[synapse17]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflakian

@synapse, the only real defense I have for those characters is Legacies and lasting impact on the world around them. It adds to the source material and also extends it to create new stories and characters that represent different kinds of people for others to relate to.

The same as changing races can help those races, more diverse aesthetics can help those that also share those features. Like hair color, eye color, or really anything that can cause some form of emotional attachment in the reader or viewer to continue on watching or reading.

That being said, there are areas where there is no defense. In particular parentage. If you've already established one character is caucasian, be sure any children or mothers line up to what's needed.

There's also problems in things like Avatar the Last airbender where race is key to the story itself. That's not to say Avatar messed that up. On the contrary it was the only thing it got right. -_-
They set up the earth nation as asian with a more chinese focus. Water nation was appropriately color shaded to be more offwhite ethnic of anything. Air nomads appeared more mixed like tibetan monks or european, and Fire nation was changed from asian/potential japanese to more towards a war driven india that worships fire.
Because of these 4 elements each representing a full on culture and race, they have to be seperate or explained appropriately to fit within confines of the defined world. So long as the changes make sense or fit with the desired story I'm whatever with it. Like Miles inheriting the mantle of the spider. He's part of the history now. The lasting impact of spider-man has turned into a legacy. Which is also why I like the children characters though, as it extends the legacy of other characters as well and their lasting impact on the world besides how it also gives more persona types for people to relate to or for others to look up to.
(For those curious, the bad part of avatar was the exposition, lackluster actions scenes, overtly condensed story especially on the only other highlight of season 1, and an utterly lackluster avatar state finale. Series could be salvaged for 2, but damn that was a weak start.)

I don't like the poof randomly so and so iconic hero is now this barring alt-universe stuff which is different or even reality bending mcguffin, but I do let that slide for background civilian characters who could all be frank sinatra lookalikes or elvis and I probably wouldn't care.

Man You lost me there. Not that you're not making sense, I just have no experience with the Air Bender. It's seems like a good show, I'v just never gotten around to watching it.

As to Rulk and the others, some are cool and fit the ethos well. Others feel forced and it leads to feelings of over saturation. I'm all for legacy. But some of this is simple cashing in on likenesses. I mean did Betty really need to hulk out too..?

When it comes to supporting casts I'm right there with you. I could see JJ being black. But why have all these race changes been white to black? What about latino, indian, arab, or asian folk. I'll support any efforts to make a solid movie no mater the changes. But I would like these decisions to be made with a great deal of thought as to who can pull of the overall persona.

All and all I just like continuity. Thats why I enjoy the ultimate universe and AOA. It give so much freedom to play and make creative changes. Some good some not so much, but It's fun because in the end 616 is preserved.

Something I would like to see in the comics is a getting on in years. the death of major characters and the birth of new heros. It seems to me that Marvel/DC have been riding the coat tails of previous generations work and creations for a while now. And while I want to hold on as much as the next guy. It would be nice to see some real growth. Maybe in a another universe but ether way it would give license to start a fresher universe that's inspired by the legacy of old but stands on its own. This could also help in adapting a more multicultural universe that serves everyone.

But now I'm wondering if race should be an issue at all. In a perfect world would we even think about it in any-other terms than who gives the best performance? This idea would leave everyone subject to these types of changes not just the B listers.

But I can't say for sure. It's a difficult subject. It's great fun and a wonderful way for kids to be introduced to social issues. To play with ideas ranging from right and wrong to science and natural phenomenon. I want all kids to feel as included as I did growing up.