Your hub for Blerd news, mobilized by AT&T.
The Beginning
In 1993, the comic book publishing company was founded as Milestone Media by a group of Black artists and writers, including the late Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis and Derek T. Dingle. From 1993 to 1997, the company produced nearly 300 comics with Black characters as leads. The titles were published through DC Comics as a separate imprint in its own universe.
Static
Static aka Virgil Hawkins was created by writers Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington III, and artist John Paul Leon in June 1993 for Milestone/DC Comics. He is one of the few Black characters created by Black creators.
Static is a teenager who is essentially an analog of Spider-Man. Static has the power to control electricity, electromagnetism, and he has the ability of flight with a metal saucer. He had his own TV show called Static Shock produced by Warner Bros. from 2000-2004.
The character has also appeared in Cartoon Network’s series Justice League in 2003 and Young Justice: Invasion in 2012.
Storm
Storm aka Ororo Munroe was created by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum in 1975 for Marvel Comics. She first appeared in Giant Sized X-Men #1. Storm’s parents come from different societies. Her mother is a weather priestess from a Kenyan tribe and her father is a white American photojournalist.
Storm has the power to control all forms of weather. She can also fly and control electricity. She was married to Black Panther and was Queen Consort of the kingdom of Wakanda. She currently appears in her own ongoing series.
Most notably, actress Halle Berry has portrayed her in the X-Men film franchise.
Cyborg
Cyborg aka Victor Stone was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez in October 1980. The superhero first appears in DC Comics Presents #26. During a freak accident in a lab, Vic Stone is critically injured. His parents, who happen to be scientists, used cybernetics to keep him alive. Cyborg has super strength, high IQ, cybernetic weapons, and tech know-how. From that moment on, he has been a member of Teen Titans.
Cyborg has been depicted on Cartoon Network’s Teen Titans (2003-2006) and current Teen Titans Go!
He has been portrayed by actor Shemar Moore in the animated movie, Justice League: War. Actor Lee Thompson Young played Cyborg in the television series, Smallville. Now Ray Fisher will play him in the 2016-2017 upcoming films, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League.
Luke Cage
Luke Cage aka Power Man was created by Archie Goodwin and John Romita Sr. in June 1972 for Marvel Comics. He first appears in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1. Luke Cage was wrongly convicted and imprisoned because of his involvement with gangs. He was altered in a failed prison experiment that gave him bulletproof skin and super strength. Cage is a self-taught hand-to-hand combatant. He is self-educated in the law and speaks several languages.
Spawn
Spawn was created by Todd McFarlane in May 1992 for Image Comics. He first appeared in Spawn # 1. Spawn’s real name is Al Simmons. He sold his soul to the demon Melebolgia and became one of hell’s soldiers.
Now he rebels against hell and fights heaven to rejoin his wife and seek vengeance for his death. Most notably, Spawn has had a feature film, Spawn, in 1997 where he was portrayed by Michael Jai White.