Top 10 Definitive POC Superheroes

Top 10 POC Superheroes

Welcome to MsMojo, and today were looking at superheroes who have made people of color around the world feel seen. Well be taking into account characters who have left a big impression in comics, TV shows, and films.

Tony Stark is considered one of the smartest people in the Marvel Universe for creating his Iron Man suits as an adult. So, can you imagine how clever youd have to be to make one as a 15-year-old? Well, enter Riri Williams. Debuting in the comics in 2016, her tech know-how and her ambitions to be a hero convince Tony to take her under his wing. Even when he dies, his AI helps Riri become one of the newest and most popular heroes in Marvel as the de facto armor-wearer, Ironheart. Riri made her MCU debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, paving the way for her own TV show, Ironheart.

Following the death of Ted Kord, aka Blue Beetle, Jaime stepped into the spotlight in DC comics in 2006. Soon bonding with the scarab artifact that granted him incredible powers, hed go on to be the third iteration to take up the mantle, which had been around since 1939. Moving away from Kords rich, White background, Jaime is a Latino teenager with more humble beginnings, making him instantly relatable to readers as he becomes a member of the Teen Titans. His popularity led to him getting a well-received film in 2023, which, thanks to Jaime, was the first live-action superhero movie with a Latino lead.

With the MCU raking in billions at the box office, if we trace the franchises success, arguably, it all began with 1998s Blade. The opening scene alone was enough to put it in superhero film legend. The movie, which was aimed at adults, was so successful that it spawned a trilogy, increasing the popularity of the superhero genre. Stepping back into the leathers and fangs, Wesley Snipes reprised the role in 2024s Deadpool & Wolverine. As a character, Blade has been around a lot longer, first debuting in the comics in 1973. As a half-vampire, half-human Dhampir, Blade is best known for being Marvels principal vampire hunter and Draculas most hated foe.

While dabbling with the codenames Psyche, Mirage, and her own last name, Dani first arrived in Marvel Comics in 1982. She was thrown in at the deep end by being introduced as the next generation of X-Men in The New Mutants. As well as leading the team, at one point, she even became a Valkyrie! Dani is Native American, specifically from the Cheyenne people. Shes been credited with helping to destroy stereotypes of Native Americans in the media. While the 2020 film The New Mutants wasnt well-received, Dani wasnt the reason for that. Her heritage helped with representation, as did her mental health struggles and the love story between her and Rahne Sinclair.

With the simple words on your left, Sam was catapulted into MCU history in 2014s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Originally going by Falcon, Sam would eventually take over the mantle of Captain America after Steve Rogers retired following Avengers: Endgame, turning him into one of the franchises leading characters. The change also brought in the discussion of race and the current political climate, as detailed in the TV show The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Sam has been around in the comics for a long time, first appearing in 1969 as Falcon, becoming one of Marvels first Black superheroes. In 2014, similarly to the MCU, he broke down barriers by taking over as Captain America in the comics.

In 2014, after making background appearances the year before, Kamala was officially introduced, changing the landscape across Marvel. After all, when she was put in her own comic, this became the first time a Muslim character had headlined a book at the company. As a die-hard Ms. Marvel fan, the Pakistani-American took on the mantle when Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel. Kamalas stratospheric popularity provided her a live-action MCU TV show in 2022 and a role in the 2023 film The Marvels. Speaking of that film, there was another non-White character with a rich history in comics, Monica Rambeau. Debuting in 1982, she was the second iteration of Captain Marvel, leading to her becoming the first Black female member of the Avengers.

For many kids who grew up in the 2000s, John is the main Green Lantern. After all, he had a starring role in the beloved cartoon Justice League, giving many fans their first taste of the DC Universe. The architect-turned-space cop first arrived in the comics in the early 70s. John was one of the companys first Black superheroes, as well as the first African-American Green Lantern. With his design history, he used his Green Lantern powers to revolutionize the types of constructs that were created. John isnt going to be stuck on the funny pages, becoming one of the leads in the live-action TV show Lanterns.

When it comes to Marvels X-Men, mutants have their own power-grading, with Omega-Level being the strongest. Well, if you know anything about Storm, you wont be surprised shes one. When a new roster of X-Men was introduced in 1975, Storm was one of the standout stars. The Weather Witch, with Kenyan heritage, was raised on the streets of Cairo, Egypt, as a thief, later being treated like a god thanks to her incredible abilities. Storm soon rose up the ranks of the X-Men, becoming its first Black leader and later becoming an Asgardian goddess of thunder. The character gained further popularity thanks to the X-Men cartoons and the live-action films with Halle Berry and Alexandra Shipp's portrayals.

When Marvel created Ultimate Spider-Man in a new universe, it quickly became the top series in the publishing line. In 2011, after Peter Parkers apparent death, Miles stepped in as the Web-Slinger, soon winning over other characters and readers. Miles became the first Black character to be Spider-Man and the second Latino after Miguel O'Hara. The teenagers relatability resonated with many, leading to him being moved to the main comic universe in 2016, where he shares the responsibility of Spider-Man with Peter. Miless popularity took off further when 2018s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse dropped, winning an Oscar. He was also a playable character in Sonys video game franchise, Marvel's Spider-Man.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Discarded as a Hero Due to His Race, Adam Returned in the Modern Age as a Powerhouse

Jefferson Became the First Black DC Superhero to Headline a Comic Book Title in 1977

As Well as Having Native American Heritage, Echo Was Marvels First Deaf Superhero

Debuting in 1993, Static, as a Young Black Hero, Was Representation Desperately Needed

The First Asian Superhero to Lead an MCU Film, Shang-Chi Has Been Around Since 1973

2018s film Black Panther changed the trajectory of superhero films for the better as it became the first MCU production to win an Oscar with its majority Black cast. T'Challa, the King of Wakanda, debuted in the comics in 1966 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, who wanted more representation. As a result, T'Challa became the first Black superhero in mainstream comics as he became a stalwart of the Marvel Universe. Following T'Challa actor Chadwick Bosemans death in 2020, the MCU mantle of Black Panther was passed onto his sister Shuri for the 2022 sequel. Previously described as the smartest person in the MCU, she wore the iconic suit well by living up to its storied legacy.

What other POC superheroes deserve a spot on this list? Let us know below!