Sigh, I can’t believe we’re still dealing with this nonsense in 2017.
If the “diversity” books weren’t selling, Marvel would stop publishing them. If the “replace the main superhero with another character inside the suit” gag wasn’t working, Marvel would stop doing it.
If these books not selling in YOUR comic store, consider the problem isn’t the characters. Because they’re doing very well online, where the customer doesn’t have to go into your friendly shop.
Let’s talk about Red Hulk, or Rulk to his friends.
His identity was hidden for almost a year, and all we knew was that he wasn’t Bruce Banner. Sales were through the roof. If the “human” version of Red Hulk had turned out to be Hispanic or Asian, would the sales have gone down? I hope not. But even with a “white guy” under the red skin, the sales petered out after a while anyway. After a last gasp membership in the Thunderbolts a couple of years ago, the Red Hulk no longer has his own title, and can only be found in the (struggling for sales) USAvengers.*
That’s how this gag works. Marvel has been doing it for decades.
Before Cap was a “black guy”, he the ghostly return of a dead sidekick for a couple of years. Besides, the “Black Cap” of today is on sale next to the “Nazi Cap” so everyone has a Cap to purchase in 2017.
Did this count as diversity? Doc Ock was OLD when he replaced Peter Parker as Spider-Man. ALSO: I think his heritage is East European. That used to be considered “ethnic”.
*edited to correct Red Hulk’s current status.
Sorry I haven’t been around to Bun Toon for a number of weeks. I’ve been committed to drawing a new Bun Toon every weekend I’ve been home, and have continued to do that since this all began…
But…
I’ve been at a comic convention four out of the last six weeks, and the last three weeks in a row. That makes it seem like I’ve given up on my little bunny adventures, but I absolutely have not. I’m still drawing one every weekend I’m at home…I’m just home a little less nowadays.
I’m here for at least another couple of weeks before I head out to Los Angeles in late October, and I promise you, each and every weekend I’m in Toronto, there shall be a bunny on your computer being a smartass.
Thanks for sticking around.
Here’s the link to the last Bun Toon…lo, three weeks ago now.
Ty Templeton's ART LAND!! 
Hey! Red Hulk was hanging out with the US Avengers until about two weeks ago. And SPEAKING of rad, diverse comics: US Avengers is great!
Okay. My fault for not checking up on that…the last time I encountered the Red Hulk was Thunderbolts. (And I have bought some of the USAvengers, but haven’t read ’em yet).
*pushes glasses up nose* Well, ACKUALLY, the Red Hulk in USAvengers is a different person entirely. For some reason.
THANK YOU. Jeez. For all the wonder that the internet provides, seeing how damgerously small minded some comic ‘fans’ are is so relentlessly depressing. Always good to see how you take stand. You remain my favourite comic book hero.
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Keep in mind that the complaint about the variant covers was universally cheered within that meeting. But when the same guy started talking about “Blacks, homos, and freaking women” that’s when things got divided.
So while it does seem that there is disagreement over Marvel’s current trend of introducing minority characters (Which is good, because we don’t need the guy complaining about “Blacks, homos and freaking women” to dictate the tone of the conversation), the one thing that seems apparent to everyone is that Marvel needs to stop screwing around with people in regards to their ordering practices.
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The Red Hulk in US Avengers is General Robert Maverick. Apparently, Al Ewing HAD wanted to use the Thunderbolt Ross version, but there was some kind of complication over Ross’ status and availability because of other titles or some such, so Ewing went ahead and made someone else Red Hulk instead.
Why aren’t 55% of rappers white!? I demand justice!
Look at how self-righteous and condescending I am over it! Maybe I’ll make a cartoon!
As the one who’s constantly self righteous and condescending around here, I’m happy to have you join in with your creativity. Let’s see your cartoon, then! Have it at, fellow creator.
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This may have been an different article if Rich Johnson was actually there to witness it instead of a nameless uncredited source. No professionals are allowed in these retailer panels. Every year Johnson hangs outside handing out his card and asks for any scoops as retailers leave. I was there about four feet away from “Tony” who brought up the original question. After his comments on the lenticular covers, he (poorly) explained that people looking for the heroes they were familiar with, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor were not what customers wanted. This is where the audience started to turn on Tony. There was a voice or two grumbling in the room, someone in the back did make a comment about the Jane Foster Thor, but there was no one who said ” Blacks or Homos” in the crowd. But again that wouldn’t make a good Bleeding Cool story would it?