Both DC and Marvel have produced specials aimed at the Gay Rights Movement both of which highlighted their gay characters in comics. DC is also reviving the all-black Milestone line of heroes as an attempt to give black characters a greater presence in the market place.
I'm not familiar with Milestone which was around in the nineties when I dropped out of the hobby for most of the decade. I did get the New 52 release of Static but I didn't find it interesting enough to be honest. DC also have Black Lightning and Mr Terrific but they are really only second tier characters
Marvel on the other hand has Black Panther who is very much a first level hero. Never liked Power Man/Luke Cage much. Black heroes are very much in need of development. DC currently has two TV shows with Black Lightning and now Batwoman has changed fro gay to Black. Not seen either show. Got bored with the latter during it's first season.
Meanwhile there is the question of anti-Asian racism in the USA which is mentioned in the introduction and epilogues to this comic. In US terms this mostly refers to the Korean, Chinese and Japanese communities who face racism and discrimination that has been overshadowed by the rise of the BLM. There have been problems between the two groups which haven't helped the situation.
It's not often I delve into politics with on my comics blog (I have Howie's Corner 2 for that) but this is par of an effort by DC to confront the racism against the Asian community and are to be commended for that.
There are quite a few characters featured herein starting with my personal favourite Cassandra Cain as Batgirl. I collected her series and the crossover with Dark Horse's Ghost. I also rather enjoyed Grace Choi's story as a date with her girlfriends father (who happens to be Black Lighting) turns awry not just because dad isn't happy with Grace but dinner gets interrupted by a super-villain attack.
Whilst I know some of the characters others are new in the form of Thai ham as a Green Lantern (How many does Earth have now?) Cheshire Cat (a protege of Catwoman as far as I made out) a Chinese Super-Man (no idea) and Swamp Thing is now an Indian boy called Levi Kamei. When did that happen?
Oh and before I forget this special introduces The Monkey prince at the very end. This was thenly story I didn't like and think DC should think again on this dreadful new boy. Loses points because of that.
Still this book is for worthy cause and hopefully will help promote the diversity needed in comic books
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Would have got 5 if not for the last story) Recommended though!
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