[TheBlueMarvel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mimicboy

Definitely not trying to make excuses for the Hasbro team as they absolutely could/should have done more thorough research or even just a reasonable double check with multiple sources ( or heck even just an assumption based on her name), but I'm not convinced a quick google image search would have been enough to correctly identify Karima's original skin tone (thus why they should have done more research). I actually think that the problem lies with Marvel and the company's very poor record of whitewashing characters in their art (especially over time) and movies. A quick google image search for me brought up more than a few imagines that show a significantly lighter skinned Karima then her original appearances. If you look at the art in Excalibur (the one where Xavier and Magneto are on Genosha) Karima is noticeably darker then anyone else and unmistakably Indian. Just a few series later in Messiah Complex, artists (look at Humberto Ramos's issues, she looks like all the other white characters) are coloring her so much lighter that when comparing the two looks they could almost seem like two completely different characters. Omega Sentinel is hardly the only character this happens to at Marvel. Monet, Scarlet Witch, and Sunspot are just three that come immediately to mind who all are constantly having their skin tones shifted, often to lighter than originally portrayed/intended. Which isn't to say there aren't a whole variety of skin tones amongst Indians, the Roma, Muslims or South Americans but it is disconcerting that these characters are almost always portrayed on (or worse changed to) the light end of that spectrum. Depending on what reference image Hasbro used I can easily see how they got it so wrong.

I'm not going to beat a dead horse anymore than is necessary, but more research on Hasbro's part would be appreciated, or simply investing in personal friendships with long term comic readers to bounce things off of could also be a start. Beyond the Hasbro team making human mistakes like other humans are wont to do, I agree that the root of this problem is more so Marvel itself and their struggles to be more inclusive in a way that is actually meaningful and not borne of convenience and superficiality. Without dredging up popular hotbutton issues, the way to avoid these gaffes and pitfalls IMO is for publishers like Marvel to diversify their creative teams. They should make an effort to be more inclusive in their hiring patterns in everything from artists, to writers, to colorists, editors, etc. With an internal framework that's more representational of the readership mosaic they aiming to reach, I believe there would be greater consistency regarding characters like Roberto and fewer instances of sometimes jarring and clumsy attempts at forced (and too often) short term solutions/changes. Of course there has to be commitment to genuinely attracting and retaining a diversified staff along with sincere and sustained support for whatever ideas they bring to life. However, at 80+ years of age, change does not come easily. Especially in a publishing industry that is going the way of the dodo and with a population that reads less each year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hasbroherofan

https://www.ebgames.ca/Toys-Collecti...-quasar-figure

Quasar was up for order on EB Games' site, but appears to be out of stock now.

Damn.