hits cinemas. Black Panther has already received rave reviews from critics – although that comes as no surprise while Marvel are knocking every film they create out of the park at the moment.

But amidst the rave reviews, some DC fans have claimed they will be sabotaging the rotten tomatoes rating. Whether they’re fanboys crying over Marvel producing better films than DC, or it comes from a much more hateful place of racism is still being debated. But what is for sure is that it’s about time we saw a superhero of colour in his first lead film, surrounded by a majority black cast!

So, in the run up to one of the most anticipated films of the year, let’s have a look at some of the best adaptions of superheroes of colour on TV and in films so far:

 

Valkyrie (Thor: Ragnarok)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V46ZtXlm7Y

She was first introduced in 2017 in the third Thor installment, Ragnarok, where we met a badass, relatable woman that doesn’t have it all together. It’s refreshing to see a woman not sexualised even once in the film, but instead she’s completely respected in her own right as a strong warrior. She manages to never step into Thor or Hulk’s shadow, and that’s an accomplishment in itself. Tessa Thompson also plays the character so well, it’s as if she was born to be Valkyrie. She clearly worked hard on her physical strength for the film too, and it’s exciting to see a woman physically strong as well as the men.

 

Luke Cage (Luke Cage and The Defenders on Netflix)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytkjQvSk2VA

The Defenders began with Daredevil, then came Jessica Jones where we first met Luke Cage. The third series was all about this huge bullet-proof hero. His wasn’t the most popular series of the lot, but Luke himself proved himself to be worthy of his own show. Mike Colter plays the superhero with such a perfect balance between awesome and sweet. He doesn’t want to solve things with violence – even if he generally gets lured into doing so. He makes you root for him in the fights, while still holding a warmth that has you hoping he finds happiness and peace one day.

 

Falcon (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB-iuH1iqrI

We were first introduced to the current MCU’s Falcon in 2014 with Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Since then, he’s appeared in three more Marvel films, and is set to be showing up in Infinity War later this year. He’s perhaps classed as more of a secondary superhero to Captain America; his accomplice if you like. The Robin to his Batman. But, he’s proven time and time again he’s a superhero in his own right. He can certainly hold his own in a fight, his wings basically make him half bionic, and he’s one of the more memorable characters from the MCU. In fact, it’s a wonder he hasn’t got his own film yet.

 

Storm (X-Men film series)

Halle Berry gets a lot of stick for that awful Catwoman film back in 2004. But let’s remember the reason that film was no good was because of the production, not the actor. She in fact played a brilliant Catwoman. And she plays an even better Storm in the X-Men films. We were first introduced to her weather-wielding heroic character in 2000 with X-Men and the last time was in X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014. The likelihood of her showing up in any future X-Men films is looking pretty dismal, but more of Storm’s sassy, cool personality will always be welcome in this cinematic universe.

 

Mister Terrific (Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LLqne98TAM

Let’s put this out there straight away so we can move on from it – he’s a bit annoying. He tried to be a superhero but he quite frankly just isn’t that good at fighting. But that doesn’t stop him, and that’s why he makes this list. However much people try to deter him from crime-fighting on the streets, he refuses to give up. On top of that, he’s gay. Which makes him one of the only characters representing gay men of colour on TV right now. Echo Kellum is the man who was set the task of playing this tech wizard, and most of the time, it’s a character you not only think is awesome, but really want to be friends with.