This Friday sees the release of “Blue Beetle” one of DC Comics’ most popular teen superheroes who’s garnered much acclaim and fandom over the years. The new vision of the classic DC Comics hero spotlights Jaime Reyes, a young latino teen given an alien technology which grants him a super powered body of armor that allows him to become a powerful superhero. With a great cast, and what looks like excellent action, I’m hoping “Blue Beetle” garners as much success as 2023’s “Spider-Verse” movie. In either case, in anticipation here is the seventh edition of our “Minority Movie Heroes” series.
These are five more minority movie heroes we loved.
Spider Punk: Hobie Brown – The Spider-Man Spider-Verse Movie Series
I love Hobie Brown. He’s easily my favorite character of any movie released in 2023. Stan Lee encouraged the idea that anyone could be Spider-Man and if I were ever a Spider-Man, I’d want Hobie Brown to be my mentor. Not only does he go to bat for Miles Morales in “Across the Spider-Verse,” but he openly disagrees with Spider-Man 2099 about his punishment of Miles. He also aides him in breaking out of prison, and refuses to hunt him down when the Spider-people pursue him. To make things even better he assembles with Spider-Gwen in the finale to go out and rescue Miles once and for all. He’s a righteous, principled, bad ass son of a bitch.
The Marvel Family – DCEU’s Shazam! Movie Series
“The Marvel Family” were always a one toned group of heroes in the original comics, but in the movies they’re given a much more diverse cast of caped crusaders, led by Billy Batson, the original Shazam. There’s Freddy Freeman, Grace Bromfield, Eugene Choi, Pedro Peňa, and of course the youngest, Darla Dudley. They all garner their own unique personas and particular powers that make them stand out from leader Shazam. While they’re played as somewhat of a joke in “Fury of the Gods” (disappointing), in the first “Shazam” they’re pretty much a fun, competent group of aspiring superheroes.
Meteor Man/Jefferson Reed – Meteor Man (1993)
Meteor Man was big when I was a kid and Robert Townsend’s superhero movie has aged pretty well. As Jefferson Reed, he’s the definition of a normal middle aged man who is trying to do something about the conditions of his city. With the help of the stray meteor that endows him with the powers of a near god-like superhero, he tries to make as many changes as he can. Reed is a fun superhero whose intentions are pure, even if “Meteor Man” the movie never really digs deeper in to societal issues. In any case, I’m glad Marvel somewhat acknowledged him as a canonical part of their universe in the 90’s. I’d love to see him return someday.
Rio Morales – The Spider-Man Spider-Verse Series Movie Series
Behind every superhero there’s a good woman, and Rio Morales is no exception. Although she’s not a superhero per se, Rio Morales is a nurse (that’s close to being a superhero in my eyes), and the mother of Miles Morales. She’s a loyal, strong, and powerful Puerto Rican mom who does everything she can to steer her son in the right direction. She’s not only a wonderful mother, but a good wife who sticks by her husband Jefferson Davis and is never afraid to lay down the law. She’s a lot more prominent in “Across the Spider-Verse” playing bigger role in not just the evolution of Miles but as Spider-Man. I am interested to see how she fares in the third film in the series.
Senator Bail Organa – Star Wars
Bail Organa spent a lot of the “Star Wars” prequels doing his best to fight against Senator Palpatine and prevent him seizing the government to build the Empire. Sadly with his manipulation and help of Anakin Skywalker, Palpatine rose to power while Organ could only watch. However he did do his part in helping Yoda try to stop Palpatine, and help keep the Jedi in tact. He’s often seen as a confidant of Master Yoda, even helping him escape when he’s beaten by Palpatine in “Revenge of the Sith.” Adding even more significance to his role in the series, he volunteers to adopt Leia Skywalker and raise her as his own daughter, thus paving her destiny in the Skywalker story line we’d see in Episodes IV through VI.