Early Black characters in North American comics were often missing or inadequately represented, more frequently portrayed as harmful caricatures than intelligent heroes.
Things started to improve when the Civil Rights movement gained traction in the 1960s, while persistent problems with representation continue to this day. Numerous significant Black characters have appeared in popular comic books, and their tales have played a crucial role in the genre’s development.
We have now produced a list of the top 20 black superheroines to honor the country’s recent social changes as well as the long history of black comic book heroes.
These characters hail from various comic book publishers, and we’ll tell you a little about them. Some of them are published by DC Comics, some by Marvel Comics, and still more by other companies.
Check out our list of the most acceptable black comic book characters overall!
1. Storm – Marvel Comics
Ororo Munroe, better known by his stage name Storm, has ancestry that can be traced back to an old African tribe. They are individuals that have white hair, blue eyes, and the capacity to wield magic in their everyday lives.
Princess N’Dare, who gives her name to Ororo, is from a clan in Kenya. She wed an American photographer named David Munroe, and after their marriage, she moved to New York City with her spouse. Ororo came into the world here.
Storm, one of the first significant Black female heroes and Black comic book characters in general, made her debut in comic books as Storm.
Ororo Munroe, one of the most powerful mutants in the X-Men comics, took over as leader of the X-Men when Cyclops stepped down from his position.
2. Misty Knight – Marvel Comics
Misty Knight was one of the first African American female heroes to appear in mainstream comics, and she and her bionic arm have been giving it to the bad guys in the Marvel Universe for decades.
Misty has been a trailblazer ever since she first appeared on comic book pages. One example is that her relationship with Iron Fist, which began in the 1970s, was one of the first interracial pairings in the superhero genre.
Misty Knight remains one of Marvel’s most compelling “grounded” characters. She will soon appear on Netflix’s “Luke Cage” series, which is set to bring the kickass private detective/superhero to the public.
3. Martha Washington – Dark Horse Comics
Readers were first introduced to Martha Washington by Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons in the 1990 issue of Give Me Liberty, published by Dark Horse Comics.
The story followed the heroine’s life as she joined a military organization known as the PAX Peace Force and used her tenacity, training, and advanced computer skills to save the world multiple times throughout her century-long life.
A continuous series of comic books, Martha Washington’s journey starts in the 1990s and continues long into a dystopic future in which Washington lives a life of a warrior because she must survive a hazardous future filled with corrupt politicians, lethal artificial intelligence, and even extraterrestrial dangers.
4. Vixen – DC Comics
It was planned for Vixen to be the first Black female superhero to feature in her comic book, but this did not come to fruition due to the “DC Implosion” that occurred in the late 1970s.
When she eventually made an appearance, this solid female champion with the ability to mimic any animal was the first Black girl to join the Justice League, join the Suicide Squad, and become an elite member of the Checkmate agency.
Megalyn E.K., who portrays the character of Vixen in both the animated short series based in the “Arrowverse” and the live-action episode of “Arrow” that debuted just this week, is now starring in the animated short series.
Even though she did not get off to the greatest start in her career, Vixen is now a crucial and exciting component of DC’s roster.
5. Monica Rambeau – Marvel Comics
In her younger years, Monica Rambeau served as a lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard in New Orleans. She was of African-American descent at the time.
She is subjected to a barrage of energetic assaults as she attempts to acquire the prototype of a weapon that a tyrant built.
After that, she was granted the ability to turn into any energy. Her abilities undergo a short shift, preventing her from morphing and causing her to generate a personal force field instead.
She regains the power to shift into energy due to Doctor Strange’s intervention. She was given the moniker “Captain Marvel” by the media, which led to her promotion to the role of the Marvel Universe’s second Captain Marvel.
6. Bumblebee – DC Comics
Bumblebee is a legacy character that has never been given the spotlight that she deserves, even though she was one of DC’s first black female heroes.
Karen Beecher is an exceptionally talented scientist who wears a suit that enables her to condense her body to the size of a real bee or fly. Her abilities include the ability to emit sonic blasts and to hurt people with electric bee stings.
It is now the appropriate moment for her live-action debut since her inclusion in DC Super Hero Girls over the last several years has contributed to a rise in the character’s popularity.
The unabashed oddness of Legends of Tomorrow makes it the ideal place for Bumblebee to reside. The WWE superstar Naomi would be an excellent choice for the role of hero.
6. Nubia – DC Comics
Ares abducted the brunette Nubia, formed out of clay as a twin to Diana (Wonder Woman), and reared her by manipulating her mind to assist him in defeating the Amazons.
Nubia had a dark complexion. Nubia is Wonder Woman’s dark-skinned sister. Queen Hippolyta fashioned both sisters out of clay, one from a dark variety and the other from a lighter kind.
After being abducted by Mars and subjected to brainwashing, her true identity is eventually exposed when she is forced to battle her sister.
During the events of the Final Crisis that takes place on Earth-23, Nubia (later stylized as Nu’Bia) is a member of the Justice League and is considered to be the planet’s version of Wonder Woman.
7. Rocket – DC Comics
Raquel Ervin earned a history for herself as the first adolescent mother to be featured in DC Comics, even though she was shown as the superhero icon’s companion.
Rocket, who aspired to be a writer like Toni Morrison, led Augustus Freeman IV down a different career path and helped him become a superhero.
In addition, she was instrumental in her fellow hero Flashback overcoming his crack cocaine addiction. In addition, she was instrumental in instructing Batman and the other JLA members during the confrontation with the Shadow Thief.
8. Thunder – DC Comics
After completing her education, Anissa Pierce, one of Black Lightning’s children, decided to pursue a career in the same field as her father. During the period that she was working with the Outsiders, she competed against Sabbac and the Fearsome Five.
She had barely begun her solo career when Red Arrow called her and invited her to join the new Outsiders team. She was interested in the opportunity, so she accepted the offer and joined the group.
During the restructuring of the Outsiders that Batman was doing, Thunder was removed from the group, and J’onn J’onzz was brought in to take his place. After Grace invited her on a mission that didn’t need Batman’s permission, she got back together with the gang.
9. Crimson Avenger – DC Comics
In 2000, Jill Carlyle debuted as the third and current Crimson Avenger. Like the original El Diablo, this figure functioned as a Spirit of Vengeance in a supporting role.
She was an African-American lady who could teleport and become intangible. In a flashback, it was apparent that she had studied law and lost a case in which the defendant was guilty. The case took place in the past.
She acquired a pair of Colt handguns, which the first Crimson Avenger had previously owned. She used these weapons to justifiably exact retribution on unidentified perpetrators.
Even the most powerful heroes, including Superman, Power Girl, and Captain Atom, could be injured by her attacks.
10. Philippus – DC Comics
Around three thousand years ago, a small group of the Olympian gods, which included Artemis, Athena, Hestia, Demeter, and Aphrodite, gathered the souls of women who had been murdered by men throughout history and cast them into the depths of the Aegean Sea.
After then, the spirits started constructing bodies out of the clay on the ocean floor. As soon as they broke the surface, the clay bodies transformed into live beings made of flesh and blood. Philippus belonged to one of these newly discovered races of females.
Philippus is the highest-ranking general under Queen Hippolyta’s command. As the most trusted adviser to the Queen, she was also assigned the responsibility of bringing up and instructing a young Diana (Wonder Woman) while she was still a child.
11. Skyrocket – DC Comics
Lieutenant Celia Forrestal was a talented naval aviator in the United States Navy. Her teaching career had stagnated due to her gender and color.
While contemplating quitting the military, she visited her parents, scientists, and Argo Technologies’ owners to explore her options. Mr. and Mrs. Forrestal had created a personal harness capable of absorbing, converting, and redirecting energy.
Parents, scientists, and the proprietors of Argo Technologies bestowed Celia Forrestal with her abilities as a Navy aviator.
As a lone hero, Skyrocket helped stop a prison escape during the Infinite Crisis narrative and joined forces with Superman, Nightwing, and Livew, among others.
12. Ironheart – Marvel Comics
Tony Stark is a name that will never be duplicated. Riri Williams is the ideal character to bring into the Marvel Cinematic Universe at this moment because the world will always need an Iron Man.
Riri is a teenage prodigy who attends MIT. She creates her own Iron Man costume out of bits she finds about the campus, and she earns the name Ironheart after becoming a heroic figure.
It makes perfect sense to include the character who has garnered the most excellent attention over the last five years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since there is a severe deficiency in the number of Black female heroes outside of Wakanda.
Fans will soon get the chance to witness Riri Willaims in a live-action role since it was just announced that she would star in her own Disney Plus series titled Ironheart.
13. Silhouette – Marvel Comics
A mutant with the ability to disappear into the shadows is known as Silhouette. She has the standard superhuman strengths, velocities, and reflexes, but she can also utilize her shadow abilities to transport and protect herself.
Since the character has collaborated with the New Warriors, Fantastic Four, and Secret Avengers, she is adaptable to any role within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Following a shootout that left him paraplegic, Silhouette equips his upgraded crutches with various weaponry. Seeing a Black lady with a disability battle alongside some of Marvel’s most popular characters would be inspiring.
During the Civil War narrative, she was a part of Captain America’s Secret Avengers team. She assisted him in evading capture when a meeting with Iron Man’s group became violent.
14. Heather Hudson – Marvel Comics
Even after nine appearances in feature films, fans have not had the opportunity to meet Heather Hudson, Wolverine’s wife, in an alternative universe.
She was a Canadian lady who appeared in Exiles. She was the one who discovered Logan after he fled from the Weapon X tests. She worked tirelessly to restore his physical and emotional health, and in the process, they fell in love.
As Heather turned into a Sasquatch, she could use her skills. It crushed her heart when an undiscovered provocation caused Logan to explode into a violent fury, and she was forced to put an end to his suffering.
This would be a far more interesting story for Wolverine to encounter when he is relaunched in the Marvel Cinematic Universe than his constant desire for Jean.
15. Ladyhawk – Marvel Comics
Rosetta and Regina, identical twins, were the daughters of the notorious criminal boss Boss Morgan. They decided to help combat crime rather than engage in the illegal activity themselves.
Rosetta was a fantastic fighter, and Regina was very knowledgeable about technology. They sought instruction from Spider-tutor Girl’s Phil Urich, a previous version of the Green Goblin who was on the side of good, and they soon found themselves prepared to battle the forces of evil. The twins decided to share a single identity rather than create two separate ones.
They came up with a green and orange outfit that resembled the Hawk’s suit before it quickly received its wings. They were known as the “Ladyhawk” and adopted the identity of a superhero team.
16. Amanda Waller – DC Comics
The history of Amanda Blake Waller is primarily unknown. It seems as if she was born in Chicago, Illinois. She survived an accident where her husband and one of her daughters perished. Amanda’s doctoral degree is in political science.
She put together the Suicide Squad as the head of ARGUS (Advanced Research Group for Uniting Superhumans) and gave them missions that no human being would ever agree to.
Waller, who ruled with a heart of stone and a fist of iron, was also entrusted with constructing a new Justice League of America. Amanda has even visited with former US President Barack Obama and persuaded him of the need for the Suicide Squad. That is very amazing!
17. Natasha Irons – DC Comics
Natasha Irons, also known as Steel III, is the niece of John Henry Irons, who is known as Steel III. Natasha Irons has become a hero in her own right and is a crucial ally for Superman.
In continuation of the “Death of Superman” plotline, John Henry Irons became the first person in the DC Universe to don the armor of the Man of Steel and take the name Steel. Irons created his suit of armor as a tribute to Superman.
After John was wounded, Natasha created a strong armor suit utilizing Apokoliptian technology to try to rescue him.
He gave her his job and a new costume, which Irons would continue to improve over the years as she joined forces with other teams like the Titans and even a new Justice League.
18. Shuri – Marvel Comics
We’ve got another very bright cookie to bring attention to the incredible power of black girl magic. Not only is Shuri a genius, but she also holds the title of being the most intelligent character in all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s official!
In the comics, she is intelligent and has the same potential as her brother T’Challa to succeed him as Black Panther. Therefore, you shouldn’t be too shocked if Shuri from Black Panther appears in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film.
In addition to this, she boasts remarkable skills and capabilities. Comic book, Shuri can transform her body into a rock-like substance that is very hardy and almost indestructible. In addition, she can change herself and any nearby foes into a flock of birds.
19. Shard – Marvel Comics
Shard was Bishop’s younger sister, and she shared Bishop’s membership in the XSE in the Earth-1191 other reality. Shard also participated in that world’s events with Bishop.
In a strict sense, Shard was more of a team member for X-Factor, although her elder brother Bishop worked with the X-Men and had his live-action presence.
Because of Shard’s one-of-a-kind hologram life in the past and her involvement with the original X-Factor team, she is the ideal choice to assist with introducing a new aspect into the Marvel Cinematic Universe that has not been seen before.
20. Debrii – Marvel Comics
In the pages of New Warriors, Deborah Fields was presented for the first time as the low-level telekinetic character Debrii. This was during an exciting time for the team, as they had just agreed to be the stars of a reality television show that followed their heroic adventures on the road.
Although Debrii’s original purpose was to stir up drama for the audience, she ultimately proved helpful to the team and took her position in it. The character was going to make her live-action debut (played by Kate Comer) on a humorous version of New Warriors; however, the series was canceled after the pilot was shot.