One of the interesting and relatively unknown characters set to make his big screen debut in James Gunn's Superman is "Mister Terrific." He first graced DC's pages in 1997's Spectre #54 (written by John Ostrander and illustrated by Tom Mandrake). On-screen, he will be played by Edi Gathegi (X-Men: First Class, The Harder They Fall) and is supposed to be "the main character of those [other] characters [in the movie]."
Previously, he appeared live on the CW's Arrow (Echo Kellum) and had a few stints in animated projects, one was voiced by the Cosby-outing comedian Hannibal Burress.
For Black History Month, it's important to celebrate BIPOC heroes and villains because the writers and artists didn't hold back when it came to creating diversity among the legion of characters. They have been given amazing powers--some cosmic, others mutant, and a few elite humans. Mister Terrific is the third smartest character in all DC lore, next to Lex Luthor and the Atom, Ray Palmer (or Ryan Choi, for ZSJL fans).
The guy is a polymath, so he can calculate ridiculous scenarios with ease. With his 14 earned PhDs, Mister Terrific is bewildering when it comes to determining the riddles of life. And, just in case, someone isn't fond of his dazzling intellect, his use of T-spheres is attached to his brain at all times (those were the shields you saw in the trailer).
James Gunn did not only a smart thing by giving Superman a brain that confronts Lex Luthor's, but a brave thing because most Black comic heroes are stuck with cosmic or mutant powers. Mister Terrific's are all cerebral. Much like Kevin Feige produced in Wakanda, James Gunn is doing in Metropolis. Bravo!
And here are the Top 10 (other) strongest Black heroes in the DC Universe.
10. Steel
Notwithstanding Shaq's ludicrous attempt to become a superhero, John Henry Irons, aka Steel, was a man of purpose in DC and seriously deserves better. His name is derived from the "Man of Steel" because he was one of four people who took Kal-El's mantle when Superman died.
Irons is a brilliant machinist and engineer named after a Black character of fables who was a "steel-driving man," John Henry (of which he also called his hammer...yeah, yeah, Thor has one too). The steel inside him makes him such a dynamic hero; it's his iron will to thwart his community of evil and rid his city of crime. Someday, he may get his chance to show why they call him "Steel."
9. Nubia
In the DC Universe, Nubia is one of the fiercest women alive. Her strength and character are right up there with Wonder Woman, which coincidentally helped bring her into the DC Universe. First appearing in the middle of Wonder Woman #204 (1973), Nubia was an Amazon who challenged Diana Prince for her position as guardian of Themyscira. They fought to a draw.
It turns out Nubia is Diana's long-lost fraternal twin sister. Why DC has not done more with her character is a true mystery. She is DC's first among female Black superheroes, and yet, where is she? Nubia is bold, strong, and brutally effective at protecting anything she loves. She's been in Wonder Woman: Earth One and the related Nubia: Real One, but the closest she's received to strong media attention was in the 2017 video game "Injustice: Gods Among Us."
8. Black Lightning
Jefferson Pierce, aka Black Lightning, is a motivational high school principal. His role in the lives of young people never escapes him, and he attempts to live up to the respect bestowed upon him by kids, parents, and everyone in the community. However, this is not enough because he wants to rid his city of Freeland (definitely a nod to Black History) of all crime.
At night, he becomes Black Lightning. Once his two superhuman daughters, Anissa and Jennifer, realize their powers of "Thunder" and "Lightning," they join him with vengeful dedication as urban avengers. CW made some aspiring television with DC properties, but if you haven't seen Black Lightning, Cress Williams was the hero of one of its best.
7. Aqualad
Like multiple Batwings (Lucius "Luke" Fox is one of them and one of the Black superheroes), there are also a couple of Aqualads. One is a teenager named Garth, but the one with some unquestionable authority is Jackson Hyde (or Kaldur'ahm) from Young Justice. He is the protege of Arthur Curry, not his son. That honor goes to Black Manta.
Yes, the son of the man who hates Aquaman more than most things. And much like King Arthur, he is part Atlantean. Aside from super strength and all things Atlantean, he is a master of hydrokinesis. Any water in his hands can become any weapon he desires. He first appeared in Brightest Day #4 (2010) and almost immediately led Young Justice and Teen Titans. The kid is a force of nature, literally.
6. Vixen
While many comic fans may not recall Nubia, most know Mari Jiwe McCabe, aka Vixen. When her parents were murdered, she was bequeathed the Tantu Totem. It's a necklace or extraordinary power. Think Kraven the Hunter growing up in Wakanda: That's Vixen. And, beginning in the comics with Action Comics #521 (1981), she's a dead ringer for Halle Berry. (Part of McCabe's backstory is being a former model.)
Vixen possesses the power of Africa and the unyielding strength and skill of the entire animal kingdom. She runs like a cheetah, can change her skin like a rhino, and can swim like a bottlenose dolphin. As her popularity grew in DC lore, Vixen appeared in the Justice League of America, Suicide Squad, and Birds of Prey. She is a momentous asset to comics and Black women everywhere.
5. Static
While Marvel has been raking in the Brinks cash trucks with Miles Morales, the new DCU could do the same with Virgil Hawkins, aka Static. Their personalities, cultures, backgrounds, and dynamic attitudes reflect what today's young viewers want in a superhero.
Dwayne McDuffie and Derek T. Dingle created Milestone Comics exclusively for young Black comic fans in the totally tubular 1980s. For two decades, they made some impressive characters that regretfully haven't done much of anything. In 2008, DC bought the label, and well...they haven't done anything with them either. (More of that with the Number One on this list.)
Virgil received his tremendous command of psionic electrical powers with the "Big Bang." If DCU Studios wants a similar explosion in their bank accounts, they'll realize Static is not Black History Month fodder for animation. He needs big screen time because he is a super hero!
4. Firestorm
Johnny Storm of "Fantastic Four" fame is cosmically enhanced to be the Human Torch. His heart and powers have a limit. It's still impressive but different than Firestorm. He is a direct rip-off from Marvel some 40 years later, but it doesn't make his power any less awestriking. A modern version of Firestorm was in a rebirth of the 1978 comic in 2004--Firestorm, Vol. 3 #1.
Both Ronnie Raymond (1978) and Jason Rusch (2004) are known as the "Nuclear Man." (And no, not that reject from Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. When Raymond died in Identity Crisis, Rusch took over and entered the Firestorm Matrix when he was only a 17-year-old teenager from Detroit. His story is real. His triumph is memorable. He is one of the most potent beings on the planet.
3. Cyborg
Zack Snyder did a marvelous thing by making Victor Stone, aka Cyborg, the center of his Justice League. He's made from Apokolips technology, so his genius insight and keen understanding of Darkseid deserve to be the focal point.
When Cyborg came to us in DC Comics Presents #26 (1980), he wasn't given much fanfare. Then, the character became more of a goofball in the lauded animated series Teen Titans. He was created by George Perez and Marv Wolfman to accomplish tremendous feats of crime fighting and of the human spirit. His frailty to accept his humanity shows just how strong a hero can be.
2. John Stewart
Aaron Pierre's portrayal of Green Lantern John Stewart cannot get to Max fast enough! First appearing in Green Lantern, Vol. 2 #87 (1971), this former U.S. Marine was selected to back up Hal Jordan when Guy Gardner was out of commission. Props to DC, he was made a permanent fixture of the Green Lantern Corps immediately.
He typifies the power of will in humans: strong pride, relentless spirit, tenacious drive, and simply badass. We should have seen him already within the Snyderverse, but there's a reason we didn't. Perhaps Aaron Pierre's version is why. Stewart has a backstory that needs to be seen by today's youth in any community. For Black History Month, he couldn't be a stronger stalwart for the good of Black people worldwide. He is the answer to "What can one man do?"
(Full disclosure: That question is from the comic cover in 1971.)
1. Icon
There is no more critical time for Augutus Freeman IV, aka ICON, to be on the small or big screen than now. He was an alien lifeform named Arnus of Terminus who came to Earth in the early 1800s. On a personal note, I have advocated for Milestone Comics to do something with this inventive man.
His backstory is similar to Superman's, only he became a black child during the Antebellum Era, which included Slavery and the Civil War. Because he is well-spoken and brilliant, he gets racism the other way, called a sell-out or an "Uncle Tom." Augustus Freeman can relate to anyone and destroy anything, yet he's essentially a peacemaker.
He has all the powers of Superman, including energy manipulation and regeneration. He's also close to immortal ("decelerated aging"), which is why his "IV." Icon has been "Augustus" four times. In modern-day Dakota City, he's a civil rights attorney by day and a global renegade for justice at night. Icon needs to be alive, and so do the people at Milestone and DC to make it happen.