If you haven't heard, Peter Parker is dead. The longstanding protagonist of the Spiderman series is now being replaced in comic books. This new Spiderman is a younger, bi-racial character named Miles Morales. Miles, is half-black and half-Latino. According to those in charge of continuing the iconic series, this isn't to be politically correct but more to mark the changing world around us and the diversity that is becoming more commonplace.
I think it's a great idea. Anyone who looks around can see that not everyone is in distinct, mutually exclusive racial categories. If you happened to look at the last census form or even standardized test, you can see that these changes are being applied. Our president is even bi-racial, even though many are quick to put him in one category because it seems easier. However, as time goes on its not going to be easier. There will be more and more people who are multi-racial.
The best place to mark this change would be in comics. Comic books have long been a staple of children who long for entertainment, escapism, and identification in a world that is uncertain and at times frightening. If children who wouldn't normally get exposure to different racial and social groups read Spiderman, their understanding expands.
But also another great thing that comes out of this is that there are superheroes who don't fit the normal blue-eyed, brown-haired archetypes. Even though there are different superheroes who are minorities, none have seemed to come to prominence as much as Batman, Spiderman and Superman. This could open doors for more diverse heroes and heroines.
As for Miles Morales, I think the legacy of the Spiderman franchise well help. But only time will tell if Miles will have his own movie franchise.
http://www.thegrio.com/entertainment/new-ultimate-spider-man-is-half-black-half-hispanic.php
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