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10 male comic book characters who broke negative stereotypes

By Mark Lynch

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A Superman costume from the 2013 Man of Steel film worn by Henry Cavill and designed by Michael Wilkinson and James Acheson is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A Superman costume from the 2013 Man of Steel film worn by Henry Cavill and designed by Michael Wilkinson and James Acheson is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) /
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Black Lightning, Anissa Pierce, Jefferson Pierce, Thunder, comic book
Cress Williams as Black Lightning and Nafessa Williams as Thunder in Black Lightning — “The Book of Resistance: Chapter Four: Third Stone from the Sun” — Photo: Josh Stringer/The CW — © 2019 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved. /

5. Black Lightning

What this comic book character showed us: The importance of being an accepting parent

Unlike the rest of the characters on this list, this entry isn’t just about the comic book version. This is about the Black Lightning character from The CW’s TV show.

Jefferson Pierce is a father, a role model, and a superhero. It’s incredible that he’s managed to balance all of this and still have time to be a pillar in the community. Jefferson believes in people in a way that sometimes hurts his heart when they fail him. However, even when he’s tested, he doesn’t lash out and let his anger consume him. There have been plenty of times when he could have and it would have been justified. Instead, he kept his cool. Restraint isn’t something everyone has.

Jefferson’s daughter Anissa is gay. Now, as we’ve unfortunately seen over the years, a lot of parents would have issues with a family member being part of the LGBTQ community. Not Jefferson. The only thing he cares about is Anissa’s safety and her happiness. And that’s the kind of message we should see more often on TV, film and in comic books in general.

Their relationship hasn’t always been great, but he eventually did something a lot of men may not be able to do. He stepped aside and let his daughter take the lead. It took him a while to realize that Anissa wasn’t just his daughter – she was a hero and a leader in her own right. Once he acknowledged that, he was more than happy to step aside and let her take charge.

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