Lack of racial diversity in comics a problem?

Check out this article, and see if you agree with the author's premise about why comic sales are lower today.

http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/193167

"In every other medium, the most successful concept or product is black." - Reggie Hudlin

If thats true then comics deserve to be 'whitewashed'

On a more serious note it's hard introduce new characters when classic ones (ones made when comics were far less progressive) are far more well known and profitable.

There are other problems in adding ethnic characters because the moment one of them does something slightly different from what people think is PC you get attacked.

Racial diversity is an old hat as far as the media is concerned. Sexual diversity is the new hotness.

interesting...

I hardly see why poor sales and crappy overplayed stories is a racial issue though, considering the lackluster success of racially motivated characters...

What did I miss?

Hasn't this thread been done already?

Nice sig Bada

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Nice sig Bada

😛
Thank you.

It figures, as soon as I read the title I knew Hudlin had something to do with it!

Originally posted by Darth Vicious
It figures, as soon as I read the title I knew Hudlin had something to do with it!

I think this is kind of stupid. I mean...Hulk is one of the most popular characters out there and he's green! Talk about racial issues. 😛

Hudlin: "The comic industry be straight trippin', boo."

Indeed, Mr.Hudlin. Indeed.

I don't think it's the big factor the author claims it is.

They have been saying the same thing about coaching positions in the NFL for years. Though it's not up to the same proportion of black-to-white players, it's slowly changing and no one has ever claimed the NFL was ever in financial trouble over perception.

Also, while popular comics may not circulate in the 300,000 to 500,000 a month range like the 1980's ( I think only in the 1940's did comics like SHAZAM do a million a month), they also cost five times as much as they did twenty years ago. Plus, he didn't account for the popularity of bookstore-friendly graphic novels, which further offsets the financial loss.

Exactly.
You don't NEED to sell 300,000 copies when you can sell 90,000 copies for 4.oo a piece.

In fact, even adding inflation, the industry makes many times more money than it did 30 years ago.

Thing is, this is a race baiting article and we all know that people lie their ass off when it comes to race.

NAACP says blacks are worse of now than 60 years ago. Hahaha....no.

It's a total crock.

Why the hell does "minority" or "ethnic diversity" or "racial diversity" in the media always mean blacks? For goodness sake, blacks have it pretty good as far as media represenation goes for comics, tv and movies (along with negative represenations in the news). Introduce more mexican-american heroes and asian-american heroes and middle eastern american heroes.

Originally posted by AcousticDoc
Why the hell does "minority" or "ethnic diversity" or "racial diversity" in the media always mean blacks? For goodness sake, blacks have it pretty good as far as media represenation goes for comics, tv and movies (along with negative represenations in the news). Introduce more mexican-american heroes and asian-american heroes and middle eastern american heroes.

Hudlin is a dumb fudge sickel.

Originally posted by AcousticDoc
Why the hell does "minority" or "ethnic diversity" or "racial diversity" in the media always mean blacks? For goodness sake, blacks have it pretty good as far as media represenation goes for comics, tv and movies (along with negative represenations in the news). Introduce more mexican-american heroes and asian-american heroes and middle eastern american heroes.

Co-signed.

Only mexican-american character I know is Arachne (Girl with blue bug armour , not Omega flight)

Racial diversity, so that certain blacks can moan and ***** about racism some more. If there's no racial diversity, you'll be accused of racism. If there IS racial diversity, it will be used as a tool for "social commentary" (I.E accusing you of racism).

I think at this point the Thread will probably close...